Once I went door to door introducing myself to local businesses. I went out with flyers of my services and my cards. The flyer got the conversations going right away. The cards got them excited about my quality. Even months later I got a contact and their email started with..."I have your business card here..." and got a logo job. I had left the card with an employee. Long story short, your card can bring you business even if it's not from the person you hand it to.
Hi Roberto, you are absolutely right. Business cards are still important. They are even more important when doing business in other countries. In some countries a good business card is considered a reflection of the person who gives it. I've been in business for a while now and I make it a point to give each person I meet at least 2 of my cards. There are a few reasons to do so. One, it's harder to lose two or more business cards. Two, not everyone uses technology and those who do ( like myself) have an app that I can use to input the cards. Three, the people you give it to can give that extra card to someone else who may want to do business with you in the future. Thus making a great way to network. Networking is a big part of business so any time you can get someone to help send some business your way, all the better. I also make sure to ask other people for more than one card for that same reason. Another important thing about a business card is if you are a business that doesn't really advertise, a small business. Giving out your card is not only a way to have people remember you but also helps you compete with larger businesses that can afford to advertise. Word of mouth advertising is one of the best ways to become known. So if you hand some of your cards to someone who says they love your product or service and ask them if they can tell their friends about you, your on your way. Then multiply that by everyone you do business with and then you can truly compete in the marketplace. I hope what I have said helps your viewers.
***** Exactly. For all of those reasons I still believe in Business Cards and feel they will still be viable even 5-10 years from now. The world is rapidly changing, but most things still make sense and you can't technology your way out of human behavior and expectations cultivated over the last 100 years or so in some cases. Business cards are one of those things.
I agree with you, Roberto Blake . As long as we're doing business with other humans that means that physical experiences will matter when done properly AND in its proper context. Content is queen, Context is king!
great video! generation x, millennial, whatever, some things don't change. I am an old art director and I am telling you that print is not dead and those who have jumped full into that camp are missing out. and in this day of digital media, which supposedly brings us together, we are becoming more and more compartmentalized as a society. an honest to god business card is a breath of fresh air.
Renaissance MarineTV Indeed! I completely agree with you! It also is a way to standout. A business card is a billboard in your pocket... I need to write that down for later... Its a way to cut through the noise. We all hear and complain about how noisy digital is and how hard it is to get noticed... Whenever one else is swapping data, handing them a nice looking card counts for a lot and makes you unique. And despite the fact I full believe in the business model of Ebooks, if you want serious attention, make a print book too. Yes the margin is lower, but the equity and storytelling opportunities it gives you are worth it. I will do a whole other video... possibly 5 Reasons Print isn't dead and then let other people chime in with more reasons in the comments. Thanks for your amazing comment by the way! What agency are you with if you don't mind my asking?
In some motivation, my teach was like more print than ever is being produced today. it's just more of it is being ignored and the return on ads is generally lower than it use to be. :)
I think business card is way more important than digital. Sometimes it's not very convenient to take out your phone to insert multiple information. And, a business card can contain all your social media account, people can get these information at once. Plus, it's more professional to hand out a business card than to ask someone to follow you on twitter.
I think you touched on something important here. Brand yourself for whatever fits your market. I find that small businesses often still like business cards even if they primarily deal with email or the web in general. For them, it is what makes them comfortable, and that builds trust. The more a client trusts you, the more freedom you will get for projects.
Amen. Once again you hit it where it counts. I had this conversation with my boss and had to educate him. Swears up and down no one uses business cards. I was like oh trust me, people do. Professionals, business people, and those that care about their personal brand use business cards. People who want to be taken seriously use business cards. All Day!
***** Even as a digital native I still value them, and print books. Yes I have the most important books for execution on digital so I have strong library in my pocket at all times. But many of my design books are still in print and on my shelf. I will probably buy 50 print books this year overall, that is how much it is still valued...
Roberto Blake Oh yes. They are coming out with great books all the time and I love book covers. I also love going to the library and checking out older graphic design book. Some of the vintage design is so inspirational and I use some of that in my current design.
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!!! I have been saying this to people for the past decade. When I ran the Visual Effects Department at the Academy of Art University I insisted that all my students get business cards. Roberto, you laid out so many bullet-proof arguments for why people (especially artists, designers, and performers) must have business cards. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have gotten work simply from always carrying business cards with me. I carry cards for myself as an actor. I carry cards for myself as VFX artist & animator. And I carry cards with me for my Aquatasy UA-cam channel which I end up handing out all the time (and people actually subscribe to my channel because of it). Nothing says "professional" like a business card. They still carry so much weight even in this digital age.
Well said, Roberto. I love the Moo cards. The shorter runs and variable backs encourage me to have some fun with the design. I think that young designers can get intimidated by the onus of designing their first, ultimate card. My advice is relax, experiment and enjoy the freedom of using your very favorite, type, images colors, etc…
Nice rant! You should SO make a video on how to ask clients to pay up, it's so hard sometimes, I just feel like i'm cheating the system or something like that even though I work hard on what I make for people. I guess it's because i'm just so naturally inclined to enjoy what I do so i find it hard to ask the client to pay me.
PaperManga The shortcut to getting comfortable to talking about money, is two fold, you can get a job in sales, or you can volunteer at a homeless shelter every week... either or both will give you perspective and you will learn to get very comfortable asking for what you are worth and making sure people deliver on it...
When you do your tutorial, can you talk about the types of paper, weight, finish, gloss vs matte, uv, varnish, diecuts, etc. Not a lot of design youtubers out there talk about those aspects and how to design and consider those options. Of course not everyone has the budget for all that but I think new designers definitely should be aware just in case they get a client that wants that and has the budget or how applying some of these to their own personal brand can make a difference and stand out.
***** Good idea. That will be in How To Design a Business Card video, which will be more Do's and Dont's than tutorial, the tutorial will be how to execute this in Adobe InDesign, and then in Adobe Illustrator, I almost refuse to do one in Photoshop because you really should do it one of those two programs.
Roberto Blake Yes! This would be fantastic. The tactile aspect of business cards, I feel, holds nearly equal importance to the appearance and design and helps cards stands out against a sea of flimsy Vistaprint cards. Props for listing Moo and GotPrint, as well! It took me a good year of calls and emails and samples and small runs before I arrived at those two as my go-to options.
Max Makes Indeed! Yes tactile experience is super important in the psychology of selling. GotPrint and Moo are great companies! I want people to not have to go through what you went through so I always throw out recommendations and review things that work well for me.
***** if you are looking for more information on paper (or print production in general) here is a great glossary from Mohawk Paper on some of the terms. www.mohawkconnects.com/glossary You can also check other companies like Neenah, Wausau, and Domtar for product literature. Often they give a breakdown of what each paper is good for. I would also consider doing an internship with a print shop if you want to learn more about the print process.
Hi Roberto, Thanks for your video. I definitely agree on all your points you've presented. I cannot stress enough to some how important having a tangible brand is to your marketing strategy. People have forgotten the importance of a tactile interaction with another person be it direct (handshake) or indirect (business card, letterhead, postcard, etc.). Great Video!
Well I'm from a small city, and just two days ago, I went in to have some cards printed to hand out. Many people still value having business cards, and I think they will give me a boost. :)
Learn English with Nadene Agreed, I think you should look at trying to hand out 200 biz cards a week. So I'd say you should get that deal I mentioned and get 5,000 or more printed online. Getting a lot of cards in people's hands is a good way to generate buzz in a small city or town.
I definitely agree with your views on this subject. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the subject of whether print portfolios are still relevant today. Online portfolios are usually what people ask to see in their job listings. Maybe you already did a video on this subject but if not, I'd definitely like to see this topic discussed!
I talked about this in portfolio advice 2015 video. it once again is a matter of context. Print work should be shown in print, websites and motion graphics on a laptop or tablet. I'd say leave a DVD with your motion graphics samples, email a PDF portfolio and present a print portfolio. If you are able to afford it, I would even say you could print your portfolio as a photo book once a year. Its pricey if you do 40 pages... but could be worth it.
Yeah I agree with you. I have a print portfolio I but when I bring to interviews they are uninterested in seeing it and would rather go over it on my website. It's interesting. I also think it has a lot to do with where you are applying to. If applying to a design firm, they would be more likely to ask for a print portfolio versus a company not in the design field. At least that's just from my experience.
Nicolette Shasky I would agree with that, it also depends on the age and demographics of the person interviewing you. For that situation having a PDF portfolio on your website that you can email that is consistent with your print portfolio is good, which is why I went wide format on both. Print designers have a temptation to go the magazine route, but for consistency going wide is the best option in my opinion. Also if you go the expensive route of printing and actual coffee table style book for you portfolio they usually will look at something like that regardless just due to curiosity and the fact you have something unique.
i think with social media especially with say twitter and mailchimp app where you can immediately add someone to your newsletter, business cards need an update...i prefer giving something functional like a keyring or bookmark that will be of use, something that will filter into daily use. However, the rant was valid 😊
Business cards certainly do still matter. Add links to your social, business, UA-cam, etc. It's not just young vs. old either. A lot of older people are tech savvy too. 150 to 200 business cards handed out per day? Wow!
I always appreciate it when a company I order parts from sends a business card with the package, I usually end up passing it along to friends looking for similar things and it's like free marketing for them. I was wondering if you had any videos or planned on doing any about getting your products to look professionally packaged - like having a box designed for a specific product with logos and all the little fiddly bits, etc...
I THINK U R RIGHT....and its funny how.. its the LAST darn thing.. a Graphic Designer wants to work on... FOR ME.. I STILL need a custom logo and a custom biz card.
I have business cards. I always see them as one-on-one personal interaction. It make you look professional and legit. Because can tell people what you do and even give them your digital information but most of the time they won't bother to take it or even wrote it down wrong. However, I have to get my own personal website. I'm using coroflow to show case my work and to be honest it's really unprofessional. Anyway, I'm getting off track. Good video señor Roberto. Best regards, Jarvis Fernandez
Jorvis Hitokiri Thanks Jarvis. completely agree of course. Yes you need your own website, if for no other reason that having your own email address also gets everyone to take you more seriously. Even my vendors and service providers immediately treat me differently when I give them my email address and it has my name in it. There are optics that matter and there those that do not. I've raised my optics to the point for example where I can wear a t-shirt I designed and a hat and dreads and be taken seriously, rather than have to wear a suit and tie and be "clean cut". Biz cards and also a branded look are ways to "cut through the noise", if you do it right.
Jorvis Hitokiri Thanks. You may want to reference my video about why you need a blog if you haven't already and also my how to design website portfolio video.
I don't currently have business cards. I found this video interesting though, and agree that context is a factor. Would you say that writers should ideally have them? I know that this video is from 2015, but it seems equally relevant in 2017.
You know way more than me, but with that being said, yeah I think they are still valuable and relevant too. But as time goes on the older clients that grew up with business cards will be fewer and fewer. So the question is in 10 years will physical business cards still be relevant or used at all? If (and I hope) they are, they will be totally geared towards leading the client to view digital formats.
***** In 10 years it's still likely that I will be shooting video and photos and a convention and be too busy to whip out my smartphone compared to giving and receiving a card. So YES. If I'm at a speaking engagement in 10 years, as I rush off the stage to meet and greet people in the audience, do I have more time to take cards or to put numbers into phones? Cards. There will still be people who are busy in 10 years, there will still be people with their hands full in 10 years. Technology can't change that context that quickly, so YES. They will matter. I'm marketing like its 2025 by leveraging video and mobile, and biz cards, since yes they matter today and will matter in 2025.
I am 100% the sam opinion. I am about to get my own cards and i've had some guys who told me that this was not a thin anymore. I think you are right and i know inwould appretiate a card more than just a email with the information i need.
Yeah. For folks who get a ton of emails a day I would be afraid mine would get lost in the clutter. When I get business cards I put them in a scrapbook for inspiration and so I can go back and look.
***** Right! Especially in these digital days something like a card can be cool to have! There are some awesome and very creative cards people have made and i am 100% sure people would much more appretiate a creative card than a simple email which is only one of thousands they get.
***** I keep a box that a run of 1000 of my cards came in and put everyone's cards in there. It's almost full. That's how not dead business cards are...
***** Also something I started doing is when I add them to my phone from their biz card, I'm taking a snapshot of the biz card as their profile pic for it.
***** Exactly, and that is how you create context! If I were mean I wouldn't have done this video, because by hopping on the bandwagon it means I could be unique simply by having a biz card still when nobody else does. That often happens and I get a call about it often enough, about being the only person who actually handed them a card and how surprised they were, especially because I'm young (30 but look like 20)
Today...Enjoy, Yourself! Indeed they are! You mentioned liking the shirt, they are available in my SpreadShirt Store, there is a link in the description.
Oh, I definitely agree with you. I have had potential clients actually get angry with me for using a digital card system and not giving them the alternative of an actual business card. I have yet to have someone get angry with me for giving them a physical business card. In web dev, I thought I was being all cutting edge and tech-savy by going all-digital, until I ran into a problem of my own that I am sure clients run into as well, and that is the fact that you have to remember some piece of information in order to locate it digitally. I remember talking to a designer who I hit it off with and when I got home I could not for the life of me remember his name! I had his number, no idea which one it was so I never called him back. Sorry. The thing about not having a physical card when someone hands you ther own is incredibly akward, you feel so stupid, but when the shoe is on the other foot, it is kinda hilarious. Final note; ever hear of an "elevator speech"? It is a term used to describe the less than 5 minute opportunity you have to trap someone in an elevator and pitch them your idea. Even if they love it, once those doors open they are gone. They are not going to wait around for you to thumb through your phone and all of that, plus the really high up people do not even program their own phones. They have people who do it for them! They hand off the business cards to their assistants and they enter the info. If you do not slip them a physical card on the way out... opportunity missed and trust me, they WILL simply walk away.
Jim Mulvaney Exactly. I was at a conference and so many people I've kept in touch with is due to us exchanging cards. I still am entering numbers in the evenings before bed I have so many, but it is completely worthwhile and I'm emailing everyone after I enter there information. Follow up is essential in our industry.
Sometimes Vista print the card stock is too thin and also I Hate it when I was at a trade show some other people had same type of card as me. That SUCKS I was like you ordered from VISTA PRINT? YEP... Moo is good and Got print are good. They rates can get up there with the plastic cards. I ordered a plastic type of UNBREAKABLE card. it's ok. sort of flat I love things to sHINE and look GLOSSY.
Roberto Blake WOW that's awesome. Have you used ZAZZLE? I ordered some cards from ZAZZLE the other day but they looked okay online but the color is FLAT. I like really POPPING colors. But I got the one that's indestructable I did try to tear and it didn't tear. BUT in my opinion the RATES aren't as good as the ones you've mentioned. Next time I will take your advice. P.S. who has the best promo cards? LIke you know how when you go to AMEOBA in L.A. on Sunset and the bands have these 3x5 or 4x5 various cards that promote the bands? Which company does best job for that? I just had a brain storm. BUT i just found your post yesterday. Cheers.
I will WATCH all of your videos.. No worries. I watched like 8 yesterday.. That was a lot for me. No worries. I've subscribed.. AWESOME Videos. I liked your camera with the barn door type of hood. That was really kool looking. I was thinkng, "He's SERIOUS.." You're causing me to lean towards a NIKON now. Ordinarily I would say CANON, but at this point I need to purchase some new equiptment and I'm definitely going to look at the Nikon you've mentioned. I want to put those barn door flaps on mine too. What do you call those flaps you have on your camera?
Kevfactor QR codes aren't the worst thing but I don't like the for business cards, but I do like them for other things. I'm making interactive Tshirts and Posters that take advantage of them. The posters show their artwork being created when you use the QR Code in the corner. The Tshirts go to a cool video or video playlist. I would also use them in PRINT viral marketing. If I did a direct to UA-cam documentary for example I would do a flyer campaign with nothing but a QR code and bitly URL saying "Watch This!" I'd do something similar with billboards, film people using their phones to do it and their reactions and post that to UA-cam and have people get really interested in the film and the QR code marketing behind it. Boom! more content. There is a creative way to use everything to your advantage and QR codes are very popular outside the United States.
actually good idea on the poster! think i got 2 posters in my portfio that are my fav pieces. didn't think to put code on em. good to know you agree on the buisness cards. i seen some cards where like half of it is a qr code.
Kevfactor Yeah I don't like QR codes for business cards so much and it feels redundant. But for interactive print and artwork and physical products I feel it has untapped potential.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #30 ДВА В ОДНОМ [Один человек]• Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nrXy15orKhY/mqdefault.jpg)
TOTALLY agree... I also include a QR code on my cards for those my age lol
Once I went door to door introducing myself to local businesses. I went out with flyers of my services and my cards. The flyer got the conversations going right away. The cards got them excited about my quality. Even months later I got a contact and their email started with..."I have your business card here..." and got a logo job. I had left the card with an employee. Long story short, your card can bring you business even if it's not from the person you hand it to.
Kris Jolls Bingo!
Hi Roberto, you are absolutely right. Business cards are still important. They are even more important when doing business in other countries. In some countries a good business card is considered a reflection of the person who gives it. I've been in business for a while now and I make it a point to give each person I meet at least 2 of my cards. There are a few reasons to do so. One, it's harder to lose two or more business cards. Two, not everyone uses technology and those who do ( like myself) have an app that I can use to input the cards. Three, the people you give it to can give that extra card to someone else who may want to do business with you in the future. Thus making a great way to network.
Networking is a big part of business so any time you can get someone to help send some business your way, all the better. I also make sure to ask other people for more than one card for that same reason.
Another important thing about a business card is if you are a business that doesn't really advertise, a small business. Giving out your card is not only a way to have people remember you but also helps you compete with larger businesses that can afford to advertise. Word of mouth advertising is one of the best ways to become known. So if you hand some of your cards to someone who says they love your product or service and ask them if they can tell their friends about you, your on your way. Then multiply that by everyone you do business with and then you can truly compete in the marketplace. I hope what I have said helps your viewers.
***** Exactly. For all of those reasons I still believe in Business Cards and feel they will still be viable even 5-10 years from now. The world is rapidly changing, but most things still make sense and you can't technology your way out of human behavior and expectations cultivated over the last 100 years or so in some cases. Business cards are one of those things.
I agree with you, Roberto Blake . As long as we're doing business with other humans that means that physical experiences will matter when done properly AND in its proper context. Content is queen, Context is king!
Bryan J - 360 BRAND Content is King, Distribution is Queen, Context is GOD and Marketers (like me) are but humble Court Jesters... ;) LOL.
great video! generation x, millennial, whatever, some things don't change. I am an old art director and I am telling you that print is not dead and those who have jumped full into that camp are missing out. and in this day of digital media, which supposedly brings us together, we are becoming more and more compartmentalized as a society. an honest to god business card is a breath of fresh air.
Renaissance MarineTV Indeed! I completely agree with you! It also is a way to standout. A business card is a billboard in your pocket... I need to write that down for later... Its a way to cut through the noise. We all hear and complain about how noisy digital is and how hard it is to get noticed... Whenever one else is swapping data, handing them a nice looking card counts for a lot and makes you unique. And despite the fact I full believe in the business model of Ebooks, if you want serious attention, make a print book too. Yes the margin is lower, but the equity and storytelling opportunities it gives you are worth it. I will do a whole other video... possibly 5 Reasons Print isn't dead and then let other people chime in with more reasons in the comments.
Thanks for your amazing comment by the way! What agency are you with if you don't mind my asking?
Roberto Blake offline
In some motivation, my teach was like more print than ever is being produced today. it's just more of it is being ignored and the return on ads is generally lower than it use to be. :)
I think business card is way more important than digital. Sometimes it's not very convenient to take out your phone to insert multiple information. And, a business card can contain all your social media account, people can get these information at once. Plus, it's more professional to hand out a business card than to ask someone to follow you on twitter.
Vanessa Du Exactly! Do you currently have a business card? If not what is stopping you from making one?
I think you touched on something important here. Brand yourself for whatever fits your market. I find that small businesses often still like business cards even if they primarily deal with email or the web in general. For them, it is what makes them comfortable, and that builds trust. The more a client trusts you, the more freedom you will get for projects.
Tim McGrath Exactly Tim!
Amen. Once again you hit it where it counts. I had this conversation with my boss and had to educate him. Swears up and down no one uses business cards. I was like oh trust me, people do. Professionals, business people, and those that care about their personal brand use business cards. People who want to be taken seriously use business cards. All Day!
***** Even as a digital native I still value them, and print books. Yes I have the most important books for execution on digital so I have strong library in my pocket at all times. But many of my design books are still in print and on my shelf. I will probably buy 50 print books this year overall, that is how much it is still valued...
Roberto Blake Oh yes. They are coming out with great books all the time and I love book covers. I also love going to the library and checking out older graphic design book. Some of the vintage design is so inspirational and I use some of that in my current design.
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!!! I have been saying this to people for the past decade. When I ran the Visual Effects Department at the Academy of Art University I insisted that all my students get business cards. Roberto, you laid out so many bullet-proof arguments for why people (especially artists, designers, and performers) must have business cards. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have gotten work simply from always carrying business cards with me. I carry cards for myself as an actor. I carry cards for myself as VFX artist & animator. And I carry cards with me for my Aquatasy UA-cam channel which I end up handing out all the time (and people actually subscribe to my channel because of it). Nothing says "professional" like a business card. They still carry so much weight even in this digital age.
Well said, Roberto. I love the Moo cards. The shorter runs and variable backs encourage me to have some fun with the design. I think that young designers can get intimidated by the onus of designing their first, ultimate card. My advice is relax, experiment and enjoy the freedom of using your very favorite, type, images colors, etc…
ProfessorBRB That's a very healthy way to look at it!
They really do matter. Your very right.
Nice rant! You should SO make a video on how to ask clients to pay up, it's so hard sometimes, I just feel like i'm cheating the system or something like that even though I work hard on what I make for people. I guess it's because i'm just so naturally inclined to enjoy what I do so i find it hard to ask the client to pay me.
PaperManga The shortcut to getting comfortable to talking about money, is two fold, you can get a job in sales, or you can volunteer at a homeless shelter every week... either or both will give you perspective and you will learn to get very comfortable asking for what you are worth and making sure people deliver on it...
When you do your tutorial, can you talk about the types of paper, weight, finish, gloss vs matte, uv, varnish, diecuts, etc. Not a lot of design youtubers out there talk about those aspects and how to design and consider those options. Of course not everyone has the budget for all that but I think new designers definitely should be aware just in case they get a client that wants that and has the budget or how applying some of these to their own personal brand can make a difference and stand out.
***** Good idea. That will be in How To Design a Business Card video, which will be more Do's and Dont's than tutorial, the tutorial will be how to execute this in Adobe InDesign, and then in Adobe Illustrator, I almost refuse to do one in Photoshop because you really should do it one of those two programs.
Roberto Blake Yes! This would be fantastic. The tactile aspect of business cards, I feel, holds nearly equal importance to the appearance and design and helps cards stands out against a sea of flimsy Vistaprint cards. Props for listing Moo and GotPrint, as well! It took me a good year of calls and emails and samples and small runs before I arrived at those two as my go-to options.
Max Makes
Indeed! Yes tactile experience is super important in the psychology of selling. GotPrint and Moo are great companies! I want people to not have to go through what you went through so I always throw out recommendations and review things that work well for me.
***** if you are looking for more information on paper (or print production in general) here is a great glossary from Mohawk Paper on some of the terms.
www.mohawkconnects.com/glossary
You can also check other companies like Neenah, Wausau, and Domtar for product literature. Often they give a breakdown of what each paper is good for.
I would also consider doing an internship with a print shop if you want to learn more about the print process.
Tim McGrath Thanks for sharing that with me. Very helpful.
Thank you for the perspective on this!
No problem.
Hi Roberto,
Thanks for your video.
I definitely agree on all your points you've presented. I cannot stress enough to some how important having a tangible brand is to your marketing strategy. People have forgotten the importance of a tactile interaction with another person be it direct (handshake) or indirect (business card, letterhead, postcard, etc.).
Great Video!
Irfan Yang W Thanks, yep tangibility is still important and as more people go digital it will be a good way to differentiate yourself.
Dropping science, son. Keep it up.
The timing of this video was perfect!
Learn English with Nadene Awesome, how so?
Well I'm from a small city, and just two days ago, I went in to have some cards printed to hand out. Many people still value having business cards, and I think they will give me a boost. :)
Learn English with Nadene
Agreed, I think you should look at trying to hand out 200 biz cards a week. So I'd say you should get that deal I mentioned and get 5,000 or more printed online. Getting a lot of cards in people's hands is a good way to generate buzz in a small city or town.
I'll look into it! Sounds like a good plan, and you've proven that it works! I'll see if they ship internationally.
Learn English with Nadene
They do actually, they have a global back end.
I definitely agree with your views on this subject. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the subject of whether print portfolios are still relevant today. Online portfolios are usually what people ask to see in their job listings. Maybe you already did a video on this subject but if not, I'd definitely like to see this topic discussed!
I talked about this in portfolio advice 2015 video. it once again is a matter of context. Print work should be shown in print, websites and motion graphics on a laptop or tablet. I'd say leave a DVD with your motion graphics samples, email a PDF portfolio and present a print portfolio. If you are able to afford it, I would even say you could print your portfolio as a photo book once a year. Its pricey if you do 40 pages... but could be worth it.
Yeah I agree with you. I have a print portfolio I but when I bring to interviews they are uninterested in seeing it and would rather go over it on my website. It's interesting. I also think it has a lot to do with where you are applying to. If applying to a design firm, they would be more likely to ask for a print portfolio versus a company not in the design field. At least that's just from my experience.
Nicolette Shasky
I would agree with that, it also depends on the age and demographics of the person interviewing you. For that situation having a PDF portfolio on your website that you can email that is consistent with your print portfolio is good, which is why I went wide format on both. Print designers have a temptation to go the magazine route, but for consistency going wide is the best option in my opinion.
Also if you go the expensive route of printing and actual coffee table style book for you portfolio they usually will look at something like that regardless just due to curiosity and the fact you have something unique.
thank you some much, am from algeria and your videos helped me a lot in my graphic design work :D شكرا
Taki Seghari Glad to hear it!
i think with social media especially with say twitter and mailchimp app where you can immediately add someone to your newsletter, business cards need an update...i prefer giving something functional like a keyring or bookmark that will be of use, something that will filter into daily use. However, the rant was valid 😊
Business cards certainly do still matter. Add links to your social, business, UA-cam, etc. It's not just young vs. old either. A lot of older people are tech savvy too. 150 to 200 business cards handed out per day? Wow!
I always appreciate it when a company I order parts from sends a business card with the package, I usually end up passing it along to friends looking for similar things and it's like free marketing for them. I was wondering if you had any videos or planned on doing any about getting your products to look professionally packaged - like having a box designed for a specific product with logos and all the little fiddly bits, etc...
keegan connor I may cover that or bring a special guest on a hangout that has a ton of experience with that.
I'll definitely keep an eye out for that, thanks for the reply
This was very informative.
Priscilla Knight Thanks!
I THINK U R RIGHT....and its funny how.. its the LAST darn thing.. a Graphic Designer wants to work on... FOR ME.. I
STILL need a custom logo and a custom biz card.
Seriously, your business card videos crack me up. Can you please do an update for 2019?
It’s 2020 I think it’s time for a fresh one!
I have business cards. I always see them as one-on-one personal interaction. It make you look professional and legit. Because can tell people what you do and even give them your digital information but most of the time they won't bother to take it or even wrote it down wrong. However, I have to get my own personal website. I'm using coroflow to show case my work and to be honest it's really unprofessional. Anyway, I'm getting off track. Good video señor Roberto.
Best regards,
Jarvis Fernandez
Jorvis Hitokiri Thanks Jarvis. completely agree of course. Yes you need your own website, if for no other reason that having your own email address also gets everyone to take you more seriously. Even my vendors and service providers immediately treat me differently when I give them my email address and it has my name in it. There are optics that matter and there those that do not. I've raised my optics to the point for example where I can wear a t-shirt I designed and a hat and dreads and be taken seriously, rather than have to wear a suit and tie and be "clean cut". Biz cards and also a branded look are ways to "cut through the noise", if you do it right.
Roberto Blake Well said.
Jorvis Hitokiri Thanks. You may want to reference my video about why you need a blog if you haven't already and also my how to design website portfolio video.
Roberto Blake I did and I will re-watch them again. I digging through your channel slowly. I can't thanks you enough for your content.
I still give out and accept business cards
I don't currently have business cards. I found this video interesting though, and agree that context is a factor. Would you say that writers should ideally have them? I know that this video is from 2015, but it seems equally relevant in 2017.
I agree with you!
paintnknit Thanks!
You know way more than me, but with that being said, yeah I think they are still valuable and relevant too. But as time goes on the older clients that grew up with business cards will be fewer and fewer. So the question is in 10 years will physical business cards still be relevant or used at all? If (and I hope) they are, they will be totally geared towards leading the client to view digital formats.
***** In 10 years it's still likely that I will be shooting video and photos and a convention and be too busy to whip out my smartphone compared to giving and receiving a card. So YES. If I'm at a speaking engagement in 10 years, as I rush off the stage to meet and greet people in the audience, do I have more time to take cards or to put numbers into phones? Cards. There will still be people who are busy in 10 years, there will still be people with their hands full in 10 years. Technology can't change that context that quickly, so YES. They will matter. I'm marketing like its 2025 by leveraging video and mobile, and biz cards, since yes they matter today and will matter in 2025.
Thanks for the help
I am 100% the sam opinion. I am about to get my own cards and i've had some guys who told me that this was not a thin anymore. I think you are right and i know inwould appretiate a card more than just a email with the information i need.
Yeah. For folks who get a ton of emails a day I would be afraid mine would get lost in the clutter. When I get business cards I put them in a scrapbook for inspiration and so I can go back and look.
***** Right! Especially in these digital days something like a card can be cool to have! There are some awesome and very creative cards people have made and i am 100% sure people would much more appretiate a creative card than a simple email which is only one of thousands they get.
***** I keep a box that a run of 1000 of my cards came in and put everyone's cards in there. It's almost full. That's how not dead business cards are...
***** Also something I started doing is when I add them to my phone from their biz card, I'm taking a snapshot of the biz card as their profile pic for it.
***** Exactly, and that is how you create context! If I were mean I wouldn't have done this video, because by hopping on the bandwagon it means I could be unique simply by having a biz card still when nobody else does. That often happens and I get a call about it often enough, about being the only person who actually handed them a card and how surprised they were, especially because I'm young (30 but look like 20)
Although I have a business card with me, it needs to be updated. Besides that, wouldn't a networking card be good enough?
***** If you mean a general purpose card then yes. What needs to be updated on your cards?
Love business cards it is a game starter.
Today...Enjoy, Yourself! Indeed they are! You mentioned liking the shirt, they are available in my SpreadShirt Store, there is a link in the description.
Thanks for info
Oh, I definitely agree with you. I have had potential clients actually get angry with me for using a digital card system and not giving them the alternative of an actual business card. I have yet to have someone get angry with me for giving them a physical business card. In web dev, I thought I was being all cutting edge and tech-savy by going all-digital, until I ran into a problem of my own that I am sure clients run into as well, and that is the fact that you have to remember some piece of information in order to locate it digitally. I remember talking to a designer who I hit it off with and when I got home I could not for the life of me remember his name! I had his number, no idea which one it was so I never called him back. Sorry. The thing about not having a physical card when someone hands you ther own is incredibly akward, you feel so stupid, but when the shoe is on the other foot, it is kinda hilarious. Final note; ever hear of an "elevator speech"? It is a term used to describe the less than 5 minute opportunity you have to trap someone in an elevator and pitch them your idea. Even if they love it, once those doors open they are gone. They are not going to wait around for you to thumb through your phone and all of that, plus the really high up people do not even program their own phones. They have people who do it for them! They hand off the business cards to their assistants and they enter the info. If you do not slip them a physical card on the way out... opportunity missed and trust me, they WILL simply walk away.
Jim Mulvaney Exactly. I was at a conference and so many people I've kept in touch with is due to us exchanging cards. I still am entering numbers in the evenings before bed I have so many, but it is completely worthwhile and I'm emailing everyone after I enter there information. Follow up is essential in our industry.
On point
Sometimes Vista print the card stock is too thin and also I Hate it when I was at a trade show some other people had same type of card as me. That SUCKS I was like you ordered from VISTA PRINT? YEP... Moo is good and Got print are good. They rates can get up there with the plastic cards. I ordered a plastic type of UNBREAKABLE card. it's ok. sort of flat I love things to sHINE and look GLOSSY.
I ordered from a lot of places to be able to make recommendations
Roberto Blake
WOW that's awesome. Have you used ZAZZLE? I ordered some cards from ZAZZLE the other day but they looked okay online but the color is FLAT. I like really POPPING colors. But I got the one that's indestructable I did try to tear and it didn't tear. BUT in my opinion the RATES aren't as good as the ones you've mentioned. Next time I will take your advice. P.S. who has the best promo cards? LIke you know how when you go to AMEOBA in L.A. on Sunset and the bands have these 3x5 or 4x5 various cards that promote the bands? Which company does best job for that? I just had a brain storm. BUT i just found your post yesterday. Cheers.
what does your card look like Roberto?
I show it on screen and I have shown it in other content.
I will WATCH all of your videos.. No worries. I watched like 8 yesterday.. That was a lot for me. No worries. I've subscribed.. AWESOME Videos. I liked your camera with the barn door type of hood. That was really kool looking. I was thinkng, "He's SERIOUS.." You're causing me to lean towards a NIKON now. Ordinarily I would say CANON, but at this point I need to purchase some new equiptment and I'm definitely going to look at the Nikon you've mentioned. I want to put those barn door flaps on mine too. What do you call those flaps you have on your camera?
Listen! *****
agree
keifer simpson Thanks!
now fx home have a free software for both editing and viaual effects, hittfilm 3 express
I'll make one but i cant bring myself to put an ugly QR code on it hehe
Kevfactor QR codes aren't the worst thing but I don't like the for business cards, but I do like them for other things. I'm making interactive Tshirts and Posters that take advantage of them. The posters show their artwork being created when you use the QR Code in the corner. The Tshirts go to a cool video or video playlist. I would also use them in PRINT viral marketing. If I did a direct to UA-cam documentary for example I would do a flyer campaign with nothing but a QR code and bitly URL saying "Watch This!" I'd do something similar with billboards, film people using their phones to do it and their reactions and post that to UA-cam and have people get really interested in the film and the QR code marketing behind it. Boom! more content. There is a creative way to use everything to your advantage and QR codes are very popular outside the United States.
actually good idea on the poster! think i got 2 posters in my portfio that are my fav pieces. didn't think to put code on em. good to know you agree on the buisness cards. i seen some cards where like half of it is a qr code.
Kevfactor Yeah I don't like QR codes for business cards so much and it feels redundant. But for interactive print and artwork and physical products I feel it has untapped potential.
+NathanEdwards dang
Hey Hey guys, What's the best cardboard/paper to print your business card designs on?
+Dahlia Okoye It depends on your type of business and the design.
tell me more please
you like video games?