So, what exactly is turn-key? Well, in a nutshell, turn-key is a phrase that originated with developers who build a building or home that was move-in ready (turn-the-key is all you have to do).  With builders it means that you don’t have to sub-out all the parts of the job, the construction company does it all. Turn-key means “ready to use”. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines turnkey as “one who has the prison keys”. How true! Wouldn’t you like to be freed from the prison of details!

Turn-key service is exactly what Inspired 2 Design built its business on, because business owners have a store, office, or supply chain to run. In the marketing and advertising realm, turn-key means you don’t have to purchase your website’s URL/domain name and remember to renew, you don’t have to worry about bandwidth on your hosting account, you don’t need to spend hours trying to set up a new Email address to auto download into your Outlook mailbox… because we do it for you. On the print side, turn-key means you don’t need to worry about whether your logo is scalable, whether the printer needs bleed, or whether images are CMYK at 300dpi for offset… heck you don’t even need to know what that all means, because… we do it all for you.

The value-add to turn-key service is time, sanity, and actual dollar savings. You save your time running all over town to two or three different vendors to get your logo designed, business cards printed, website developed, t-shirts ordered. You don’t need to find out whether the Around Town magazine or the Cherokee Tribune are a better value with bigger reach. You don’t have to go to the sign company, printer, embroiderer, and billboard company all on Tuesday. All you need to do is call a full-service company, and say “Here, can you handle this”.  We’ve heard horror stories from clients who’ve decided it was cheaper to handle their own printing, or maybe they have a friend, or they are just the type of person who needs that feeling of control.  When they got down to it, they try to save on edits by bringing in their I.T. guy, they try to save on outsourcing, they try to save on small nitpicking items that in the end all add up to a big cost. Let your designer handle it! Let the designer work with the printer on the details that complete the job because they speak the same language, they can work together faster and totally invisibly to you – the client.

Many industries utilize turn-key service that you may not even be aware of. Ever buy a computer? Did it come with an operating system installed? That’s turn-key service. Why do you go to a restaurant and order dinner? Just so you don’t have to stop at the store, prep the food, cook the meal, serve, clean up and wash dishes… that’s turn-key service. You’re probably using some type of time saving, turn-key service more than you think. The reason? It saves you time, money and headaches.

It’s the value-add that Inspired 2 Design offers so that when your project is ready to print, we handle everything so you can do what makes your company money. It’s the value-add that when your website needs integration with another merchant or database service, we handle it, so you just collect.  It’s the value-add of turn-key service that sets some companies apart from the competition. Turn-key service providers are leveraging partners, resources that allow you to magnify your business growth.  Contact Inspired 2 Design for your next project and get back to work on the things that make you money!

A creative, professionally printed, visually attractive business card conveys a positive first impression that remains after your initial meeting, so…

• Consider what you want another person to know about you
• Consider your company’s brand image or identity

Next –

• Consider the size of a card: 3.5″x2″
• Consider printing on front and back of the card
• Consider a folded business card format
• Consider a horizontal vs. vertical layout
• Consider the paper and the finish or feel of the card

Consider the Content -
Must Haves:

• Representative’s name
• Company Logo or company name
• Contact phone number
• Website address

Should Haves:

• Email address
• Physical address
• Customer benefits
• Fax number
• Award, association seals, license number

May Haves:

• Job title of representative
• Tag-line or slogan
• List of products or services
• Graphics or photo
• Calendar, appointment reminder or other useful info
• Specialties (i.e. repeat card in a second language if spoken)
• Store hours
• Coupon or some form of Call to action

Must Avoid:

• Typos including misspellings, poor grammar and outdated information
• Cliches and broad promises (ie: our customers are #1)
• Homemade cards with perforations, poor ink coverage, crinkles and wrinkles

Each and every card you hand out or mail out is an extension of you, and a representation of your company. Business cards can be printed for as little as eight cents per piece. Creating a useful, memorable card will help get your card filed in the Rolodex rather than the trash can. Check out some of the professionally designed and printed cards by Inspired2 Design here.

Inspired 2 Design, LLC

1. Make it interesting!

2. Make it readable!

3. Include all contact info: Name, Phone, Email, Address, Fax and yes WEBSITE URL/address.

4. Include your logo, and your color scheme. Even the smallest business can be successfully branded.

5. Use both sides of the card! It doesn’t cost much more and often can be quite useful for practical info, appointment setting, calendars, menus, services, even just a cool logo treatment.

6. Use color or be purposeful when you don’t use color.

7. Get your cards PROFESSIONALLY printed, and not by the Free companies that post their logo on YOUR card.

8. Make sure one side at least has a surface you can write notes on.

9. Hand them out, include in correspondence, use them!!! Always print more than you think you’ll need.

10. Call Inspired 2 Design to create your cards and print them. You’ll save tons and get a very functional card that looks great and works for your business.

Inspired 2 Design, LLC