However, if you hand a customer an unconventional, unique business card, they might just remember it. And, if you are really fortunate (or if you design a really unique card), they might even use your card to call you up and give you their business.

Before you plan your next business card printing project, consider the following points:

? Unconventional business cards get noticed. Like I said earlier, people are so accustomed to the regular old black and white cards that they usually ignore them. You have to make cards that will get noticed, and if it takes an unconventional card to make that happen, so be it.

? Unconventional business cards get kept much more frequently than regular cards. If a customer keeps your cards, instead of throwing them in the trash, then there is a much better chance that they will eventually purchase from you.

? Some unconventional cards are printed on sturdy material such as metal or plastic, both of which are far more durable than traditional paper cards. Not to mention the fact that cards made of metal or plastic (or even wood) will be much more noticeable.

? It is much easier to make your business cards relate to your business if you are willing to use unconventional materials. For instance, if you own a locksmithing company, why not make your business cards out of lock picks? Or, if you make furniture as part of your business, consider making your business cards out of wood.

? You can use unconventional cards in ways that make them more useful than traditional cards. For instance, you can turn your business cards into roadmaps, so your customers can use them later. Or you can make business cards out of that lottery ticket scratch off material, to give the recipient a neat thing to do while learning about your business.

When it comes to business cards, the possibilities really are endless. And if you are willing to go down an unconventional route when designing your cards, you can really do some crazy things. Getting crazy is not such a bad idea when it comes to marketing. In fact, sometimes that is the only way to get noticed.

I hate to use a clich?, but ?thinking outside the box? is a great idea when it comes to designing your business cards. Try to break the barriers to your own thinking, and design some truly memorable cards.