Business Cards, Ads & Stationary

[Raccoon]

I've been working on my business cards over the past week, and really made some headway last night. I would like some opinions about my layout, good or bad, as I intend to adjust it until "perfect". (And even then, I'll probably still continue tweeking it.)

I would also like to see everyone else's business cards, yellow page ads, invoice letter heads, etc... if you're willing to share them.

I know one of the forum's rules frowns upon open advertising, but I'd like to make this a space for business related critiquing of advertisements and company image. So, expect to see business names and phone numbers in this thread, unless someone prefers to omit them from their posted stationary.

Anyway, here's what I have. Please critique and offer suggestions.

locksmith_businesscard_sample_1.png
locksmith_businesscard_sample_1_color_1.png
locksmith_businesscard_sample_1_color_2.png

Here are some samples showing the design process...

locksmith_businesscard_inprog_1.png
locksmith_businesscard_inprog_2.png

Thanks.

Eric

[2hammers]

I was thinking about the same thing today my friend, the thing is how to get the correct message across without putting too much on the card if that makes any sense. Anyway I personally like option 1

[pip]

i would go with something with color
simple black and white says " economy-minded "
color says you're willing to do that little extra
maybe
make up some keys like in the ad
( with the phone number )
and give them out to customers
( for 15% off next call )

the problem with that is
the possibility of fake discount keys

[Auto45]

At the top of my cards it says; (Lock out!!! Do Not Panic - Just Call)
and my phone numbers are right under where it says Just Call

[Aqua]

Well... i would probably go with something like this:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6052/getinquick5hz.jpg

The reason being is that i don't really like cards with too much things stuffed on them...

But if you are going to stay with your original design, mabey try playing with the background color a little? I would definately leave all the letters and numerals in one font and color, or at least in similar color.
On the other hand i would try to play with the background a little.... like, for instance:
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/3682/g ... ck22lh.jpg
or something with a little more kick to it:
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/922/getinquick38ss.jpg

Good luck with your business, and stuff
Aye!

[Raccoon]

I like the colored versions too, and agree about the "economy" preception. Think I'll save the b&w version for my yellow pages ad.

... and give them out to customers for 15% off next call

I was thinking about this at first, using colored plastic keys I found ($15 for 100 keys), but repeat customers are few and far between for a lock-out service, so the gimmik isn't worth it.

HOWEVER, I'm thinking of attaching those same plastic keys to my business cards, chained to the key pictured on my card. Since it's mostly women who require a locksmith, I think this will catch some positive attention from that gender.

I'd like to see your guys' cards, if you don't mind?

Edit: Thanks Aqua. I totally missed your post since I was posting the same time you did. Great design ideas-- I like your approach of simplicity and use of negative space. I have a feeling I'm going to end up doing small runs of 2 dozen cards (only 2 sheets of cardstock, 12 cards per sheet) with different designs each time I run out of cards.

[pip]

Raccoon
i'm not a locksmith
and i'm not judgeing your skill/expertise level
but if your main theme is " Get in Quick "
then practice for different conditions/situations

outside in the rain
no lights - in the dark ( be careful )
2 am at a truck stop/restuarant

when the customer calls you at 2 am
then it's time to " put up or shut up "
the customer will be judgeing you
as he holds your card in his hand

IMHO

[Aqua]

I have a feeling I'm going to end up doing small runs of 2 dozen cards (only 2 sheets of cardstock, 12 cards per sheet) with different designs each time I run out of cards.

I don't think that's a very good idea, as people tend to remember not only the name, but also the graphical design of a card. I believe that some
(the same) destinguishing marks on every card that you make would be in order. That key with your phone number was one of those things, and although i find it a bit without taste, it is a kind of a distinguishing mark that helps a person sympathise with the firm.

It's a bit hard for me to explain, but i believe it works in this way:
If a person is not interested in your services, but sees your advertisement somewhere, and will be able to remember some parts of it (it's very unlikely that a typical person will remeber the name, or the phone number. He will remember the overall design of the card), and that same person after days or weeks, if faced with an option of picking one locksmith from a few possiblilities, will be much more willing to pick your services.

It's not becouse he may think that you're well known, as he has seen your advertise before (well that's also a small factor, but people wrongly tend to believe that it's the main purpose for advertising).
It's becouse a person will feel that he has some connection and some history with that symbol, or design....

...but i was wrong once or twice before.
If someone who studied advertising, economics or public relations might explain it better and correct me if i'm on the wrong track, i would be (but just a little bit) grateful.



Aye!

[Raccoon]

...and i'm not judgeing your skill/expertise level

Hmm, I must be mistaken then. It sure sounds like you're judging me, buddy. How do you have even the slightest inkling about how often I practice, when I practice, and whether I can "put up or shut up"? I think _you_ best choose the latter.

[Raccoon]

... as people tend to remember not only the name, but also the graphical design of a card.

You have a point. But I'm only talking about the first, second, third run of a business card until I've settled on something I like and have gotten the best feedback on. It's not like I'm selling a product and changing my logo each time, nor is this a yellow pages ad just yet. Chances are that a given person will only ever see one of my business cards, and keep just that one.

That key with your phone number was one of those things, and although i find it a bit without taste, it is a kind of a distinguishing mark that helps a person sympathise with the firm.

These are the kind of comments I'm looking for. Please explain why you feel it is without good taste? Is the key an over-used advertising gimmick for locksmiths?

Eric

[digital_blue]

Raccoon: Comments to follow are meant to be constructive, please take no offense.

I would say that the first impression I get is that the designs lack the polish one might expect if the work were produced by a professional graphic artist. If you want a pro card, it should really (at least) look like it came from a pro. As fun as Photoshopping and Wordart is, there really is something to typesetting and layup that differentiates the pro-quality work from the stuff that the tinkerers put out.

When I glance at the design, I'm bombarded by too many focal points. Block letters, little whitespace, a font which italicizes poorly, and a poor quality image of a key all jump out at me and scream "tinkerer made this".

Now for the constructive part.

Add more whitespace. Tone down the "non-critical" information. You really need to decide what is most important. The old-school way of thinking was that the name and phone number rule the day. I don't believe this is true of the phone number. People know it will be there. They expect to see it on the card. They will look for it. It does not have to punch them in the nose to be effective. Lose the italics on the (5625) unless you want to make it look like a shadow (not sure if that was the intention), in which case, tighten it in on the word LOCK and make the shadow effect more apparent.

I don't know about the image of the key. To me, pictures on a business card should be either a well-laid-out feature (or background) which encompasses most of the card, or replaced with some sort of a non-picture graphic such as a line drawing or something to the effect.

Regarding font, don't italicize your name. Ever. Italics serve a purpose in the English language, and that isn't it. It would make much more sense to italicize "Socorro's only 24-hour Locksmith". Also, I'm not sure that in this context you should capitalize Locksmith. It is a noun, but not a proper noun in this usage.

This is a small point, but really, "Around the Clock" should probably be "Around-The-Clock".

The phone number on the key (if you insist on keeping the key) is redundant. You have a 3.5"x2" canvass and redundancy is not a good idea.

Regarding the discussion of color vs. black and white, I don't personally think that B&W says "economy-minded". I think that cheap cards says that. There is an elegance and simplicity to B&W that I feel can actually present an even more professional image if done correctly. Select a high quality stock to print on, and its probably best to skip any raised ink.

If you want to get artistic (and I actually really favor the artistic cards) use the key as a line image that is splashed across the background of the image. Very few business cards (at least, on a percentage basis) use any concept of background/foreground, so it can be a nice addition when done correctly.

Anyway, that's my brutally honest opinion. There are no "right answers" in graphics per se, but there are certainly some wrong ones.

Hope this was helpful, and that my somewhat pointed view wasn't too sharp.

Cheers!

db


EDIT: Correction made... 3.5"x2"... not 3"x2.5".. not sure what I was thinking there...

[bonez]

yeah have to agree with db,

black & white is plain and simple!
put your name on,
state what you do,
put your number on,
if they want your services bud they'll call.

[Aqua]

That key with your phone number was one of those things, and although i find it a bit without taste, it is a kind of a distinguishing mark that helps a person sympathise with the firm.

These are the kind of comments I'm looking for. Please explain why you feel it is without good taste? Is the key an over-used advertising gimmick for locksmiths?

I can't really say anything about the 'overuse' of the key in, becouse i didn't see any locksmithing cards before. Ever.

The reason for me to write that 'i believe it's without good taste' is becouse:
It has no visual relation to the text. No composition lines from the text relay with the shape of the key. Therfore, that key looks useless and like it was put there only to cover that hole we would have without it.
Vertical position of the key makes an illusion (no, i'm not talking to you )of a strong connection between the top and the bottom (the fact that a key has visually a lot to do with an arrow also has its' doing) , when in facts we get 2 totally different fonts in different sizes, one at the top, the other at the bottom. I believe it makes it incoherent.
It's just by far too big. Takes too much attention away from the text. It's hard to know what to focus on when we get this card, and that never is a good thing.

As i said before: i would loose the key, go with smaller fonts in one color, and try to focus more on the background.

Of corse all of the above is only my opinion, and it obviously can be argued about with someone with a different point of view...
Probably the best way to determine which cards are the best is to have a poll with 10 different cards or so, and let everyone decide which one they like best.

One more thing: I would stay away from gradients and shadows.
Try playing with straight lines that distinguish one thing(color) from another.

[pip]

Raccoon
you're right, i don't know how often you practice
if i offended you - i'm sorry

your card says " Get in Quick "
the customer will be judging you

[vector40]

Raccoon,

I have to confess that I find it a little curious how short you tend to be with any real or perceived condescension toward your ability, your seriousness in your trade, or your professionalism. Is there a background to this?