When doing business, there are some commercially printed materials you just can't go without. Three of the most important items to grow your business and ensure you continue making great first impressions going forward are highlighted in this week's blog post. Being creative is key for making any of these three printed products an effective tool for your business.

When you think of a business card, your first thought is probably of the traditional, contact info centered 3.5 inch x 2 inch design that pretty much all businesses are using in one form or another. But it's time to think outside of the box. This week, we highlight 12 of the most creative and innovative designs for business card sized products out there, along with some design elements to help you get started designing your own today.

Annual reports are the perfect medium for businesses and nonprofit organizations to make use of in their ongoing branding and brand development efforts. Their long-form style and data-heavy content provide the perfect opportunities for incorporating creative graphic elements that build on the pre-existing brand standards in new ways. Here are 10 specific tips that you can act on today to help increase the effectiveness of your annual reports for the coming year.