Critique My Business Card #2394823

V

vecdran

New member
Sorry, I know there are a lot of these. :(



What started out as a side job I did out of my parents house for friends has blossomed into an occupation, so as such I now need business cards. I whipped this card up tonight, and I was hoping to get the opinion of ye kind Autopians. I tried to keep it simple and modern. The front (picture) will be gloss, and the back will be matte. I don't know if I'm really satisfied with the logo...



JPDetail-CardPreview-Front.jpg
JPDetail-CardPreview-Rear.jpg
 
who made the logo? Reason i ask is because i need one myself LoL.



As for the card . . . . . it looks great. Keeping things simple and to the point is always best.



Stating a couple of important services, maybe a company slogan and your contact information is really all a card calls for.



though i would change up what you offer if at all possible to something like:



Wash

Water Spot Removal

Wax/Sealant

Interior

Engine Bay Cleaning



there are a lot of other services that can be listed so it really is your choice:



Leather Treatment

Rim Polishing

Paint Correction

Swirl Removal



just to name a few others. Overall though i am digging it. The card looks very fresh/clean and professional.
 
Picture is mine, logo is mine. :D



I think I'm going to skip a slogan. I think it will clutter up the card, and I just find them cheesy.



The services list is obviously easily changed, I was just trying to keep it general and short.



Thanks for the input. :)
 
vecdran said:
Picture is mine, logo is mine. :D



I think I'm going to skip a slogan. I think it will clutter up the card, and I just find them cheesy.



The services list is obviously easily changed, I was just trying to keep it general and short.



Thanks for the input. :)
Click to expand...



no problem. yeah the slogan isn't a must unless you have a good solid one that fits your company. Otherwise looks great.



What did you use to make the logo . . . . something like photoshop?
 
Yup, made entirely in Photoshop.



Edit:



Too good not to share. Someone on another forum suggested this for a slogan.



"JP Detail, owned by a pagan because we'll polish the Jesus out of your ride!"



:lol
 
vecdran said:
Sorry, I know there are a lot of these. :(



What started out as a side job I did out of my parents house for friends has blossomed into an occupation, so as such I now need business cards. I whipped this card up tonight, and I was hoping to get the opinion of ye kind Autopians. I tried to keep it simple and modern. The front (picture) will be gloss, and the back will be matte. I don't know if I'm really satisfied with the logo...



JPDetail-CardPreview-Front.jpg
JPDetail-CardPreview-Rear.jpg
Click to expand...



I think this has a lot of potential and I would start by playing with the background on the back (seems way too plain and an awkward color) and also remove all the services.



Here's my card as a reference in case you like it (probably 4 or 5th I've designed over the past 3 years and finally think I have it just about where I want it)



http://www.autopia.org/forum/1322820-post7.html
 
Though elegant, a black card can be almost impossible to see what your client has wrote writing. Sometimes you want to put some valuable information for your client personally. Just a thought to consider.
 
NotZeroSix said:
Though elegant, a black card can be almost impossible to see what your client has wrote writing. Sometimes you want to put some valuable information for your client personally. Just a thought to consider.
Click to expand...



People often say that but honestly unless it's pitch black, glossy and written on with a black pen, writing will always be visible on a black card. For mine, they're matte and writing is very easily seen, and the OP has a back area where, if necessary, writing will be easily seen since, according to the initial posting, the color will not be black.
 
Mike, I like your card. The graphics and colors (if you like the blue) are fine. Personally, I wouldn't use that tone of blue because it's not my color, per se, but the card looks very nice.



The input I would have is to revise or shorten the services you list. Sounds a little too 'simple" or "amateurish".



Wash, wax, sealant..........they're kind of basic. Most people don't know that waxes are different products than sealants. Polishing.....or words that describe paint correction is good......just would try to find a description that tells the average customer, who doesn't know what "polishing" means.....that you have the ability to remove defects/correct their paint finishes....then do the rest of the work. I'll leave the choice of words up to you.



As the other poster mentioned, is there any other key value-added service you offer that you want customers to know about??? What things make you the most money? What sets you apart from other guys in your area? If you had a hook like that, I'd substitue that for just a list of services.



Just some things to think about....................don't over complicate the business card. It is pretty simple and direct right now. Just a tweak of the words and you'll have it. Again, the basics are good.....the graphics are professional looking, double sided card is a little bit "premium", and it's clear.



BTW, do you have a web site to match?



See ya. :wavey
 
I'm trying to revise the services list, but really if I start throwing around words like "Paint correction", "Swirl Removal", "Water Spot Removal" the card gets really cluttered. I'm trying to stick to a single word per line. But I suppose that's a vain hope.



So perhaps:



Wash

Wax

Interior

Swirl Removal

Scratch Repair



I do not currently have a website, though I plan to start designing one. I'm debating right now whether I want to go with 500 cards or 1000, because when I get the site going I'm going to have to do a new run of cards obviously.
 
vecdran said:
I'm trying to revise the services list, but really if I start throwing around words like "Paint correction", "Swirl Removal", "Water Spot Removal" the card gets really cluttered. I'm trying to stick to a single word per line. But I suppose that's a vain hope.



So perhaps:



Wash

Wax

Interior

Swirl Removal

Scratch Repair



I do not currently have a website, though I plan to start designing one. I'm debating right now whether I want to go with 500 cards or 1000, because when I get the site going I'm going to have to do a new run of cards obviously.
Click to expand...



If a site is in your future then run a small quantity for cards like 500 . . . . . or you can register the domain name and stuff you want for a site and just pay for the name which is only a couple dollars for the year and just slap it on your cards now. Mean while you can easily create a page if you really want to and have a under construction page up . . . . .



just some food for thought. If that isn't something you want to do just do a 500 card run and in the mean time you can work on a site and toss it on your next batch of cards.
 
How about referring to: "External and Interior Services" or list your services like this................



Wash

Wax/Paint Sealant

Scratch & Finish Correction

Interiors



Also, good that you got the website....and yes, run a reasonable size lot of cards.....better off being able to revise it w/o a lot of extra expense.



See ya. :wavey





vecdran said:
I'm trying to revise the services list, but really if I start throwing around words like "Paint correction", "Swirl Removal", "Water Spot Removal" the card gets really cluttered. I'm trying to stick to a single word per line. But I suppose that's a vain hope.



So perhaps:



Wash

Wax

Interior

Swirl Removal

Scratch Repair



I do not currently have a website, though I plan to start designing one. I'm debating right now whether I want to go with 500 cards or 1000, because when I get the site going I'm going to have to do a new run of cards obviously.
Click to expand...
 
Maybe I should just put a descriptive blurb. Something like:



See Right -->
Botique

Exterior

and Interior

Automotive

Detailing​





Though I may just go for a fine alabaster 100lb paper, with Sillian Braille font and a watermark. Maybe list my Telex number and my "Management and Acquisitions" title. ;)



This is the only forum I've posted this in that hasn't devolved into an American Psycho clip thread. :p
 
Im not sure if this has already been said or not, but my only suggestion is go with the same theme on the backside of the card as on the front... You have a gorgeous black front with clear crisp white text... Why not do the same on the rear? Go with a white background with crisp clear black font to add some contrast?
 
Love it, but I think the blue is over powering the white text. I know what it is, the blocks of copy are to spread apart and need somthing to unite them since you've got them all shoved into the corners. Maybe do a watermark of your JP logo that goes beyond the card borders. Skew it too.



for some added character, you should do a single 1/2" round cut out of that bottom left corner on the text side.
 
tecster said:
Im not sure if this has already been said or not, but my only suggestion is go with the same theme on the backside of the card as on the front... You have a gorgeous black front with clear crisp white text... Why not do the same on the rear? Go with a white background with crisp clear black font to add some contrast?
Click to expand...



there is discovery when you flip it over. If you have the same front and back, then there is no "new" information and it becomes repititious for no reason and looks amature.
 
Interesting idea, re: the rounded corner........I like the different blue & black sides, you're also right....'discovery". But, I still think the list of services needs to be changed/eliminated.........somehow, it just doesn't read right. I like the simplicity of people knowing what the service is, just not the "list" of stuff (or maybe it's the fact that most customers won't know the difference between wax and sealant.



I think some of the revised wording above would help.



PS - you're in Cincinnati? Where? I used to work at P&G on Center Hill Road, St. Bernard, etc.. Lived in Fairfield. Anywhere close by??? :) How is thr Queen City these days? The Bengals are making some noise........



Thx.



See ya. :wavey



tssdetailing said:
here, I played...
Click to expand...
 
I've eliminated the services list entirely. Added my website above my name, changed Michael to Jeremy. I'll mess around with perhaps watermarking the logo. If I do that though, it will make the back a full color card instead of a 2-color (cheaper), so at that point I may just go with my original idea for the back and get a really good shot of the flake in the WRB paint on my car. (Pure paint shot, no reflection. Imagine the paint samplers in the back of car brochures.)



I'll post up a revised one in a bit here.



While interesting, I don't really like the rounded corner, not to mention it would add a lot more cost. Thanks for the idea though!
 
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