BUILD YOUR OWN BUSINESS CARD
(and save a lot of money!)
Vista Print has the cheapest cards we've found. The price varies somewhat, based on what their specials are at any give time, but they are always inexpensive, and the quality is good.
Here's what to do:
1. Download this background to use on your card design. Save the file somewhere on your computer that will be easy to find again. (When you click on the picture or link, it may just open up a picture of the background. If so, right-click on it and choose Save Picture As... and save it on your computer. Again, save it where you'll find it easily.)
2. Go online and do a search for business cards. Don't go directly to VistaPrint.com, because that won't always get you to the best specials they have. Choose the VistaPrint ad that has the best deal. Usually you can get 80% off, or 70% off with free cardstock upgrade. Or the ad may not mention a percentage off; just a price. If you see one for 3.99 to 5.99 for 250 cards, that's what you're looking for. Here are a couple of examples:
Note: The $5.99 with the free Stock Upgrade will be the cheapest. The upgrade itself can cost up to $12.99.
3. Click the link to go to the site. I clicked on the top example, and this is where it took me:
For some reason, even though the ad said $5.99, they are showing $3.99 for the Premium Business Cards. Part of the mystery and excitement of ordering from Vista Print.
4. Click on the Premium Business Card "Get Started" button. You will get a popup like shown below. Close it by clicking the X in the corner.
5. Click on Upload Your Own Design
6. Remember that file for a background you put in an easy-to-find place on your computer? Now's the time to easily find it. Click on the BROWSE button to search your computer and find that darn file! It will automatically upload when you find it and click Open
7. If you chose the right file to upload, this is what it will look like. Click Next.
8. Now you need to add your information. In the little Insert box, click Add Text.
9. A text box will appear that says Enter your text... Drag it to where you want it, and double-click it to change the text. I think if you want your name and title to be in different sized fonts, you will need to have different text boxes. To have the words Business Development on one line, I had to change the width of the box after entering the text.
10. You can use the text tools to change the color, boldness, size, etc. of the text while your text box is selected. Enter your website address, your phone numbers, your email... anything you want that fits reasonably. Make sure all your text fits within the dotted guideline. The picture can overlap the dotted line.
11. I have 3 text boxes on this example. I have the web address/email address box selected in the example. I also want you to notice that you can change your text to align to the right side of the text box if you want. That's what I did with the phone number. I also could have just dragged it's box over to the right.
12. If the card looks right to you, click the Online Proof Approval box and click Next.
13.Choose the quantity you want to order. Click No Thanks on the discounts and offers, unless you like getting a lot of email. Click Next.
14. Choose Glossy Finish, unless you prefer Matte. If you're going for Matte, and the upgrades are free, go for the Premium Matte Paper. Much nicer. Because I chose the Google ad that said free upgrade on paper stock, this won't cost anything this time. That offer is not always available. Click Next.
15. Next several steps: - Choose whether or not to put something on the back of your card.
- Say "no" to about a million offers to put your card image on every
available surface.
- Decide if you want to take advantage of the other valuable offers
they have, including magazines subscriptions
16. Halleluiah, you're finally at the shopping cart! Click Checkout. And notice how cheap those cards are! Makes all this worthwhile...
17. Choose shipping- the sooner you get 'em, the sooner you can start using 'em. Just sayin'. I usually choose 7 days. It's only 4 bucks more that 14 days, and starting a week earlier ought to be worth $4.
Click Create New Address to enter your shipping address. I'll let you figure out the rest of that step yourself.
18. Enter your billing address; click Next.
19. Enter your credit card info; click Next.
20. Review your order and finish it up. They'll give you another chance to spend more money, so decide if you want stickers added to your order for a low, low price (which ain't all that low) and finish it up again.
21. When you think you're done, they'll throw another offer at you. Just say no. Be strong. You've come this far already. (If I remember correctly, it's pretty lame, anyway.)
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU HAVE MADE AND ORDERED BUSINESS CARDS!!!