Why free business cards just don't cut it

If something sounds to good to be true, it probably is. In our world of rampant consumerism and endless freebies, it's good to keep this old adage in mind - especially when you're a small business owner looking to make a splash with new business cards. Free business cards may sound like a great way to shave a couple of dollars off the old operating budget, but what will the standard backside advertisements and generic backgrounds that accompany these freebies say about how competent and serious an entrepreneur you really are? If you are of the mindset that a card is just a card, you should keep in mind that your short-term savings may have some undesirable long-term repercussions. These may include: Bad first impressions: You have three business cards in front of you. Two are printed on cheap paper, while the third is splashed in a photo-glossy finish. Which of those is most likely to capture your attention and curiosity and make it into your wallet? Which of those will most likely scream out 'amateur cheapskate' and knock the professional image you are so desperately trying to portray? You guessed it. Misguided attention: If your prospective client is distracted from your business card by the advertisement on the back, he may be thinking more about free business cards and less about your company's service. This type of co-branding sort of defeats the whole purpose of having a client's full attention, does it not? Lost potential: The backside of one's business card can be a great place to include information about your company or include a voucher or rebate that will actually make your card valuable. It's hard to do that when you are competing with advertisement from the guy who printed your free business cards. In the end, free business cards really only benefit the very companies that are supposedly cutting you a break. Customized business cards, on the other hand, come across as more professional and allow you to have full control in expressing just what your business believes in and stands for. In the end, it will actually go a long way in grabbing someone's attention and making your company more competitive in the business world. After all, nothing in life comes for free. Better not to learn that lesson the hard way.