Business
cards are documentation that display details of a business in a card form.
Although there does not exist a specific stipulation or standard for
information listed on business cards, many business cards contain information
expressing the following details: name of the business, address of the
business, the name of the employee, and the contact information for the
business.

The Purpose of Business Cards

Business cards are used as information tools
that heighten awareness of a business. They have been known to be exemplary
marketing, networking, and informational resources for business owners and
employees alike. Since business cards are small and portable, they can be
passed along upon meeting new people, at networking events, or in casual
meetings.

Depending on the desired effect, business card
design varies. The first incarnation of business cards was simple print on
white card stock. These business cards shared the dimensions of a wallet or card
holder, which allowed for their safe, easy, and convenient storage.

Due to the
fact that information can be misplaced and/or forgotten, a business card
provides for physical and tangible information regarding the business listed on
the specific business card. Once passed along, the recipient of a business card
can place the business card in a wallet or card holder for future reference. 

Business Card Dimensions

A traditional business card varies depending
on the nation in which the business exists, but the dimensions do vary in
accordance with that country’s standard. In the United States, a traditional
business card measures 3.5 inches by 2 inches.

Where to Get Business Cards

Business cards can be printed at home or by a
company specializing in business card production. Traditionally, business cards
are printed on cardstock, which is a more dense and durable paper. This allows
for less chance of the card being wrinkled, bent, or damaged. In many cases,
the print on business cards is slightly raised, giving it an enhanced
appearance.

Although
some business cards simply possess writing that displays contact information,
certain business cards possess graphics, designs, and other eye-catching
images. Many print shops will provide business card production, as well as
business card design. Normally, single prints of business cards are rare; in
the event that a printing house agrees to print a single business card, the
cost may be larger than bulk printing. Due to the fact that business cards are
valuable marketing tools, they are traditionally produced in bulk allowing for
their maximum dissemination.

How to Get Business Cards

Decide on a design for the business card. Explore
the usage of graphics, images, colors, types of lettering, font, and size desired.

Decide on the volume of cards desired. Individuals
involved in networking groups and meetings are encouraged to print a larger
volume of business cards. Furthermore, bulk printing rates allow for the price
of production to decrease in tandem with a larger number of cards printed.

In the event that an individual does not
possess professional graphic design training or professional printing
facilities, shop around for the most affordable and reputable designing and
printing house to produce the optimal business card.

A business
card holder can be classified as two separate entities: portable business card
holders and desktop business card holders. Business card holders are used to
store, hold, and protect business cards prior and during their eventual
dissemination. 

Why Use a Business Card Holder?

Despite the fact that business cards are
printed on heavier grade paper, such as card cardstock, which gives them added
durability and protection from damage and wear, business cards can still be
subject to scratching, bending, and wrinkling. An individual receiving a
damaged or bent business card might be wary of the individual or business
listed on the business card due to the condition of the business card received.
Furthermore, in the event that an individual or business has spent money
producing high-grade, high-quality business cards, it is in their best interest
to protect the business cards from premature wear. 

Types of Business Card Holders

Desktop business card holders are
manufactured to sit atop desks or other surfaces in which they can be
accessible to visitors and clients. A business card holder should provide ample
protection and accessibility for the business cards housed within them. Desktop
business card holders should allow for an individual to seamlessly and easily obtain
a business card from them.

In many
cases, individuals who use business card holders choose to utilize them in
order to avoid physically passing a business card during a formal or informal meeting
setting. Furthermore, business card holders can be utilized to match the design
and décor of the office, as well as display a creative or eye-catching design.

Desktop
business card holders can range from plastic to metal. In addition, the
available capacity of business card holders can vary. While some business card holders
carry hundreds of business cards at a time, some desktop business card holders
simply display a single business card. 

Portable business card holders protect the
integrity and physical state of a business card, which is at times the sole
emissary of a new or unfamiliar business. In networking settings, individuals
with damaged or low-grade business cards may be prematurely judged in
accordance with the condition of their business cards. Business cards held in
business held in business card holders display an air that the individual not
only wishes to project a reputable and accessible image, but also is in the
habit of distributing many business cards. Many feel that this shows the
prospect of careful, meticulous, and responsible character traits on the part
of that individual.

Where to Get Business Card Holders

Business card holders can be obtained at a
variety of locations, ranging from office supply stores to custom manufacturing
facilities. A business card holder can project an air of professionalism, seriousness,
and attention to detail. Due to the fact that an innumerable number of business
cards are exchanged on a daily basis, a desire to maintain the pristine
condition of a business card can add value and reputability to those that
possess them. 

Business
cards are, at times, the sole emissary of a business. Due to the fact that countless
business cards are exchanged on a daily basis, a business card must reflect the
values and professionalism latent in a business. Although the designs of
business cards vary, many businesses choose to spend money on the production of
business cards that they feel will properly and sufficiently reflect their
business. 

However, a new business, which can also be referred
to as a “startup business”, may opt to obtain free business cards in order to
gauge the number of business cards needed to be produced. Many companies
ranging from online promotional companies to printing and publishing facilities
offer free promotions that allow for individuals and businesses alike to
receive free business cards. 

Free Business Cards: Pros and Cons

There exist both positive and negative aspects in
the debate surrounding free business cards. Although there includes no monetary
payment, a free business card is traditionally inferior to business cards that
have been professionally designed and manufactured. 

While free business cards do provide valid
information specified by an individual business, there oftentimes exist
restrictions in sizes, colors, dimensions, word count, and number of cards
produced. Many individuals and businesses alike find this to be extremely
limiting. 

While free business cards are free of charge,
they are traditionally, and primarily, offered for marketing and promotions. As
a result, many free business card offers display the contact information of the
company providing them somewhere on the business card.

However, in the case of new businesses that hope
to invest in custom, professional grade business cards, the prospect of free
business cards can be an invaluable prospect. Upon obtaining free business
cards, a business can gauge the amount of business cards that they will require
as a result of monitoring turnover, disbursement, and demand for the business
cards.

Where to Find Free Business Cards

Free business cards are offered by a multitude
of companies, ranging from promotional companies to new companies hoping to
garner attention. In many cases, companies offering free business cards hope to
retain clients taking advantage of the promotions, and eventually choosing to
spend money on business cards without the prior restrictions latent in the free
business card promotion.

Many free
business card offers exist online, yet upon approaching printing companies and
publishing facilities, a speculative agreement can be made in the form of a
trial offer. Individuals interested in free business cards are encouraged to
investigate internet promotions, as well as meet with printing companies and
inquiring about promotional deals. 

It should be noted that in many cases, free
business card promotions do contain restrictions in design. As a result,
individuals seeking elaborate, ornate, or overly-customized business cards may
find that their needs cannot be met in the scope of a free business card
promotional offer. 

Business
technology optimization (BTO) is a business methodology that specifically
targets the optimization of Information Technology (IT) Departments existing
within each and every business. The business technology optimization program
operates in accordance with the perpetual evolution of the informational
technology industry by analyzing technological developments, researching
technological advances, and creating structured technological strategies. A
large amount of attention has been placed on informational technology in the
past decade due to the vast array of advancements undergone within the scope of
both general technologies, and specifically business technology.

What is Information Technology (IT)

An informational technology department exists
within a multitude of businesses existing on a global level. Due to the fact
that a majority of business is able to be conducted through the usage of
technology, such as the internet, computer programs, and remote business
applications, the honing of an IT department is instrumental. Business
technology optimization focuses on the productivity, proficiency, and
efficiency of IT departments. Information technology departments are
responsible for the following tasks:

The management, collection, analysis, and
assessment of digital data

The operations of computing systems

The maintenance of operating networks, including
digital, satellite, cable, and remote access

The organization of all records, reports, and
documentation that exist in digital form

The functional upkeep of all electronic and
technological systems responsible for the allocation and sorting of data

The moderation of all programs that exist in
both intra-office and inter-office forms

The repair, analysis, and rectification of all
issues befalling technological and computational systems within a business

The overseeing of all communication, both on
local and global levels

The Value of Business Technology Optimization

The advancement of information technology
departments are directly proportional to the advancement of a company or
business relying on its IT department for productivity, results, and output. A
business technology optimization allows for the most updated, informed, and efficient
measures taken in order to provide a final information technology product that
experiences continuing improvement and heightened efficiency. While business
consultants can improve the performance of many aspects of a business in its
physical functionality, business technology optimization provides for similar
consultation in the realm of information technology. 

Why Employ a Business Technology Optimization
Program?

In the case of businesses who maintain a
technological status quo, many have expressed concerns regarding the
replacement and improvement of technology to which they have become accustomed.
However, an informed and effective business technology optimization
demonstration can illustrate the vast advances that are latent within the adoption
of a business technology optimization, ranging from enhanced technological
performance to unrivaled data management systems. 

Business Technology Optimization Legal
Processes

Individuals and business owners alike that
wish to employ a business technology optimization program are encouraged to
consult with an attorney prior to the signing, preparation, or presentation of
any legal documentation. Attorneys specializing in cyber law can assist in the
explanation of technological terminology and lexicon, while attorneys
specializing in contract law can provide contractual preparation, providing
their clients with optimal protection from unnecessary and unwanted liability.

A business management consultant is an individual who
is trained in business consultation and who provides for the optimization of
managerial efficiency within the scope of a business. Oftentimes, business
management consultants are business professionals, as well as former business
owners and operators. In many cases, a business management consultant retains
business experience, acumen, and expertise that can be utilized to maximize
productivity in business development and business management.

Business Management Consultant Services

Business management consultants provide for a multitude of services that
run the gamut in a business setting, ranging from small businesses to large
corporations. The following are a number of services provided by business
management consultants:

1. Productivity Assessment

In the event that a business owner feels as though
their business is not operating on an optimal level, they may choose to employ
the services of a business management consultant. As a result of doing so, a
business management consultant can analyze the operations of that business,
ranging from employee productivity to operational management, and subsequently
create a plan of action that revamps outdated methodology and introduces new
and improved techniques.

In many cases, a business management consultant will
work closely with existing management staff, educating them in developmental
procedures that allow for employee productivity to improve. This can be done by
assessing job responsibility, improving employee/employer relations, and
analyzing the level of productivity.

2. Developing a Business Strategy

A business management consultant can provide for new
and improved directions, which can potentially heighten the overall
productivity of a business. By doing so, outdated and inefficient practices and
services can be eliminated while being replaced by customized solutions that
better suit the business in question. Upon improving operations through
strategy development, a business management consultant can revolutionize the
productivity, efficiency, and marketability.

3. Support and Accountability

A business management consultant can not only improve,
but define the protocols of support and strategy latent within a business. By
clearly delineating departmental responsibility, personnel job descriptions,
and a general level of accountability, the structural integrity of a business
can be improved through specified hierarchy and chain of command.

4. Eliminating Redundancies

Statistics resulting from the analysis of businesses
reflect that large amounts of money and time are wasted in not only repeating
tasks, but correcting errors. A business management consultant can formulate
knowledgeable analysis illustrating specific practices and procedures that lack
the optimal amount of efficiency. Furthermore, a business management consultant
can elucidate instances where management is lacking, which results in low employee
productivity.

Oftentimes, a business management consultant can
highlight instances in which a company’s time, money, and resources are not
being used to their fullest extent. This includes disorganization, flawed
organization, and faulty data management services.

Business Management Consultant Legality

Prior to signing any legal documentation or paperwork, individuals are
encouraged to consult with an attorney who specializes in business, finance,
employment, and contracts. As a result of the legal acumen provided by a
skilled attorney, a contract for the hiring of a business management consultant
will retain the optimal benefit for both parties involved in the agreement.

Important Ways to Legally
Protecting your Business Firewall Software

There are
different ways that you can legally protect your business firewall
software.  Understanding the different ways that you can protect your
business firewall software and ensure that your ideas are safe is crucial. You
want to keep your ideas and software programs to yourself and ensure that no
one else has the ability to take an idea that is too close in similarity to
yours and make money off of it.  

Get a Patent

The best way to protect yourself is through a
patent. A patent is a legal protection for the inventor. With a patent, it
excludes others from making, using, importing, or selling the invention. This
makes an idea legally yours!

A patent is good for 20 years from the day it was filed so long as all fees and payments are made. The important thing to remember is that a U.S patent is only valid within the United States and does not carry any weight in another country.

For people
creating business firewall software, the good news is that can now patent the
product, whereas in the past they were not able to do so. To get a patent, it
generally costs between $5,000 and $20,000, so be prepared to pay for it. Do
yourself a favor and hire a patent attorney to make sure everything is done
correctly. It is a lot less stress on your part if you are able to have an
attorney help you through it.

Look at a Copyright

Copyrights are a great way to prevent a competitor
from duplicating the firewall business software that you’ve created. This
copyright will protect the structure, the code, the sequence, and the look and
feel of the firewall business software. The great thing with a copyright for
your firewall business software is that it is done automatically when you
publish it. However, you should also file for a formal copyright.  The fee
for a copyright is generally very small, approximately $45, and is sent to the
Library of Congress.

Get a Trademark

Like a copyright, it is also easy to get a
trademark. This will basically serve as a mark so that people know that someone
owns it and cannot be used by someone else. It is one of the easier ownerships
to obtain.

You first
have to make sure that there is nothing else in the trademark database that
looks like that. Then you will apply online and pay a fee between $75 to $310
per month, depending on the company size and a few other factors.

Knowing the different ways that you can protect
your business firewall software is very important.  You want to be sure
that you are protecting your hard work. Hiring an attorney that can help you
get a patent, trademark, or a copyright will be a huge help. With an attorney,
you will have the ability to get the information that you need and fight to
keep your business firewall software exclusive to just you.