4 wrong messages a bad business card says about your brand

Many people believed that the online revolution would make traditional business cards obsolete. This dismal prediction has not come to pass.

Even in the information age, dedicated business owners print out around 27 million business cards every single day.

The reason that business cards are still used is that they work. One study found that businesses increase sales by over 2.5%for every 2,000 business cards that they distribute.

Unfortunately, some business owners read statistics about the overall effectiveness of business cards and think that creating any cards will do. They assume that any business card will be better than nothing. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The harsh reality is that poor business cards will not help your brand. One poll showed that 88% of business cards are discarded within a week. Of course, this could partially be due to the fact that business owners are handing business cards out to the wrong people. However, part of the reason that business cards get thrown out is that they don’t look professional enough.

Most people have made it clear that they won’t be impressed by poor quality business cards. Another poll showed that 39% of people don’t want to do business with a company that hands out cheap looking business cards.

You need to be aware of the problems that will arise from using low quality business cards. Here are some issues to look out for.

You might give the impression that your company cuts corners

Perception shouldn’t be everything when it comes to running a business. In a fair world, your company would be judged entirely by the quality of your products and services. Unfortunately, perception really is everything.

A poor-quality business card gives a poor perception of your brand. The biggest issue is that a low-quality business card makes it seem like your company is cheap. Potential customers will expect you to cut corners and deliver subpar products or services.

Your business might show a lack of focus

One of my old friends back in California had a business card to promote a line of vintage knickknacks that he was building. The problem is that he also tried promoting his IT and photography services as well. People receiving his business card would notice that he was trying to promote three different businesses at once.

Your business card needs to be specific and clearly communicate the essence of your business.

You may convey the wrong personality

The style of your business card says a lot about your business mission and philosophy. A business card with dull colors conveys a message of seriousness. This might be perfect for a lawyer. On the other hand, it would be a terrible design for a fashion designer.

You need to think carefully about the core personality traits of your brand. The style of your business cards reflect it.

You don’t take things seriously

Some business cards have very tacky jokes on them. Even if you are a comedian for a living, you don’t want to do this. Your business card needs to have a serious message.

While it is okay to use unusual phrases and metaphors, you need to remember that you are trying to run a business. Try to keep things serious. Being witty is rarely going to help. It is going to go over even worse if you aren’t as humorous as you think.

Use the Right Business Cards

You need to choose your business cards carefully. Avoid common business card mistakes to avoid sending these wrong messages. Make sure that you get the right branding messages across.

Buying quality used woodworking machines and how to get them

The quality of your business and woodwork largely depends on the type of machinery used.

That is one of the reasons why many woodworkers find themselves in front of a dilemma whether to buy new or used industrial machinery.

Used machinery has many benefits associated with them, but the new machinery also has some advantages too. If you are looking to buy or sell used machines then you should consider a few things first.

What to Pay Attention To

Every buyer should consider the repair costs and the possible resale value of the machine he intends to buy. Different machines have different repair costs, so consider those. This is something many buyers often neglect when looking for machinery, but you would avoid many costly problems if you consider this in advance.

When it comes to resale value, think about how much you can earn from it if you decide to sell it later after you have finished working with it. Perhaps you will not need the machinery for a long time, so why not make some extra profit when selling it later? In order for this to happen, you need to get a machine that operates at good levels and that is well-maintained.

Before buying used machinery for woodworking, it is advisable you spend some time learning how the machine you intend to buy operates. If you are a newbie, then you should know that online you have all kinds of training videos, step-by-step guides, training sessions and other valuable things.

Spend some time getting familiar with how the machine works as that will save you valuable time later when you buy it.

Finally, make sure you check out about the availability of spare parts for the machine. Some woodworking machinery requires many spare parts in comparison to others, so this is something you definitely need to pay attention to.

For some machines you can quickly find spare parts, but for others you may have to wait for longer period of time before finding adequate replacements. However, if the used industrial machinery you intend to buy is well-maintained then costs for repairs and spare parts will be significantly less and the machine will serve you well for longer period of time.

Tips for Buying Used Equipment

Today you can find numerous industrial providers that offer all kinds of used industrial machinery for any industry. All of them use different strategies in order to sell their products to the customers. Sometimes buying machinery can be daunting, but you can make your choice much easier if you follow the next few steps. They should help you find the best machinery possible for your industry that will be reliable and that will serve you well in your work.

First thing to do before looking at machines is to determine what type of industrial machinery you need. Do you need a machine to only cut woods or you will cut other materials with it as well? Figure out what exactly you need the machinery for and then you will have an easier job searching for the right equipment.

Second thing to consider is your budget and the price of machines. If there is no exact cost on the machine you want to buy, then contact the seller and ask for a price. Get as much as information you can about the used machinery and see whether you will have some extra costs for repair parts and maintenance. Do not settle always for the initial price, but try to negotiate and see whether you can get some discount for the machinery you really want to buy.

Last, but not least is to always buy used machinery from a reliable and reputable provider such as Exapro. They have a large network with over ten thousand of sellers, so there are all kinds of machinery available. They are always helping their buyers find the specific machinery they are looking for in all sectors ranging from wood, plastic and metal to food, textile and packaging.

A good idea would be for you to visit the company that sells machinery and meet in person with their representatives. They can guide you and inform you about everything you are interested in regarding used industrial machines.

By following these few simple tips you ensure finding quality used woodworking machines for your needs. Never rely on simple ads, flyers or posters before buying, and always make a thorough research about everything. You as a buyer deserve to get the best, even if it has been previously used.

Some selling companies are also able to offer warranties and insurances regarding used machines, so check out that too. These are some things for you to think about before giving your cash to the supplier. If you follow the steps closely you will certainly find good used machinery for your business.