Is the new business card killer?

[pushpills]

I need to do a different pic of me, but all in all, thats pretty much the new card.

Wutcha think?

[XXXPhoto]

Steve,

Not sure if you were looking for serious responses or not but will give ya my take for what it's worth...

It looks like something made by a guy who knows a few tricks in photoshop on his home computer. Which I'm guessing is what it is really... Perhaps it's just the compression, but the image and text combine for a really bad looking business card... Yellow on yellow doesn't work. Plus in color theory, yellow equates to 'cheap/bargin' products.

I see you using the seascape/sunset to go along with your 'Horizon Computer Tech' theme, but personally think some line art would be better suited to this purpose. The image you have there makes me think of shady travel agents card rather than marketing services or computer tech...

As this is a business card, again IMO, a gmail email addy doesn't instill much confidence. Having a website url, even if it's a basic onepager with contact info will go alot further in creating a positive image in prospective clients eyes.

All that said, putting your pic on your card is a good thing providing you follow it up with professional attitude. Folks get home and are flipping through cards after show, seeing your image can jog their memory who card belongs to... up to you what kind of memory is jogged...

[gonzo]

Originally posted by XXXPhoto@Jul 22 2004, 11:20 PM
Steve,

Not sure if you were looking for serious responses or not but will give ya my take for what it's worth...

It looks like something made by a guy who knows a few tricks in photoshop on his home computer. Which I'm guessing is what it is really... Perhaps it's just the compression, but the image and text combine for a really bad looking business card... Yellow on yellow doesn't work. Plus in color theory, yellow equates to 'cheap/bargin' products.

I see you using the seascape/sunset to go along with your 'Horizon Computer Tech' theme, but personally think some line art would be better suited to this purpose. The image you have there makes me think of shady travel agents card rather than marketing services or computer tech...

As this is a business card, again IMO, a gmail email addy doesn't instill much confidence. Having a website url, even if it's a basic onepager with contact info will go alot further in creating a positive image in prospective clients eyes.

All that said, putting your pic on your card is a good thing providing you follow it up with professional attitude. Folks get home and are flipping through cards after show, seeing your image can jog their memory who card belongs to... up to you what kind of memory is jogged...

Nice advice!

[Vick]

and here I was going to say I saw that phone number on a bathroom wall in a gay men's club

Not that there's anything wrong with that




Let Mark be serious and give good advice, I'm a clown

Well that and I don't know if I'd include board names on a card

[pushpills]

Originally posted by XXXPhoto@Jul 22 2004, 10:20 PM
Steve,

Not sure if you were looking for serious responses or not but will give ya my take for what it's worth...

It looks like something made by a guy who knows a few tricks in photoshop on his home computer. Which I'm guessing is what it is really... Perhaps it's just the compression, but the image and text combine for a really bad looking business card... Yellow on yellow doesn't work. Plus in color theory, yellow equates to 'cheap/bargin' products.

I see you using the seascape/sunset to go along with your 'Horizon Computer Tech' theme, but personally think some line art would be better suited to this purpose. The image you have there makes me think of shady travel agents card rather than marketing services or computer tech...

As this is a business card, again IMO, a gmail email addy doesn't instill much confidence. Having a website url, even if it's a basic onepager with contact info will go alot further in creating a positive image in prospective clients eyes.

All that said, putting your pic on your card is a good thing providing you follow it up with professional attitude. Folks get home and are flipping through cards after show, seeing your image can jog their memory who card belongs to... up to you what kind of memory is jogged...

good points.

yea, the scene is for the horizon tech. its actually an upside down horizon.

i kinda like the gmail addy....i trust their servers even more than mine. its up to debate.

The yellow text is to go with the horizon theme.

i need a new pic though, i'll work on that. but, what i've got in works for webmasters, i can't post the url yet, it's not ready....so I don't know what to do on that part.


I can rework any of that stuff....it's all template stuff.


I was going to use a horizon pic from chicago but couldnt fine a decent one that was high enoug quality.




Thanks for the input, I always apprecaite decent suggestions and opinions.

[RawAlex]

I trust hotmail - but I would never put a hotmail address on a business card. That is the equivilant of your mailing address being "table 3 at denny's".

The colors do not compliment each other, and in a four color printing process, the cards would not look good. I see more web people using big fonts for information on cars, making it hard to read and adding clutter to the card.

My suggestion? move the horizon of the sunrise / sunset up a little more, get yourself some more blue area. Darken the blue area some... perhpas even fade it to black at the bottom of the card. You can put much more information and use a smaller font on black and still have the info be clear.

Search google for "color wheel" and "complimentary colors", that will help you get the fonts into decent colors and be more clear.

Alex

[Hell Puppy]

I've give a serious reply...a little business card 101.

You're not going to impress anyone or make a sale with a business card. You do that with what you say and how you say it. The business card is simply so they know how to get in touch with you later.

With that said, the business card should first and foremost do it's job and remind them of who you are and how to get in touch with you. The text and fonts should be easily readable and uncluttered. Yellow against a sunset isn't readable. Even though the best business card wont make you a sale on it's own, a truly bad one does present a bad company image and might cost you one.

The other practical design consideration is whether you want your business card to be easily scanned. There's both an up and a downside... Some people like to scan them into their PDAs, this is desirable. At the same time, lots of companies have hot girls on the floor to do nothing but grab as many business cards as they can so they scan them back at the office to build marketing lists and cold call your ass. This is not so desirable to most.

If you want your card easily scanned, it's best to stick with a classic black on white design. You'll never see anyone raise an eyebrow at a good simple black on white raise print design on a high quality card stock. It's classy and elegant and will never go out of style. If you want it to be a pain in the ass to scan go with a multicolor background or photocard. The more color change there is on the background, the tougher it is on the scanner.

Anyone who has one of my cards knows which my preference is in regards to having my card scanned....heheheheh.

[pushpills]

intersting points, the last 2 posts.

I'll think on those, will likely have another one for you to look at.


I think a little branding is important though, and I really like that upsidedown horizon. I think that will remain the background, but I'll test some others. As far as cold calling, it doesnt matter, they have all spammed me on icq and by referral email by now, so it that should be a small part of it.


I'll throw some new works up over the next couple days.


Thanks guys, I'm glad I posted that. Oprano has always been very considerate and helpful to me.

[Sabby]

Oh I think somethings missing...

You need to put a picture of a red camaro on it. It would be sooo cool.




Sabby

[pushpills]

Originally posted by Sabby@Jul 22 2004, 11:44 PM


You need to put a picture of a red camaro on it. It would be sooo cool.

That's not business, that's just something you guys know me by. The camaro will not be on my business card (I don't just give it out to porno people).

[Hell Puppy]

Originally posted by pushpills@Jul 23 2004, 12:14 AM

I think a little branding is important though, and I really like that upsidedown horizon.

Your logo should do that.

Spend some money on getting a good logo designed that conveys the image you want so you can use it on website, business cards and anything else you want to brand.

If you have a good logo, designing a business card becomes a snap.

[gonzo]

Originally posted by Sabby@Jul 23 2004, 12:44 AM
Oh I think somethings missing...

You need to put a picture of a red camaro on it. It would be sooo cool.




Sabby

You gotta wax it and then its a sweet ride.

[gonzo]

Originally posted by Hell Puppy+Jul 23 2004, 12:58 AM-->