Ever notice the expressions on people's faces when they look at other people's business cards? If you have never done this, try it once or twice. Notice the expression within the first second and a half they look at it. That expression is the viewer's assessment of your professionalism. A raised brow with a touch of a smile or a mildly painful look can be the difference between getting to know someone better and the polite, "well nice meeting you".


There are many ways to design business cards. Re-inventing the business card is rarely necessary. With a good logo and a clean concept, you can tell  your audience you are a professional.

One of the most common mistakes seen on business cards is clutter. Too much information on such a small piece of real estate gives the viewer very little to focus on. If you have a plethora of information you must have on your business card, consider breaking it up a little. Try putting your branding information, like your logo and slogan, on one side and all your contact information on the other. This allows for a little creative freedom for impact and a very readable reverse side of information for business card scanning machines.

The other extreme can be just as detrimental. Business cards with no pizazz leave very little or no impression of your personality. This comes into play when the viewer later brings your business card out of their pocket a day to a week later and has nothing to really remember you by except a nice piece of parchment and a name. In this day and age of over stimulation of the senses, you can ill afford to be the one that never stands out in a crowd.

As a rule of thumb, always remember that your business card is your ambassador. Once it leaves your hands, it is what people use to remember you by. Make sure that re-impression is as strong as the physical first impression you made when you met that person. To take it to the next level, that same card may be your fist impression to someone you have never met. We all know what is said about first impressions.

 

At the same time, a large majority of consumers think businesses that continue to advertise are competitive and/or committed to doing business.

The research study, "Advertising's Impact in a Soft Economy," which was undertaken to determine whether stopping advertising during the recession could harm a business, takes an in-depth look at specific consumer perceptions regarding firms that continue to advertise in the current economy, as well as those that refrain.

The absence of advertising can harm a brand!

The Study found that advertising appears to play a key role in consumers' view of how a business is doing. Failing to advertise, may be sending a warning signal to current and potential customers.

For example, when consumers no longer see/hear advertising from an auto dealership during a down economy, 50 percent say they view the dealership as "struggling." In addition, 19 percent feel these dealers are "less willing to deal," and only 7 percent believe they "must be doing well."

On the other hand, when a dealership advertises during tough times, 34 percent believe the dealership to be committed to doing business.

"It is critical to advertise in the current economic climate, to maintain long-term positive consumer perception of your brand," said C. Lee Smith, president and CEO of Ad-ology Research. "Advertising  assures consumers of a business' reliability in a soft economy and can influence where and what they buy, especially when the ads address concerns about value."

At last, Buzzbizz Studios has launched its new website. Please take a moment of your time to peruse the many facets the new site has to offer. Lots of visuals and an extensive portfolio section highlighting graphic and web design work as well as samplings of audio and video productions done at Buzzbizz Studios. We are also introducing a few of our on-line services through our main site. Check it out. A rework of our on-line services site, www.bbshosting.biz is next in line for the new on-line look. We will keep you posted on its launch this summer. All services will remain available in the meantime.