Business Cards Online
Three cheers for technology! While it can certainly be a pain, you've got to admit that computers and the Internet have made many business processes and applications faster, easier, and cheaper than ever. A good example is the emerging availability of quality business cards online. No more running to the printer, waiting for proofs, and then driving back to your printer to pick up your business cards. You can even eliminate the expense of a graphic artist too - accessibility to professionally designed artwork is one of the perks of ordering business cards online. If you've always designed business cards in-house or ordered from your local quick or commercial printer, you may be unfamiliar with the concept of ordering business cards online. It's actually easier and more economical than you might think, with quality that's as good or better as anything you can get in your home town. Buying Business Cards Online - the Process
 When you order business cards online, you go to a website such as PrintsMadeEasy.com and in just a few clicks, you're done! You pick a style, enter your data, and that's about it. You can order right from your home or office and have cards delivered very quickly, right to your door - the convenience can't be beat.
Most online business card printers provide professional quality graphics backgrounds (or templates) that you can use, or you can upload your own artwork or files if you prefer. For a look at a well-done online business card interface, see the create business cards page on this site. Most accept popular file formats from software such as Quark, Adobe, Photoshop, CorelDRAW! and others, so you can still have that great graphic artist you know design a custom card for you if you choose. Or you can have a custom logo or photo put on the background provided by the online business card printer.
The Quality of Online Business Cards
If you choose an online business card printer wisely, the quality of your print job is as good as or higher than anything you can get at your local commercial printer. Modern equipment can now rival the quality of offset (lithograph) printers and process even small orders much faster than traditional printers have done in years past. However, there are variances in the thickness of the card stock used at different printers - look for a 12pt thickness. It's a good middle weight for most business cards. When choosing between different online printers, be sure to compare apples to apples. Some printers charge for certain options (such as uploading artwork), some don't; some offer guarantees, others don't, and it's sometimes difficult to tell. (More about that on the professional business cards page.) The Expense of Buying Business Cards Online
 With the efficiency of the Internet and the specialized, automated printing equipment used by modern business card printers online make it possible to order business cards at about half the price charged by commercial printers. When getting price quotes, be sure to compare "apples to apples" - check the card's thickness, for example, and whether or not there are additional fees or charges for glossy coating (which extends the life of your card), guaranteed arrival dates, or custom artwork.
Look for a company with an excellent reputation with the Better Business Bureau, and one with a good money back guarantee policy. Many companies will send free samples if you write their Customer Service departments and request them, which is a good idea if you're at all concerned. Or better yet - give ordering business cards online a try, at no risk! Prints Made Easy is offering 100 free business cards, or $14.99 off your order of more than 100 business cards, for a limited time. The company has an excellent reputation and makes business cards you'll be proud of; and they DO have a money back guarantee, even on shipping.
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