Business card design, help needed please

[Harry Nutczak]

I picked up some "Self print" cards to get out there temporarily for the people that are asking for one.

I am using my logo,

and just an e-mail adresss printed for contact purposes. (If I want i can hand write my Phone number too)


I need verbage to use,

So far all I got is "Real Southern BBQ" and I don't even like that phrase!!
I need to get these done real soon. I got people wanting to get price quotes, and no cards to hand them.

Maybe I will do my logo in the center of the card, and just add the e-mail address.


Thanks, any suggestions ??
_________________
Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!

[skybob]

Well, Marv has probably the best one sewed up. Hmmmmm, gonna have to get my thinker working. Pretty early on a Saturday morning to have to do much cogitating.
How about: BBQ, It's the real deal;
BBQ, it's where I'm at;
Finger Lick'n, lip smack'n good

[Harry Nutczak]

[SMOKESTACKS BBQ]

here you go.i mention this when marv was doing his.but with your logo i think it would be awsome. let me know what you think



BARBECUE WITH AN ATTITUDE!

[sseige]

Cards with slogans are not going to land any gigs for you. They will keep your name in front of your potential clients if you can get them to hold on to them. IMO keep it simple and make it so they have a hard time misplacing it.
I like to use magnet backers if you look at most fridges they have magnets on them why not yours? little bit of color and need to know stuff and your set
_________________
Rusty Saw Smokehouse BBQ
And The Damn Yankee Touring Team
Southern Pride 1000

Gasser!

[Harry Nutczak]

[sseige]

How will prospects get your card? word of mouth? then most of what you do will be discussed when the card is exchanged. You give the card to a prospect? Then you had better have your elevator talk down so it comes out like you have been saying it for years. Keep your card simple and get them to ask the questions "they want ask"
_________________
Rusty Saw Smokehouse BBQ
And The Damn Yankee Touring Team
Southern Pride 1000

Gasser!

[chef_hog]

The cards are a great idea to give out especially at events but you need to keep it simple. Your logo, contact info and tag line. I have just tried something new in this area alot of small business have starting to use those coreplast signs. I went and had them made for my business and the other day put out a few to see what would happen well the same day that I put the test signs up I got a call from someone who is looking for a 2 day event at a Furniture store where thay will have a radio station for thier Memerial Day Sale, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Pulled Pork Sammies, bag of chips, I quoted them $7.95 per person for 100 ppl each day for 2 hours serving time, so that will be about $1575 for 4 hours of serving cost should come in @ about $300

[Big Tom]

I did some two sided cards for my smoker business and cooking team.

I got them from one of the on-line places. The cards turned out OK, I got what I paid out. The image on screen looked better than the printed images. I used a background of real fire the the name and contact information. Unfortunately they are hard to read, but look sharp.

The back side for the cooking team is just plain white with the black lettering. very clean and easy to read, just not flashy.

Maybe I will give out enough of them in Memphis that I will order a new batch.
_________________
Big Tom
Pigs-R-Us Cooking Team
Owensboro, KY / Corinth, MS

[marvsbbq]

Wish I had my camera here in VEGAS...but I don't. Take a look at this post when I posted a pic of my new shirts....The wording is pretty much what my cards say.

As far as my cards design...I have the pig (logo) off to one side with all the wording to the right. My phone number is BIGGER and different color than the rest of the wording. You want your ph number to stand out and be easy to read.

http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7653&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

You can also go to www.dexonline.com and type in Olympia, WA and then type in my business name...will bring up my yellow page add.

You DO want your card to describe WHAT you do...so if a stranger gets a hold of your card...THEY know what you do. You do NOT get a chance to talk to each and every person that gets one of your cards AS they take the card...

Also, when handing out cards...ALWAYS hand at least TWO Cards to your contacts...one for THEIR wallet and one for THEM to hand out as they talk about you to others...

The magnet cards are cool, but really I have ONE on my fridge and that is for my housekeeper. And they are pretty costly as well...IMO

Now the double sided are a good idea but again....cost more.
_________________
Often imitated but never duplicated

[Harry Nutczak]

What I have so far;

I bought some DIY "business cards from your computer" deal from Avery. Put my Logo on the right side up towards the corner, and it is the most prominent item on the card.

Top line is what I do, (BBQ catering)
left side is a list of items (ribs, chicken, brisket, pork, Steaks & chops, Prime-Rib) and I also added "Full service catering" under that.

I only put my business e-mail address on the card for contact info due to the fact I have not added a business-only phone line yet.
I do not need or want the phone answered by a simple "Hello?" with a possible client on the other end!

For people I know, I will give them my phone number and tell them that the business line is not installed yet, they'll understand if they call and do not get "Hello, Bad Bones BBQ how can we help you?" when they call.

I am relying on my truck to do most of the advertising. This thing will be a traveling bill-board with all the flames & vinyl on it.

I will post the finished card when they are done. They will most likely match the truck in many ways.
_________________
Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!

[mutha chicken bbq]

Hey Harry,

I thought these looked pretty eye catching. On the reverse I have a bright red backround with coals cooking some chicken. And mention the type of food I offer. Just a thought.

The only thing I don't like is I didn't do like Marv and make the name stand out enough. But they are nice and bright cards with a glossy finnish on both sides.

PM me


_________________
The only thing consistant in BBQ is, it is always the Judges fault!

KCBS CBJ
www.galvinell.com
www.realdealbbq.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUcTvhyof8I&feature=related

[marvsbbq]

Harry, I think from an earlier post you said that MOST people in your 'neck of the woods' did NOT have internet. If that is the case and you only put your email on the card.....HOW will MOST people contact you?? I would at least put your cell # on the cards if nothing else and only print out a few at a time until you DO get a business line...which is only a matter ot making a phone call to get that set up.
_________________
Often imitated but never duplicated

[Slamdunkpro]

I've designed a lot of business cards. Keep it simple: Your Logo, what you do, Who you are (name) and a phone#. People always try to cram too much on a card. If you need a magnifying glass to read it; you've got too much on it

If you don't want to answer your home phone as the business get a 2nd cell on a month to month as the business line until you get something more "official". Answering "Hello" or calling a home phone just screams "beginner" or "fly by night" to potential clients.
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Real Barbecue gives you time to get drunk after putting it in the smoker and sober up before taking it out!

Regards,
Michael

[SoEzzy]

From a visual selling point of view, you might want your logo on the left.

This is the most positive placement area of visual advertisements.

Then you could use Traditional BBQ instead of southern bbq.
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Here's a change Robert.

I still work here!

[Harry Nutczak]

A cell phone is my thoughts too, I have checked pricing and I am looking at about $600.00 annually with unlimited minutes, and free nationwide Long distance.

I do not know if your gonna believe me, But neither one of us has or wants a cell phone, I have lived without one for 6 years now and don't miss it.
We have "Onstar' in both vehicles, with their calling plan at 50 cents a minute a 1/2 hour of time last's the entire year.

But I guess I need to do it now, I will deal with that this week sometime.
Cell coverage up here is sketchy at best, we are still analog only, no digital towers yet. So "blackberries" are only known as a fruit in these parts. Even the old bag-phones with external antenna's have a "No Service" message on them most of the time.

I e-mailed my logo files to the printer, he is doing a couple mock-ups for me, and I will choose from them. I can always have some more done later.

Mutha,
the printer has some samples that look similiar with that background, I think they are easy enough to read, and stand out. I might go with some brighter colors.

When I post pictures of my truck next Sunday evening, you guys will need to have some spare undies nearby. and I'll see if the cards can be made to fit the theme.
_________________
Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!

[marvsbbq]

I have had my 'home phone' as my 'business phone' for 13 years now with 'not many' problems. With the caller ID if I don't know them I always answer as my business...

I also transfer my phone (business/home) to my cell when I leave the office/home. That way when I get a business call, they don't know if I am in VEGAS, Hawhaii or sitting in my office. I have booked 2 events so far today sitting on my brother's patio nursing a beer and no one is the wiser...except all of you now..

Isn't tecnology wonderful????
_________________
Often imitated but never duplicated

[Big Tom]

I am doing business with my cell phone, the only time I don't get any reception is when I am inside the building at my real job. (like now)

That way I don't really miss any calls, some just go to voice mail before I may get a chance to respond.
_________________
Big Tom
Pigs-R-Us Cooking Team
Owensboro, KY / Corinth, MS

[Harry Nutczak]

Well, then cell-phone it is. $600.00 annually is no big thing, I need to be reached while out on jobs, and I might need to reach someone if i pull a boneheaded move like forgetting something.

I just do not want this number at home (which is already used for our self-storage business) to have another business tied to it. it might be a little difficult to answer with 2 different business names that are so totally unrelated. (I forgot about the storage business?, Wow!! I am a little stressed out lately) the storage business really just takes care of itself, we are one unit short of full capacity right now anyways.

kinda like the Flagstaf AZ international airport, hair care, & tire center.
_________________
Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!

[BBQMAN]

How about:

Bad (if you don't eat meat, well still give ya' the) Bones BBQ!
Nobody Beats our Meat
or my names not "Harry Nutzack"!

Please "phone for the bone" at *** *** *****
or e-mail for a meal at Harrysnutzak(don't that sound tasty).net
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.