Stationery Design Tips &
Business Cards Design Tips

The Business Card
Business cards generally consist of a single card stock sheet with an individual's contact information, including name, company name, and company address, phone, fax, email, and website address. Don't make the mistake of trying to cram every bit of contact information onto your business card. If you need to include a great deal of information, use the back side of the card as well.

Paper Stock, Business Cards Size, and Colors
Most business cards are printed on 100-lb. glossy, professional white or off-white stock. This is generally the least expensive option. Many business choose to use specialty stocks to give their business cards extra flair.

Choose your stock carefully. The stock you choose can say as much about you and your company as the words the business card contains. You can choose a vivid, eye-catching color, a subtle textured stock, or stock with high recycled content, among others. Each type of paper makes a statement about you and your company.

The most common business card size is 2" x 3.5". We recommend that you stick with a standard size due to the fact that many business card scanners and business card holders are made to fit this size.

Over the last several years - full color has become much less expensive. Since the vast majority of cards are printed in black ink on white card stock, adding color is a very simple way to make your card stand out. Color doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of money. Printing in colored ink on colored card stock can be very economical if full color is not an option.

Things to Avoid
If you put a picture on your business card - make sure it has an up-to-date picture.

Watch out for free business card offers on the web. As this offer sounds very compelling these cards often have a logo or text on the back saying that "This is a free business card - to get yours at ...(go to some company)". This looks very unprofessional if you plan to hand out your cards in a business type atmosphere. We recommend that you go ahead and spend a little money to get a card that does not say free on the back!

We do not recommend making your own business cards as this process is often time consuming and can be expensive (ink and card stock). In addition, people strongly dislike receiving cards with rough edges (made from the blank stock purchased at office supply stores) They are often perceived as cheap and unprofessional. The price of printed business cards has come down considerable in the last few years. You can get a much more professional card at a very low rate by having a professional print shop make your business cards.

Letterheads Design Tips

Letterheads Design Packages & Tips
For many businesses, a great letterhead package, with stunning business cards, is the most critical of marketing materials. Along with an effective logo, a letterhead package lends credibility and respectability to the business it represents. Want to make a great impression? Want to look like you’ve been in business for many years? Start with a convincing letterhead package and business cards.

Making a Good letterheads Impression
All the marketing materials you produce for your business should sell for you. That includes letters and business cards. Sometimes your business card is the only impression a potential customer has of your business before they contact you. A first rate business package, including your letterhead, business cards and envelopes, should make it easy for your prospect to understand what you do, the quality and value your business offers.

Letterheads Cost
Looking for embossing, four color or foil on your letterhead package? These special treatments look beautiful and make a spectacular impression. If you’re looking to make a great impression, but you don’t have such deep pockets, there are many ways to trim costs back. Standard two color letterheads and business cards can be affordable and striking. Are you a start-up? We can make you look like a seasoned veteran. Are you seeking a new corporate image to match your success. When Marketing Impressions designs your new look, everyone will sit up and take notice.

Letterheads Design
There are a countless ways to lay out your letterhead, envelopes and business cards. Want a look that is fresh and innovative? We can do it. Looking for a conservative corporate image with flair? We can do it. Is quirky and creative your style? We can do it. No matter what your look, consider an inventive approach to your business card. Two sided, fold over and mini-brochure business cards are both cost effective and stand out from the crowd.

Getting Started
Once we have submitted and you have accepted our estimate, we will begin the layout process. Marketing Impressions has a time-tested, tried and true secret method for determining your letterhead package style preferences. This means you won’t be dependent on imprecise descriptions of your vision. After all, our job is to take your vision from the abstract to the concrete, from an idea to reality. We know how to do this in such a way that we are sure to hit the mark and give you layout proofs you love.

Custom Envelopes Design Tips

Envelopes
Commercial business envelopes come in several standard sizes and are normally expressed by a number such as #9 or #10. See the chart below for a list of the most common sizes. Most business envelopes are manufactured using 16 lb. to 40 lb. paper stock. Personal envelopes are also available in a wide variety of sizes and colors.

Commercial Envelopes Measurements
Commercial business envelopes sizes are often referenced by a number such as #9 or #10. The chart below includes all of the most common types used by printers today.

Size Width x Length
#6 1/4 3 1/2" x 6"
#6 3/4 3 5/8 x 6 1/2"
#7 3 3/4" x 6 3/4"
#7 3/4 3 7/8" x 7 1/2"
#8 5/8 3 5/8" x 8 5/8"
#9 3 7/8" x 8 7/8"
#10 4 1/8" x 9 1/2"
#11 4 1/2" x 10 3/8"
#12 4 3/4" x 11"
#14 5" x 11 1/2"

Substance Weights for Envelopes
16 lb. Used for overseas air mail envelopes.
20 lb. Used for commercial envelopes where strength and opacity is not a factor.
24 lb. Used for most open side official and commercial envelopes.
28 lb. Used for most open and catalog envelopes and large (i.e. 11, 12 and 14) size commercial envelopes.
32 lb. Used for heavy duty envelopes and clasp envelopes.
40 lb. Used for large envelopes, heavy duty envelopes or envelopes used for storage and frequent reference.

Envelopes Types
Commercial - Commercial envelopes are normally used for letterhead, invoices, statements, direct marketing mailings, and reply mail. Come in cartons of 2500-5000.

Booklet - Booklet envelopes (open-sided envelopes) are often used to mail annual reports, brochures, sales literature and small documents. These types of envelopes are normally used in high volume because they can be automatically inserted. Come in cartons of 500-1000.

Catalog - Catalog envelopes are used to mail catalogs, large booklets and other high weight articles. Catalog envelopes (open-ended envelopes) do not have the machine insert option. They are often hand packed. These type of envelopes often include a metal clasp. Come in cartons of 500-1000.

Invitation - Often used in formal occasions. These types of envelopes are characterized by their pointed flaps and enclosures. They can come with or without an embossed (raised) border panel. Come in cartons of 2500-5000.

A Size - Announcements, small booklets, brochures, less formal invitations, and promotional pieces. These envelopes have a square flap and come in a wide range of finishes and colors. What happens most often is enclosures are produced custom to fit within the envelope. For this reason they do not have raised panels. Come in cartons of 1000-2500.

Shipping/Packaging - These types of envelopes are typically used for, guess what, shipping items.
These are the types that most envelope companies will offer: Paperboard, Tyvek, Corrugated, Bubble, and Plastic.