Online. This is among the most popular forms of portfolio design. It’s easy to access by anyone with the Internet, and it shows that in addition to creating all the lovely projects in your portfolio, you can also create a user-friendly, attractive website. One tip is to let your work shine through – don’t go too crazy with the bells and whistles on the website at the risk of crowding your portfolio pieces.

Brochure. This is old school. A brochure is something you can physically hand to potential clients. It’s a shiny, classy way to be sure your work detail shows up. A brochure is a good choice – in addition to an online portfolio – for more artsy pieces, as creativity can sometimes get lost when it’s pixilated.

Booklet. A cheaper alternative to a brochure is a booklet. Freelance illustrator Steve Harpster recently ordered a batch of booklet portfolios after marketing attempts with postcards and directory listings. The booklets contain 30 of his images as well as his variety of styles. They’re much less expensive to ship to prospects than brochures.

PDF. Less expensive to produce than a website is a PDF. Despite the grumblings in the past, most potential clients will have a PDF reader on their computer, and they can easily open up your work and see it intact. A layered PDF allows the viewer to flip through multiple pieces of your work, and you can create buttons and links.

Business card. For a bonus way to market yourself, use up that real estate on your business card. Create fold-out business cards and include thumbnails of your best portfolio work. Be sure to include how to get access to the rest of your portfolio.

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When it comes to business cards, the same handshake rules pretty much apply. A business card will flop if the paper stock is flimsy and the type is too small, light or hard to read. Business cards also self-destruct when they go overboard with heavy-handed designs that look outdated or distract from what it is the person or business does. To avoid cheap-looking or ineffective business cards, follow these three tips belows;

1. Choose a reliable printer
I once thought I could create my own business cards for my freelance writing business, using a calligraphy pen and some blank card stock from the stationery store. Boy was I wrong! The cards came out looking like a 5-year old made them and became more of a joke than an actual business promotion. Get in touch with your trusted print vendor, to be sure that the printing and paper quality meet your expectations. The best printers will also offer design and printing advice to help make your card a success. Always ask for a digital proof before the cards are printed to avoid embarrassing typos and graphic design mishaps.

2. Make the paper work for you
For a firm business card that won’t seem cheap or flimsy when you hand it out, choose a 12-point paper thickness or higher. Most printers will offer matte and glossy or coated paper stocks. Think about your company’s logo, the font you’re using and whether or not you’ll be doing a black-and-white or color business card. All of these factors can help you determine whether a glossy or matte finish will look best. If you want to get creative, use die cuts to enhance the card’s design and make it stand out. Some companies will round the edges of their cards or just round one edge for a unique feel. If the company name begins with a “V,” the business card could also feature a V-shaped die cut on one of the edges, to underscore the company name.

3. Don’t forget to sell!
If you work for a Fortune 500 company or a brand that everyone knows, it’s acceptable to simply put your company name, title and contact information on the business card. However, if you are a freelancer or part of a small business, it’s vital to include as much information as possible about what you do and what services your business offers. Include a tagline that describes your company, or be sure that your title actually describes what you do to help customers. Don’t be afraid to use the real estate on the back of the card as well. It can be a great place to put a short customer testimonial, list links to all of your social media assets or feature a list of all your available products or services.

©2010 PsPrint Blog. All Rights Reserved.

PsPrint is now offering three paper stocks to choose from:

• Top-quality gloss sticker paper with crack-and-peel backing (for indoor use)
• Premium vinyl sticker paper with glossy UV coating (for indoor or outdoor use)
• Clear polyester sticker paper with glossy UV coating (for indoor or outdoor use)

Marketing your business with stickers is easy-peasy because you have a smaller space, and you don’t want to overload it information. Here are some ideas:

Pique your audience’s curiosity by including your logo and website – no company or band name.

Make sticker business cards.

Create a custom die cut to make your sticker stand out.

Bumper stickers never go out of style! What easier way to grab attention than when a driver is stuck behind you in traffic?

K.I.S.S. = Keep it simple, stupid. That’s a crude way of reminding you to not go crazy with your stickers. Stick with just a couple of bold colors, such as a white background so that letters or graphics show up clearly.

Think of your green efforts when it comes to stickers. Maybe your business is already well known, but stickers are a great way to remind potential new customers that you recycle or switched to energy-saving light bulbs. Hand out stickers and paste them on your store windows. Green sticker marketing goes both ways, too, since you can choose soy-based inks, and stickers aren’t as easily tossed away as other printed marketing materials.

What are some of the creative ways you’ve used stickers?

©2010 PsPrint Blog. All Rights Reserved.

To incorporate the best of Mardi Gras, just borrow from the traditional Super Bowl bet between mayors. In the event of the Colts prevailing this past Sunday, Ray Nagin of New Orleans promised to hand over to Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard CDs of New Orleans-based musicians, beads, King Cake, beignets and coffee. The Colts lost to the Saints, though, so Mayor Ballard is on his own to gather up those tunes and treats. Here’s how Ballard – and anyone else – can create their own Mardi Gras.

Hand out beads. Mardi Gras can be a pretty raucous party with beads traditionally thrown from balconies to ladies who lift their tops. Try that in the office, and someone is likely to get sued. But you can still hand out beads to customers, clients and employees. Add a bit of marketing flair by attaching a hang tag or your business card to the necklace.

Bake a King Cake. A King Cake is a fun and delicious tradition. Shaped like a wheel, the cake contains a ceramic or porcelain baby. The person who gets the slice with the baby is responsible for holding the next party. In my family, we always shared a King Cake on the Epiphany, Jan. 6. Now the tradition has evolved into weekly King Cake parties, ending on Fat Tuesday. Try this recipe for King Cake from the Food Network. If you’re concerned about choking hazards, substitute a bean or nut for the baby.

Play Mardi Gras music. Get your customers and employees in a festive mood by making a mix CD of Mardi Gras music. You’ll want lots of Cajun, Caribbean and brass flavors. Fortunately, the Mardi Gras Digest has made it easy by compiling its top 40 tunes. In addition to playing a CD on Fat Tuesday, hand out your mix to customers inside a customized CD sleeve – it’s a marketing tool that will be enjoyed all year long!

Serve beignets and coffee. One of the first places people savor when they think of New Orleans is Café Du Monde, world-famous for its beignets. You can re-create the experience by making your own beignets. Brew up a pot of coffee, play your mix CD, and you have the makings of Mardi Gras from the comfort of your workplace!

©2010 PsPrint Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Due to popular demand, PsPrint has introduced 14-point C1S paper stock, a thick, high-quality cover stock that’s ideal for projects requiring high resolution and sharp imagery. Essentially, you can ensure your logo, business name and contact information are represented in high gloss on one side, but the other side of the paper is matte, and you’re able to write on it. Think about the opportunities for such paper: business cards, referral cards, VIP cards, surveys, appointment cards and greeting cards.

The C1S stock is just one type of paper available to PsPrint customers. If you’re not into shiny – or are just concerned about the environment – PsPrint also offers a 13-point matte cover stock that’s made with 100 percent recycled fiber and bleached without the use of chlorine compounds. It offers an elegant finish and sharp color reproduction.

A third option is the 14-point C2S stock, which provides a glossy sheen on both sides of the paper. It’s a perfect match for when you want to do a mass mailing to your clients – you get a professional look on your cards, they’re all printed out for you, and they can even be sent out with direct mail services.

All three paper stocks are included in PsPrint’s free sample kit.

©2010 PsPrint Blog. All Rights Reserved.

This blank card is your canvas for any personalized message.

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about new uses for business cards, such as printing cards that identify you as your child’s parent for classmates’ mothers and fathers, ordering cards that list your specialty if you’re unemployed or freelancing, and having cards on hand for when you meet someone who strikes your fancy. The latter led to a discussion about fun gift ideas involving business cards.

The first concept was to create an ostentatious title for your mate. Rather than go for the obvious “World’s Greatest Lover,” print out a batch of business cards for your significant other with a title that’s part of an inside joke between you or within your circle of friends. “Marsupial trainer” was tossed around in my conversation, but there’s also “rocket scientist,” “trainer to the stars,” “heartbreaker,” “girlfriend 2.0” and so on.

On the other hand, what if you have a friend who’s single? A personalized business card makes an excellent gift – your lonelyhearts pal can use it as an ice breaker, and it shows that he or she has a sense of humor, especially if the cards are a gift from a creative friend like you. In addition to including your friend’s name and contact information, add some fun, light-hearted stuff, such as references, testimonials and likes and dislikes. Then the singleton can hand them out at a bar, the supermarket or anywhere else he or she sees someone who strikes their fancy.

Business cards don’t always need to be for business, all stodgy and professional. What other nontraditional uses have you seen for business cards?

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