by Jennifer Johnson

Created on: August 05, 2009

Fair or not, people often judge by appearances. You can be the very best at what you do, but if the first impression your business makes is a poor one, you may never have the opportunity to demonstrate your expertise to customers.

One way to 'upgrade' your appearance and sell your image is by utilizing color business cards.

We've all seen the plain Jane, black and white boring cards used by many businesses or (even worse in my opinion) the amateurish home printer produced flimsy cards. While these may save a few pennies in the short term, in the long run they might actually be costing you much more.

One of the key factors in attracting customers is establishing trust and a prime method for doing that is to present a professional and credible image - most especially if you are an online business.

Think about it; have you ever been to a website and found a product you wanted to order, but had second thoughts based on how poorly the business presented itself? We can all relate to that, but stop and consider that your business card may be having the same effect on YOUR potential customers.

Oftentimes business owners seek the minimize the negative impact of a poor business image by stressing their competence or superior product line. I must state once again, though, that your clients may *never get to that point* if they are turned off by the non-professional way your business is presented!

Today, with widespread access to online print shops, there is really no excuse for not utilizing advanced technology and delivery methods and acquiring a set of color business cards for marketing purposes. If it's been some time since you last priced them, I think you'll be surprised to find that even full color, two-sided cards are very affordable now - and you can even design them yourself online - either from free onsite templates or from scratch - at many sites.

Here are a few sites that offer DIY business card designs:

Vistaprint www.vistaprint.com

OvernightPrints www.overnightprints.com

Zazzle www.zazzle.com

Regardless of whether you do-it-yourself or hire a designer, there are a few key things to keep in mind:

*Don't sacrifice readability for aesthetics

*Include all important contact information

*Choose quality card stock

*Be sure to include your web site and email address

*Utilize the back of the card to maximize marketing potential

*Since prices are very affordable now, consider using several different cards for to suit your varied marketing objectives

If you're currently using a business card that presents you in a less-than-positive light, consider upgrading your image. It's a small investment with big potential to increase your cash flow!

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