For anyone at any stage of their art career, artist marketing is important.

Business cards are the most basic marketing tool an artist should have.

Business cards allow you to leave a small impression that encourages the receiver to investigate your art and contact you about it. 

This article will give you some great artist marketing tips for business card design, production and distribution.

Design Tips for Artist Business Cards:

• Do your market research
  Some printers will post you out a sample pack at your request. Sample business cards show you what special effects are available such as spot varnishing,  foil stamping, embossing, laminating, different card stock, different paper textures or dye cutting custom edges. Alternatively, ask your friends and family for their cards and see what they have done, do any stand out as special or different?
   
• Keep it simple, or simply clever.
  Don't overload the card with information or design elements either, keep the text simple and the design 'simply clever', perhaps use a decorative embossing effect, or choose a die cut card, an element may be stamped in foil. Feature an artwork on the back and laminate just the back. There a many very creative ways business cards can be produced. One simple element is all it takes to create a striking card that is 'simply clever'!
   
• Feature your art website address
  A website says so much more, so perhaps consider making it one of the biggest features of your business card, if you prefer online contact rather than via the phone, you can choose to have your business card with only your name and website address on it. This forces people to investigate your website and thus see your artwork before being able to contact you.
   
• Contact Details to consider including:
  You may not want to include all these, but here is a check list: Your first name, last name, postal address, home address, phone, fax, mobile, email, website, logo, photo, artwork photos, list of services, facebook name, skype name 

Producing your Artist Business Cards:

• Free Design Layouts - Creating the pre-press artwork.
  Check with your local printing service as many include the cost of design for free by allowing you to use a set template, many online business card printers offer this too. These don't always produce the greatest results however it may be adequate for your needs and budget.
   
• Graphic Designers - Creating the pre-press artwork.
  Business card designs are commonly made in adobe illustrator, they can also be done in adobe photoshop or several other computer based design programs. Any graphic designer should have the skills to help you create your artwork. Keep in mind though that they will charge additionally if you also require a logo design. 
  
  If you decide to use a graphic designer, take along your business card sample pack and explain to them exactly what you want, this is certainly the most expensive way to have your cards designed, however it is likely to produce the best results.
  
  You should also ask the graphic design to provide you with an electronic copy of all artwork files, and font files used for the pre press artwork, should you opt to use another graphic design in the future, or another printing service this will be helpful to have and potentially save you money.
   
• Printers - Printing the Artist Business Cards
  If you are going for a business card that involves a tricky production process, you may prefer to take the hands on approach and use a local printer where you can visit them in person, feel rest assured they know what they are doing and care about the result. Should it not turn out right in such circumstances many printers will reprint it correctly with no additional charge.  A question you may what to ask "Can i see a color proof before printing please?"
   
• Online Printers - Printing the Artist Business Cards
  There are many online printers where you can simply upload your design, or select a template, insert your details, make a payment and hey-presto; your finished business cards will arrive in the post in 4 to 14 days. These services are fine, however it can sometimes mistakes can occur most commonly where digital proofs have been received via email, colors vary from monitor to monitor, and the final product may not be the exact color you thought.

How to use your Business Cards: Artist Marketing Tips!
The aim of a business card for an Artist is to distribute them and this can be done in many novel and creative ways to greater effect. Here are some tips:

• Hand to Hand Marketing
  After discussing your art with someone kindly give them your card and invite them to visit your website. 
   
• Fridge Drop Marketing
  Leave your business card on your friends fridge door. Let them refer you to their friends and family easily.
   
• Envelope Marketing
  When paying or sending an art-related invoice by post insert your business card in the envelope.
   
• Christmas Card Card
  When sending our your Christmas cards. Insert your business card.
   
• Frame Mounted
  When you artwork is framed, adhere a card to the back, and stick an additional card in the frame join.
   
• Local Business - Network Marketing
  If you are a regular customer at a local service based business, ask them if you can pin up your business card.
   
• Sorry I missed you
  Visiting a friend, an art gallery or art supply store, works best if you know them!, leave a note on the back of your card.
   
• Gallery or Studio Pickup
  Buy a perspex or wooden stand for business cards, and leave them in your studio or at the your gallery.

Artist marketing is important if you don't tell people about your art and spend time marketing your art career, no one will know about you or your art.