Design Inspiration Blog | Plastic Printers

Painting the Fifth Wall of Self-Promotion with Double-Sided Cards

Written by Nate | Aug 29, 2013 3:00:00 PM

We've spent a good portion of this week discussing text placement on business cards. One  of the most frequent questions I get asked is," How do I fit everything into such a small space?"

I usually answer this question with a follow-up question of my own, which is, are you using both sides of the card? Double-sided business cards give you the extra promotional space you need to secure long-term leads. You just need a few pointers on how to use this space effectively.

Luckily, Plastic Printers is the best place to go with a question like this. Our designers can offer a fresh perspective on the subject.

The Land of Forgotten Real Estate

Printing double-sided cards is the best way to utilize your "forgotten real estate." In other words, it allows you to create opportunity where others simply leave whitespace.

Before tabulating your end result, you need to focus on how your customers will reach that result. There are two questions that can help generate a roadmap to revenue:

  1. What is your customer looking for from your business card?
  2. What does your card do after they receive it?

We've tackled the answer to the first question before, but good information bears repeating. Customers evaluate a business based on its ability to prove valuable or solve a problem. Keep  that in mind when choosing the phrasing for your card. The answer to the second question probably isn't as familiar.

 Business cards are meant to be an interactive marketing tool. It's about more than just presenting a card and walking away. You want to make the presentation memorable and the card a resource that the recipient can turn to at a later date.

Double-sided design options solidify the interaction if you know how to give the potential customer a role to play.

Painting the "Fifth Wall" of Self-Promotion

In interior design, the ceiling of a room is often referred to as "the fifth wall." This element is often forgotten during the remodeling process. Designers use this catchy description to stop that from happening. You can apply the same principle to your self-promotion efforts.

There are several ways to present the other side of your card to recipients. Some people use magic tricks; others use instructions or directives that the recipient must follow. Seeing as both sides of the card are printed on, the second option is probably your best bet.

One of the strongest ways to use the backside of your business card is to create an incentive that makes people want to flip it over. You can be cheeky or direct, as long as, they flip the card over in the end. A very simple way to do this is to include an interactive phrase on the front of your business card, such as: "turn this card over for a special offer."

Include the offer and a point of contact on the reverse:

  • Survey, redeemable for a free gift
  • Punch card for frequent clients
  • Valuable coupon
  • URL to a special webpage targeting business card recipients

Do some research so that the language used in the offer is consistent with your industry, service, product, and brand.

Certain self-promotion tactics can feel awkward at first. If you need guidance or design help, don't hesitate to ask. Plastic Printers is here to help you perfect your promotional skills and business card presentation. Contact us for tips on how to use double sided business cards to
your advantage.

Don't have time to call? We are available by chat too. Visit www.plasticprinters.com and click on the "we are here" icon. You'll be connected to a helpful member of our staff for a live chat. That way, you can put a promotional plan into action right away.

You can always dust off some magic tricks at a later date, just remember your ultimate goal is to make your card worth holding onto.