Best Tips & Practices for Maximizing Your Digital Cards

In our digitally-fueled post-pandemic lives nowadays, digital cards – be it digital name cards or e-business cards – are becoming popular for their additional features, convenience, and ease of sharing. Not to mention hygienic too since there’s no physical contact involved.

But digital cards are still a relatively new trend, which means it’s good to know how you can get the most of your digital cards for scoring those wonderful first impressions!

Let’s take a look at the best tips and practices on how you can do so below.

1. Consider multimedia elements

Being a digital medium has its perks, and digital cards can be made to look quite impressive with the use of multimedia elements like animations, videos, and audio.

For starters, you can spice up your card by implementing videos or slideshows into the layout. These can make for some great introductions. For example, a short 20-second intro clip about yourself or one that highlights your profile is great for letting people get a glimpse of what you or your company does for business.

By using the right multimedia elements, your card will look way more interesting than with just ordinary graphics and text. 

2. Have all your essential info in order

Digital business cards still serve the same function as physical ones at the end of the day, and that is for people to know and remember you or your company.

As such, make sure to include your name, title, company, phone numbers, email addresses, general location, and all other important information. 

Once you have all your components, have them shown through an optimal layout. Place your most important details front and center and highlight them with strong, bold fonts. You can then segment your other details into neatly arranged headers and categories, or even pages as needed.

Through a proper arrangement, your recipients will be able to get all the info they need about you in one organized and easy-to-navigate digital card. Plus, it helps avoid clutter for ensuring a good first impression.

3. Showcase your work

Digital business cards aren’t bound to the confines of a small, printed card, which means the extra creative space you have can be turned to your networking advantage.

Many digital cards can incorporate photo galleries and media carousels, and these make excellent places for showcasing your special works, projects, or portfolios. This can be particularly helpful for professions whose work speak for themselves, like photographers, graphic designers, artists, and so on.

In essence, the right showcase of your work can really boost the wow factor of your card. But pick only the best ones, though! Don’t cram everything in even if you can.

4. Add digital features

One advantage digital cards have is the ability to include buttons, external links, navigational widgets, and other digital features. By adding them, your recipients will get to see more than just a static page.

Generally, digital business cards should at least have basic buttons for call, email, and messaging as well as social media. Beyond that, you can include external links that lead people to your website or landing pages, if any.

On that note, if you want to go the extra mile to impress, consider adding features that complement your profession or industry. For example, if you’re a restauranteur, adding a GPS function for helping your recipients find their way to your restaurant can be very helpful.

5. Add a QR code

Linking your digital business card with a QR code is a great way to maximize their potential. All people have to do is scan them, and they’ll get to see your profile right away.

Once you have a QR code, you can easily show people your profile during physical meetings. On the digital side, your QR codes can also be added to your messages, email signatures, and even virtual backgrounds during a Zoom or Microsoft Teams meeting, allowing everyone to check out your digital business card quickly and easily.

6. Add a personal touch

Last but not least, don’t forget to add a personal touch to your business cards. Your recipients will appreciate it as they’ll feel like you’re communicating with them in person.

It doesn’t have to be anything extra. You can add short phrases like “Nice to meet you” and call-to-actions like “Connect with me” and “Check out my profiles below”. This makes your card clear to navigate and understand, which is more likely to leave a better impact.

If anything, business cards are a way of letting the people you meet remember you. Adding a personal touch will round out your card in maximizing their networking potential.

Final thoughts

We hope these tips and practices prove helpful!

Although their popularity is increasing, digital cards are still not exactly the most mainstream for most people just yet. For this reason, you’ll want to cover all the bases the best you can when creating your digital business cards to leave the best impact.

If making your own digital card seems to be more than you can handle, feel free to reach out to us at Artisense! As a purveyor of high-quality digital business and virtual name cards, we would be more than glad to help you create the right card!

急速备婚攻略!10招让你短时间内也能get完美婚礼

终于可以实现心心念念的梦想,却只有很短的时间来搞定整个婚礼?别着急,这几招可以帮你轻松快速地筹备婚礼。

 

无可否认,婚礼策划绝对是世界上最烦心的一件事,尤其是时间不够的时候,简直是烦上加烦。但没关系,跟着我带你轻轻松松完成你的梦想婚礼 !

 

“短时间”是多短?

 

筹备时间的长短没有定义,通常大家会在婚礼的一年前开始计划。同时,婚礼前的3个月到9个月期间会有个订婚仪式,代表了你筹备婚礼的时间又更少了,因此你更需要一个完美的计划来快速搞定你的婚礼。

 

你可以这样开始:

 

1. 准备一份清单

因为你已经没什么时间了,所以不要”看看情况“、不要拖延症发作!

 

婚礼筹备就像一个大Project一样,你应该先建立一个婚礼时间表,并准备一个检查清单。把你必须在某个时间之前完成的事情列出来,比如购买婚纱,敲定宾客名单,你要选择什么样的场地,以及婚礼的餐点配套。

 

同时,还要确定你的预算,并提出一个婚礼预算计划! 在马来西亚的婚礼费用,根据规模的不同,可以从RM20,000到RM100,000不等。

 

总而言之,你应该在对你预想的婚礼有了充分的了解后,才开始安排婚礼。

 

2. 避开人潮解决法律问题

马来西亚人都懂婚姻注册是一个漫长的过程,尤其是在结婚高峰期。所以,找一个不那么繁忙的地方来注册婚姻是个聪明的选择,比如教堂、寺庙或婚姻登记助理协会。

这是最重要的步骤,因为婚姻注册(ROM)是你和你的伴侣合法结婚的必经之路,所以尽快预约婚姻注册,以确保你有足够的时间来妥善计划你的婚礼。

 

3. 早点预定!

如果你打算在高级餐厅、舞厅或酒店举行婚礼,请早点 book!高峰期就连一般酒店场地都需要用抢的,更何况是那些热门场地。

还有宴会承办人、造型师、音乐家、摄影师和DJ,也是要提早 book!如果比别人慢了一步,你的选择就会更有限了。

 

4. 考虑不同的请柬类型

为了让你的客人,特别是那些住很远或者很忙的家人朋友,可以轻松安排时间出席婚礼,正常情况下你应该在婚礼前六周左右发出结婚请柬。

如果传统纸质请柬不能及时送达你的客人,可以考虑选择电子请柬!省时省事还省力,轻轻松松按个键就能送达,而且也能很快收到回复。

 

 

5. 寻求外援

婚礼有太多的东西需要做准备了,就算你提前开始准备了也是会不知所措。

如果对你而言这些步骤都太费力了,可以请一个婚礼策划师,他们能利用他们的专业和经验,把婚礼的细节给处理好,你只需要做决定即可。

你也可以请教已婚朋友,只要他们愿意分享,通常都可以帮到你省了很多步骤。你还可以在Facebook的婚礼群组或在线论坛上提问,有很多网友愿意分享意见。

 

6. 要求简单些

当你对婚礼的要求细节化开始,你就会需要花更多的时间。如果你时间不够,你就需要在细节上妥协,尽量维持简单。

当然,最简单的方式就是找一个全包的婚礼套餐,不需要花费太多心思就可以拥有一个高质量的婚礼。

 

7. 果断一点!

婚礼需要考虑的东西真的很多,比如装饰、规模和主题等等。当你拿不定主意,身边又有很多人同时给你意见时,你会更难决定。

备婚时有一个能够做决定的人是很重要的。做了决定之后就不要再犹豫不决,回头质疑你的每个决定,只会导致后面的步骤全都被拖延。

 

8. 参加婚礼展览

找到合适的婚礼策划师、摄影Studio、造型师等会占用你很多时间,你可能需要在社交媒体上不断地查询、看评价看分享、或是询问朋友意见。在你已经没什么时间的情况下,参加婚纱展览是个明智的选择。你可以在同个一时间,同一个地点内,快速解决所有问题!

 

9. 做好需要妥协的心理准备

在短时间内计划的婚礼往往没有选择的余地,很多婚礼策划人、供应商、道具、甚至是婚纱都需要提前预定。

因此,你可能会遇到非常多为难的时刻。这时候请不要害怕妥协,寻找替代选择的时候可能会遇到比原计划更好的事情。

 

10. 保持心情轻松愉快

婚礼策划压力很大,所以你更应该为自己找点乐子。不然因为备婚导致压力过大甚至跟伴侣产生摩擦就太不值得了!请大家谨记婚礼的主要目的是作为两人的婚姻见证,婚礼其实不需要要太复杂。

婚礼是一生只有一次的经历,请记得一定要尽情享受婚礼的美好!保持心情愉悦,让你以后在回想的时候,都是美好的回忆。

 

最后

在短时间内策划一场婚礼其实并不难,只是需要思考清楚和果断的做决定。即使时间不足,只需要充分且明智地利用时间,还是可以完成的。先把清单准备好,再一一完成所有项目,一场完美的婚礼就实现了!

如果你需要精美的电子请柬,给@card一个机会!由大马设计师亲手制作,超过300种原创设计,不仅能帮你省时省钱还省力,甚至能让你的来宾赞叹不已!

2022 Wedding Trends in Malaysia

The new year has officially kicked off! As 2022 makes its way into our lives, now’s the time to see where things are headed for weddings in Malaysia this year.

Although the pandemic has sadly not reached its end yet, there is, however, some good news to it – weddings are seeing new trends as couples get more creative with planning them around the new normal. While many things may have changed along with new SOPs and all, it’s not impossible to plan a wedding that’s just as wonderful and memorable now.

If you and your partner are keen on tying the knot this year, read on to see just what the latest trends are for a Malaysian wedding in 2022!

 

 

1. Small-scale weddings

In light of pandemic regulations and tighter SOPs, it’s no surprise that smaller weddings have been getting more popular. Now, couples no longer necessarily want a monumental guest list and the entire extended family in attendance.

Instead, many couples are making the move to host smaller yet more meaningful and intimate ceremonies, such as small garden or outdoor weddings where only important family members or close friends are invited. 

With fewer guests and less headache of planning a grand large-scale wedding, it’s likely that more and more couples will now choose to devote more attention to creating a more special and intimate ceremony centered around themselves and their close friends and family. 

 

 

2. Weekday weddings

Compared to pre-pandemic times, weekend weddings are harder to achieve now due to lockdowns and new SOPs. It’s not just the venue, other elements like photographers and musicians are harder to come by too – everybody wants to get hold of the weekend slots.

Fortunately, there is a silver lining to this as weekday weddings will likely start trending this year as couples become more open to having their wedding on a Monday or Friday. Besides opening up more scheduling options, prices for booking venues and vendors are also typically lower during this time, making weekday weddings ideal for planning a budget wedding.

Besides, since weekdays aren’t as in demand as weekends, it’s easier to secure the vendors and venues you really want with a weekday wedding.

 

 

3. Multiple celebrations

Before the pandemic hit, large crowds of guests and blowout celebrations were fairly normal occurrences for weddings. But with SOPs and restrictions to venue capacity and social activities, this has led to the rise of having weddings split into multiple celebrations

In practice, the spaced-out nature of multiple celebrations means that there will be a smaller number of guests present at each one. Not only does this allow for more flexible planning of each celebration, but it also allows couples to have more opportunities to meet and spend time with one another.

Plus, this way, couples can also invite more guests without having to worry as much about cramming everything and everyone into a single event. For example, a couple can have a formal celebration with family and another intimate one with close friends, which can even be split into multi-day experiences as needed for the best experience.

 

 

4. Destination weddings

Thanks to increasing vaccination rates and gradual loosening of travel restrictions, the bliss of having a destination wedding away from traditional ballrooms and indoor venues is slowly making a return among couples. 

It’s not hard to see why, either! From outdoor and hilltop weddings to coastal celebrations or even getting wed at sea, destination weddings often offer beautiful and picturesque views that make for truly memorable celebrations. Plus, it’s a breath of fresh air and change of scenery that everyone sorely wants after not being able to travel for so long. 

And, as an added bonus, more destination weddings are also a boon for the tourism industry, which is sorely in need of some support. With a destination wedding, it’s a win-win for everybody!

 

 

5. Digital wedding e-invitations

While traditional cardstock-based wedding invitations do have their sentimental value, digital wedding e-invitations are popping up as a new and favourable alternative!

Compared to their physical counterpart, wedding e-invitations offer a myriad of useful features like photo galleries, audio, RSVP functions, and buttons among others that a card won’t have. Besides allowing for an engaging and appealing invitation to be made, the digital nature of e-invitations means they are also cheaper and more convenient to create and send out to guests, making it well-suited for use in a budget wedding.

Plus, with the pandemic looming about, handing out physical invitations does pose a risk of transmitting the virus to others. As digitally-delivered invitations don’t have this issue, it’s likely that e-invitations are going to see more use as the safer method for inviting guests.

 

 

6. Wider range of colours

Weddings have traditionally always emphasized the use of rather neutral colours like white, black, and maybe pink. However, such restrictions of colours likely won’t stay for long as couples start embracing bolder colour palettes.

Shades of green, touches of red, hues of blue… not only do they provide for a new and pleasing theme, but the different colours also let couples have a new way to express and symbolize meaning – such as joy, happiness, and contentment – through elements like wedding décor, invitations, and attire.

But this doesn’t mean that neutral palettes are past their prime, though! These colours still make for a timeless aesthetic that won’t go unappreciated. Just that, with other shades of colour making an entrance, it can be a good idea to start expanding your range of colours; perhaps even by using both neutral and bolder colours!

 

 

7. Breaking tradition

Just like life taking many new turns, couples are no longer letting themselves be bound by tradition as much anymore. 

Rather than planning generic cookie-cutter weddings, many couples have now been planning more individualized and personalized ceremonies themed around their personal traits and styles. Some examples of doing away with traditions or mixing things up include: 

  • Having mixed-gender wedding parties
  • Opting for more modern wedding readings
  • Going for an alternative wedding cake

With the way things are headed, couples are now more conscious and intentional in regards to how their wedding goes and the elements it will have. It’s a growing trend for couples to have a greater expression of individuality than to do the same thing as everybody else.

 

 

8. Alternative wedding elements

Dresses and flowers are a mainstay at any wedding, but with more and more couples wanting to tailor their wedding to their personal tastes, it’s likely that more alternative wedding elements are going to pop up in weddings!

Rather than the usual and seen-all-too-often decor, couples are expressing their individuality by opting for alternative elements instead. These can extend to:

  • Bouquets and flowers (e.g., using different blooms)
  • Wedding attire (e.g., differently-styled dresses or even non-wedding dresses)
  • Tabletop décor (e.g., movie props for a movie-themed wedding)
  • Artistic light installations

The list goes on, and it can be anything! With the way things are going differently for weddings this year, going for an alternative route is only going to get more popular.

 

 

9. Sustainable practices

Sustainability isn’t just a fad for other parts of life. Nowadays, even weddings are picking up on the trend of sustainability as going green becomes more prevalent.

It doesn’t take much to have a sustainable wedding, even if you are planning a budget wedding. The key thing here is to switch out or go for more eco-friendly or sustainable alternatives, and the best part is that there’s often no real compromise in quality in doing so!

For the most part, sustainable practices can include any of the following:

  • Choosing vendors with greener production methods (florists, etc.)
  • Shopping for gifts locally
  • Using greenery and plants as venue décor & wedding favors
  • Minimizing the use of single-use items (e.g., going for e-invitations instead of physical cards)
  • Sourcing for local and seasonal food and flowers
  • Recycling or repurposing flowers after the wedding

By undertaking initiatives like these, couples will get to host a greener and sustainable wedding in an age where sustainability and environmental-friendliness matters more. If anything, going green makes for a naturally-beautiful wedding theme on its own.

 

 

Final thoughts

While the pandemic might have certainly put a hamper on many things, this doesn’t mean you have to put off your plans for getting wed this year! It’s just that Malaysian wedding trends are taking a new turn, and these don’t necessarily have to be bad.To all the couples planning to get married this year, we hope that some of these trends above will prove useful in guiding you to planning the best ceremony of your lives. If you happen to need some digital wedding e-invitations, you can always reach out to us at Artisense for some of our finest e-invitations for your wedding. Happy planning!

1200 x 630 pix Latest SOPs for Weddings in Malaysia-2022-01

Latest SOPs for Weddings in Malaysia

It’s a new year! With things seeing a better turn for the pandemic, it’s now a better time than before to get wed with your beloved.

But even though wedding ceremonies in Malaysia have been given the green light, there are still standard operating procedures (SOPs) to follow for your wedding. If you’re unsure about the latest SOPs to observe for your wedding in this new normal, then this is the blog for you!

Let’s get started.

What are the latest SOPs?

As per the Phase 4 guidelines of the National Recovery Plan, wedding ceremonies are now allowed (hooray!). But there are some conditions to observe:

  • All individuals need to be fully-vaccinated.
  • Only 50% of venue capacity may be used.
  • Physical distancing must be observed.

Delving deeper into that, here are also the more in-depth protocols to observe for your wedding in this new normal.

For guests:

  • All attendees must register their attendance and their presence should be recorded. Likewise, guests should also scan QR codes via their MySejahtera app.
  • Guests who measure a temperature higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius and / or showing symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath are not allowed to enter the venue.
  • Anyone classified as a Patient Under Investigation (PUI) or Person Under Surveillance (PUS) may not be allowed to attend.
  • All guests should wear face masks when attending. Wearing of face shields and gloves may also be encouraged.
  • All guests must regularly their hands with hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes.
  • Guests with infants and children as well as those with chronic diseases are not encouraged to attend.

For the wedding staff:

  • Persons-in-charge must register the attendance, details, and health status of every guest.
  • Organizers and chaperones should monitor the flow of guests and any potentially-risky activity.
  • All wedding staff must undergo health screening tests before the wedding. Those who exhibit symptoms of illness are not allowed to be present on the big day.

For the venue:

  • Entry and exit points must be established clearly for guests to follow, especially for open-air areas with no specific entrance (beach, outdoor courtyards, gardens, etc.).
  • Designated seating arrangements should be made for guests.
  • Regular cleaning and disinfection must be carried out at the wedding venue.
  • The venue should be well-ventilated with a proper flow of air.
  • Tables and chairs will need to be spaced 2 meters and 1 meter apart from each other respectively.
  • Gatherings of any sort are not allowed.

As can be seen above, the current SOPs for weddings in Malaysia aren’t too different from the ones during the first few MCOs! Just that things are a little laxer now for the new normal.

Tips on how to adhere to SOPs

While adhering to SOPs isn’t a difficult task on your own, it can be hard to make sure that all your guests do the same during your wedding, especially with everyone still getting accustomed to the new normal. 

Thus, here are a couple of tips for having a wonderful and SOP-compliant wedding ceremony.

1. Keep the guest list short

While wanting all your beloved friends and family members at your big day is understandable, only 50% venue capacity available means that you should only invite the most important people to your wedding! 

Consider keeping a shorter guest list of close friends and important family members, like your parents, siblings, and a few relatives that you’re close with. It’s safer for everyone and less of a headache for you to keep things in order during the wedding. 

2. Require guests to undergo screening tests

Infected individuals don’t always show symptoms right away, and some never even do. But they’re infected nonetheless, and that’s not something you should take chances with.

If possible, have all your guests undergo screening tests before your wedding, or at the very least a self-test. You can double up on the precautionary measures by ensuring that everyone has to test negative for the virus and show proof for it before they can attend the wedding.

3. Serve food via a sit-down banquet

With the pandemic still fresh, it’s not the best idea to host a buffet or dome setting where everybody helps themselves to the food. All your guests will inevitably mingle with one another and that’s a big health risk. 

Instead, have your wedding meal served as a sit-down banquet where food is served directly to your seated guests. Alternatively, you can also pre-package wedding meals into individual servings. These will help make for a safer eating environment for everyone.

4. Make it easier for your guests to follow SOPs 

Sometimes, it can be hard for people to follow SOPs when faced with circumstances like small venues, lack of hand sanitizer stations, poor enforcement, and so on. These won’t make it easier for people to adhere to SOPs and it can likely lead to guests just ignoring SOPs outright.

If you can help it, it’s a good idea to take your own steps to make it easier for your guests to follow SOPs. These can include choosing more spacious venues, enforcing social distancing guidelines through clear markers, handing out face masks, placing reminder signs, and hiring extra help. This way, everyone will be more inclined to follow the SOPs.

5. Restrict potentially-risky activities

Activities like having drinks, meet-and-greets, and group photography are commonplace for weddings. However fun they may be, they also increase the chances of transmitting the virus to others, especially when everyone bunches up together.

For everyone’s welfare, consider limiting these activities, or at the very least, make it so that they are compliant with SOPs. For example, if you really need to take that group photo, do it in small groups with everyone spaced apart instead of one take for one huge crowd.

Final thoughts

As it stands, the latest SOPs see slightly more eased restrictions compared to before, but the overall SOPs are still mostly similar to the ones we have now. Even so, it’s just as important to ensure everyone follows the SOPs – it’s not just for their safety, but yours as well. It is the new normal, after all, and there’s no harm in having a wedding that follows it.

1200 x 630 pix 10 Tips on Planning a Wedding in A Short Time-01

10 Tips on Planning a Wedding in A Short Time

Confessed your love but scrambling to get a ceremony together on short notice? Then this is the guide for you!

Admittedly, wedding planning can be a pretty overwhelming affair, especially when you are the wedding planner with less time than you would like. But it’s not totally impossible for we have put together a list of helpful tips for helping you plan the wedding of your dreams!

How short is considered “a short time”?

While there’s no strictly-defined timeline to follow, many couples typically start planning around one year or so before their wedding day. Beyond that, anywhere between 3 to 9 months before the wedding would start counting as a short engagement.

Although it does mean you get to be married quicker, you’ll have much less time to get your preparations in order. This can make wedding planning a lot more stressful if you don’t have a good plan for covering everything.

Here’s how you can start:

1. Have an organized plan

There’s not a lot of time to “see how it goes”, so think clearly about what you and your partner want at the wedding. 

Like a big project, you should start by creating a wedding timeline and prepare a checklist. Make a list of things you have to complete by a certain time, such as to buy your wedding  dress, finalize the guest list, what sort of venue you are going for, and the type of meal for the wedding.

Also, determine your budget and come up with a wedding budget plan! Wedding costs in Malaysia can range anywhere between RM20,000 to over RM100,000 depending on the scale.

All in all, you should only start making wedding arrangements after you have a good idea of how your wedding will go.

2. Settle the legalities at a less busy place

Registering a marriage can sometimes be a lengthy process, especially during peak wedding seasons. For this reason, it can be a good idea to find a less busy place to register your marriage, like a church, temple, or association by Assistant Registrar of Marriages instead of a JPN office.

This is the most important step to complete as the registration of marriage (ROM) is compulsory for you and your partner to be legally married, so look to make your appointments for registering your marriage ASAP to ensure that you have enough time to properly plan your wedding.

3. Book early!

If you’re planning to have the wedding in a fancy restaurant, ballroom, or hotel, get your venue booked ASAP! Many wedding venues aren’t always available on short notice, especially the more popular ones, so you should settle that along with the date and time first.

This goes for hiring caterers, stylists, musicians, photographers, and DJs too as they usually require bookings in advance. So, be sure to reserve them early on to avoid any disappointments!

4. Consider different invitation types 

Generally, you should send out your wedding invitations around six weeks ahead of the wedding day if possible. This is so that your guests can comfortably make plans for attending, especially for the ones who are out of town or overseas.

In the event that paper invitations can’t make it to your guests in time, consider opting for digital invitations and wedding cards instead! Not only are they a lot quicker to create and deliver without sacrificing any quality, but you can also confirm RSVPs way sooner through digital invitations.

5. Get some extra help

There are a lot of things that go into a wedding, and it can be overwhelming even for couples who prepare well in advance. 

Consider hiring a wedding planner if it all seems too much to handle as they have the expertise to handle the ins and outs of your wedding. You can also bring your family members on board for some extra helping hands too. 

If you find yourself needing more guidance, consulting friends who have already married on help and recommendations can really help lead you in the right direction. Adding to that, you can even ask questions in Facebook wedding groups or online forums to get some advice.

The more help you have, the easier it’ll be to get your wedding on track. 

6. Keep things simple

Having specific needs or wants will only use up the little time you have, so try to keep things simple for your wedding and avoid being too picky.

If anything, an easy way to have a quality wedding without settling for less is to go for an all-inclusive wedding package. This way, you won’t have to spend too much time planning and sifting through all the details.

7. Don’t mull over decisions

With all the things that go into a wedding, it’s rather easy to be unsure of what you should decide on, such as the wedding decor, scale, and theme. This especially applies when you’re taking in input from your parents, friends, and relatives all at once.

For this reason, it’s very important to have someone responsible for making the decisions for the wedding. Whether it’s you and your partner, your parents, or both of you, be decisive and quick in calling the shots. Whatever your decision is, just stick with it and move on to the next thing on your list! Remember, it’s harder to make changes when time is short.

8. Attend wedding shows

Finding and sourcing for the right wedding planners, vendors, stylists, and so on can take up a lot of precious time. If there’s a wedding show or bridal expo going on, go ahead and attend one as you can get all your wedding shopping done conveniently in one place!

Not only can you find almost everything you need at one, but you also get to meet every vendor face-to-face as well as save on time and money.

9. Be prepared to compromise

As doable as it is, weddings planned on a shorter notice often don’t have the luxury of choice. A lot of wedding planners, vendors, professionals, items, and even wedding dresses often require orders to be made well in advance.

For this reason, it’s in your best interest to accept that you might have to make compromises here and there. But don’t be averse to the idea of seeking alternatives, though! You might come across something that’s even better than what you originally had planned.

10. Remember to have fun

Wedding planning can be stressful, sure, but try not to forget about having some fun while you’re at it and don’t stress yourself out about the minutiae of your wedding. Keep your head up and your mind on one important fact – it’s your marriage!

If anything, this is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, so might as well make it all the more of a reason to have fun planning the wedding!

Final thoughts

It’s not impossible to plan a wedding in a short time! All it takes is a little extra thinking ahead and decisiveness to put together a ceremony that can be just as good as any other. As long as you cover the important steps and use your time wisely, you can well be on your way to having a wonderful wedding even with less time to plan.

If you happen to need some wonderful wedding cards for your wedding, give @card a try! Masterfully created by yours truly at Artisense, you’ll get to impress your guests with awesome designs while also getting to enjoy the cost-efficient and convenient factors of a digital card!

1200 x 630 MCO Virtual Wedding!-01

12 Wedding Meals in KL, Selangor, and Penang to Deliver to Your Guests for your MCO Virtual Wedding!

If there’s one thing no wedding ceremony can do without, it’s food! Doesn’t matter if it’s buffets or plated dinners, an occasion as special as a wedding needs good food.

With the MCO going on, that certainly is the case as weddings will have to be done with everyone apart. Even so, you can bring the wedding meal to your guests all through delivery! 

For your viewing pleasure, we’ve compiled a list of restaurants and food vendors in KL, Selangor, and Penang that you can choose from for delivering meals to your beloved guests!

Why delivering wedding meals is the way to go now

As of 10th August, wedding ceremonies are still a no-go as per the Phase 1 and Phase 2 SOPs of MCO 3.0 (check this site out for the SOPs of each state!). It’s a bummer, but it is for the sake of keeping everyone safe and healthy.

For this reason, virtual weddings are becoming the new option for couples to host their wedding ceremonies. In an interesting turn of events, a Malaysian couple has even taken to hosting a massive drive-through wedding to keep their guests safe!

There’s still the question of the food, however.

Since everyone can’t feast together in one place, that’s where deliverable wedding meals come in. It’s convenient, it’s fast, and it gets food to every one of your guests’ doorsteps. This way, everyone can still celebrate your wedding with good food all in the comfort of their own homes!

With Malaysia being a haven for food, there are plenty of food providers to get your meals from. To couples with most of your guests in Selangor and KL, you also get an added benefit as many food providers in Selangor and KL are able to deliver throughout both areas so feel free to browse around! 

For the Kuala Lumpur area:

1. Botanica + Co

Nothing brings the joyous feelings of a wedding to your guests more than some hearty food!

Located in Bangsar South, Botanica + Co is offering its delectable range of meal choices for delivery, one of which includes their selection of family combos and platters that’s perfect for your guests to enjoy.

The platters are available in an assortment of sandwiches, pastries, soup bowls, salad bowls, and cookies, which are all made with finesse and the best ingredients for a perfect taste.

Bring these wondrous dishes and more to your guests by ordering at https://botanicabangsarsouth
.beepit.com/ordering/?type=delivery

Website | Facebook | Instagram

2. EQ Kuala Lumpur

Photos by EQ on Facebook

Looking to get a little lavish with the wedding meals? Then share the taste of EQ’s gourmet dining with all your special guests!

One of KL’s top hotels and home to restaurants like Kampachi EQ, Nipah at EQ, and Étoile Bistro at EQ, EQ’s menu is comprised of exquisite top-quality food that covers Japanese, local, and Western cuisines, one of which includes their herb-crusted rack of lamb. 

Celebrate your big day to EQ’s gourmet food today by emailing dineateqkl@kul.equatorial.com, calling +6012 278 9239, or WhatsApp-ing at https://wa.me/60122789239

Website | Facebook | Instagram

3. Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel & Residences

Get the celebratory mood going by bringing out the bento boxes and barbecue!

With 28 different types of bento boxes to choose from, you’ll get to bring a variety of great tastes  like Western, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Malay from the Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre hotel to everyone’s homes. 

Should you need something even more mouthwatering, Pullman KLCC’s Asian and Western BBQ sets pack plenty of succulent meats to sate just about any appetite.

These meals are available daily from 11am to 7pm. Order via WhatsApp at https://api.whatsapp
.com/send?phone=60162903864
or by emailing restaurants@pullman-klcc.com.

Website | Facebook | Instagram 

4. Little Black Pastry Box

Befitting of a wedding’s sweet and romantic atmosphere, a lovely pastry box would do quite nicely!

With exquisitely made macarons, mousse, chocolate ganache and other sweet treats, Little Black Pastry Box is your ideal place for getting chic pastry boxes that will sooth any guest’s sweet tooth.

Each pastry box offers its own unique variety of pastries and confectionery for true enjoyment.

Order your pastry boxes by visiting https://littleblackpastrybox.com/ 

Website | Facebook | Instagram 

5. Aliyaa

A traditional wedding feast is nice and dandy, but a Sri Lankan feast delivered to your doorstep is how you spice a wedding up!

Specializing in Sri Lankan cuisine, Aliyaa offers a wide range of appetizing dishes for a truly wholesome feast. Crabs, meats, rolls, soups, rice, kottu, curries… you name it, there’s plenty to choose from. Not to mention the authentic Sri Lankan desserts like watalappam too!

Plus, there’s also the Aliyaa Experience multi-course meals that contain a little bit of everything, which is perfect for sharing among guests.

Aliyaa is available for delivery every day from noon to 8pm. Orders for pickup or delivery can be made on www.aliyaaathome.com. Feel free to call them at 017 883 3738 if you need help!

Website | Facebook | Instagram

6. PichaEats

Getting good-tasting food is one thing, but why not help those in need too with PichaEats!

Founded in 2016, PichaEats is a food business that actively partners with chefs from displaced communities, like those of Palestine, Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. As such, they offer a unique menu that lets you get a taste of flavours around the world along with dishes of the Middle Eastern style.

Made with passion, PichaEats’ seasonal specials, family sets, rice dishes, snacks and desserts will make for a heartwarming and authentic wedding meal at home. Plus, you get to support the self-reliant refugee communities while you’re at it! 

Show your support for PichaEats and their chefs by getting your meals today at their website https://pichaeats.com/en/

Website | Facebook | Instagram

For the Selangor Area:

1. Sushi Takumi

Who says staying at home means you can’t have your fave Japanese food? Not Sushi Takumi!

Located in Petaling Jaya, this classy sushi restaurant serves up an assortment of quality chirashi, sushi, and donburi. Prepared only with fresh premium ingredients including caviar and foie gras, you won’t be leaving any guest disappointed with these meals.

What’s more, you get to enjoy complimentary delivery when you spend RM500 and above!

Takeaway and deliveries are available daily from 12pm to 8pm. You can place your orders via WhatsApp at +6018 356 6725

Facebook | Instagram

2. Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel

Even a virtual wedding deserves some 5-star meals. And that’s where Sheraton Petaling Jaya’s got you covered!

Specially curated with Japanese and Fusion cuisines in mind, Sheraton PJ is offering lunch and dinner bento sets for delivery with fulfilling dishes such as seafood, rice, and the like. 

Alternatively, there’s also the coffee break menu for getting your fix on sweets and savoury foods.

A minimum of 10 orders will be required for ordering. Enquiries and orders can be made by contacting the Sheraton Petaling Jaya hotel at 017 228 6183 or emailing to Sheraton.PetalingJaya
@sheraton.com

Website | Facebook | Instagram

3. Xiao by Crustz

A wedding meal doesn’t always need steak and wine – finely-made pastries can do just as well!

With a tantalizing selection of croissants, danishes, sandwiches, and various other pastries, Xiao by crustz’s pastry box has all the variety and none of the mundaneness for your virtual wedding. 

And of course, couples seeking a posher meal for their guests would easily find the LILY High Tea Set as the most ideal choice.

Both sets are available for delivery only from Friday to Sunday. You can place your orders online at www.xiaobycrustz.com/online-store.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

For the Penang area:

1. Macalister Mansion

What better way to celebrate the joyous occasion than with the aptly-named “Happiness In A Box”?

This delightful meal box by the luxurious Macalister Mansion hotel offers a pleasant combination of sandwiches, quiches, scones, tarts and more for satisfying your sweet and savoury taste buds. Plus, there are also bi-weekly new menu surprises when you order!

Need something more filling? The Hale and Hearty meal for two is a sublime 3-course set comes with a French Roasted Organic Chicken that’s paired with salad, dessert and more for a gratifying wedding meal at home.

Both meals require a minimum of 1 day pre-order and will only be available for delivery during MCO 3.0 so make your orders today by calling +604 228 3888 or WhatsApp to +6012 526 1630!

Website | Facebook | Instagram

2. Communal Table by gēn 根

When it comes to weddings, you can’t go wrong with bringing some local flavour to the food.

With selections like Afternoon Tea, Happy Box, and Meal Box, rest assured that all your guests will be eating fine on your big day thanks to Communal Table by gēn 根! 

Menu choices include burgers, bao, rice, and a wide range of sweet and savoury treats. Don’t worry, the portions are made with 2 to 4 persons in mind so there’s plenty to go around!

Get these sensational meals delivered to your guests by ordering at 012-578 3323 (one-day preorder in advance may be needed for some meals).

Website | Facebook | Instagram

3. Garden Lebanon Restaurant

Want a cultural twist to your wedding meals? Then you might wanna give Lebanese cuisine a try!

Located in Tanjung Bungah, Garden Lebanon Restaurant has been offering delivery for delicious middle eastern food throughout Penang. Menu items include tagen, pizza, rice, pasta, and side dishes all wonderfully prepared the authentic way.

Also, you get to enjoy 20% off for ala carte items and free delivery in certain areas of Penang thanks to their current MCO promotion.

Let your guests have a taste of fine Middle Eastern food by calling or WhatsApp-ing at 04-8917228 or 012-6113004 today.

Website | Facebook | Instagram


All in all, we hope this list comes in handy in helping you plan for your wedding meals! Even if you and your guests are all at home, food delivery makes it possible to have a good meal in celebration of your virtual wedding.

While we’re on that note, if you’re having trouble sending out wedding invitations the traditional way, @card is the solution to your problems! 

Professionally created by a team of in-house designers, @card’s large selection of wedding card designs, plentiful features, and digital nature make it the perfect choice for getting all your beloved guests together. Have a happy wedding!

1200 x 630 How to Attract New Customers in 2021-01

How to Attract New Customers in 2021 – The Easy Way

Customers are the bread and butter to any business, that’s a given. Everywhere, customers keep businesses afloat by buying products, signing up for services, and offering their support. But the big question is, what is the secret to getting customers to choose you over your competitors?

Seeing as there are so many types of businesses out there, there is no magical, one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to attracting new customers, even in 2021. Fortunately, however, there are certain tips and secrets that can make it easier to bring in new peeps to your business. Let’s get started with some.

The 10 universal tips to see your business booming

Although the tactics to successfully attract customers certainly vary from business to business, there are some tips and tricks that apply universally to all businesses. Whether you are an owner of a new café, convenience store, or boutique, the following steps below can prove quite beneficial to helping you get those new customers coming in.

1. Get some referrals

Since businesses revolve around customers, you can definitely turn your existing customer base to your advantage by asking them for referrals. Thanks to how effective word of mouth can be, this makes referrals potent tools in getting you some new customers.

The most straightforward way to do this is by talking to satisfied customers and clients to see if they know anyone that might be a potential customer. For instance, consider asking your existing customers to spread the word for your business to their friends or family members. Or, you can also have them refer your service to friends who need help with a problem that you can fix. Chances are they will be able to direct some good prospects to you this way.

Additionally, this is also a great time to put your business cards to use by handing them out to your existing customers, especially if you have digital ones like @card. With your business cards in hand, your customers will be able to recommend your business by sharing them with others in their social network or circle, paving the way for more customers for you. 

2. Networking

Every business has an industry that it belongs to, and networking is an important step in expanding your reach and attracting customers – the more people know about your business, the more customers you will get. Hence, don’t skip out on networking!

The primary reason behind networking is that it allows you to meet new people. There are a couple of good places to start networking in, such as reaching out to personal contacts and joining networking organizations or events. It might seem daunting, but it’s not as bad as it seems with the right approach!

Moreover, when engaging your prospects and clients, do make it a point to forge good relationships and bonds with them by giving them a personalized experience and focusing more on how you can help them. A name card is awesome for this purpose, especially digital ones like @card as not only is it convenient, but you can easily share them via your phone while also allowing you to showcase your business in a more visually-pleasing manner.

3. Have a visible presence online

Nowadays, getting customers isn’t done by just spreading the word to people on the street or handing out pamphlets anymore. The future is now, and online platforms like social media are a new frontier for seeking out new customers, so go ahead and leverage new technology!

Like it or not, a business’s online presence is no longer an option these days – it’s a requirement. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or something else, many people reside on these platforms, making it a great place for attracting many new customers once you make your business visible to them. Worry not, getting started on social media is not too hard of a task.

Furthermore, having a presence on search engines is also quite important as many people utilize online searches to find new products, services, or businesses. Seeing as how Google is the biggest search engine, setting up your business on Google should also be a priority. It might take some setup and tweaking, but the results can be well worth the effort.

4. Work with others

Although the business world is also home to your competitors, that does not mean you can’t work with other like-minded businesses! With the right people, partnerships and collaborations can help promote your business to other audiences and rake in new customers.

The key to doing this right is to identify brands that would make good partners. Don’t jump at the first opportunity of a collaboration when it happens; you should ideally find a business partner that can pair well with your business’s strengths. 

For instance, a mutually-beneficial relationship would be something like a sports equipment brand working together with a gym or a food supplier collaborating with a restaurant. It has to complement your business to attract potential customers.

With the right partner at your side, you’ll get to see many more new customers.

5. Reach out to old customers

Not all customers will stick with a particular business forever, and that’s just a part of the business game. Fortunately, this does not necessarily mean your former customers are gone for good – it doesn’t hurt to try reaching out to your old customers to get them back.

Inevitably, customers may sometimes choose to move on to another brand or competitor for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, this does not mean they’re bound with their new choices forever; go ahead and contact them to see if they are interested in returning to your business. The mere act of reaching out might just be enough to have them give your business another shot. You can even add a special offer or discount to seal the deal. 

Don’t worry, at best you will be seeing your old customers again and at worst you might just get a “no, thank you”. It’s not the end of the world for your business.

6. Come up with good content

If you have creative ideas to explore, this is the time to do so! Quality content is a huge boon for attracting customers, so get those brain juices flowing and create good content.

There are many ways to come up with interesting or engaging content, but relevancy is the most important bit here. Whether you are coming up with your own social media content or sharing content by others, make sure they are relevant to both your business and your customers as you really don’t want to waste precious time and effort on irrelevant content.

Not only will good content attract new customers, but this will also help keep your current customers engaged and stay loyal to your business in the long run. This especially applies if your content is shareable as it’ll pave the way for even more new customers.

7. Offer promotions or discounts

If there is one thing that will lure customers in, it’s a good discount or deal. Owing to the simple fact that people love it when they can get stuff for cheaper prices, think about offering promotions, discounts, and deals to really get customers lining up for your business.

Promotions can take form in many different ways, one of which includes sales promotion, and this can be readily adapted to fit any business needs. For instance, if you are an online seller for household products, here are a couple of offers that your customers will enjoy:

  • Discounts (e.g., 30% off their next purchase)
  • Buy 1 free 1 promotions
  • Free shipping
  • Coupons for certain items

There are many other types of promotions to do as well, so feel free experiment to see which ones fit your business model best. Just remember to tread carefully when doing this as you don’t want to give away more than you can handle.

8. Generate good publicity

Publicity is one of those few things in business that can top advertising in getting new customers. In practice, a good article or story about your business is a lot more memorable and credible than a carefully-crafted ad, so consider generating good publicity a priority!

There are several approaches to get publicity for your business, but one easy way that works for businesses of all sizes is to get involved in some volunteer work or charity. Avoid doing it the plain, boring way, though! You can try taking on ideas that are unique and different, like:

  • Donating items of value (like food, books, toys, etc.)
  • Fundraising (with your own neat twist like a contest)
  • Training sessions or workshops

By giving back to society in a meaningful way, you get to foster a good image for your business to the public, and customers are simply attracted to a business with a good image.

9. Know your competition

One of the biggest obstacles to getting new customers is when a competitor gets them first. For your business to succeed, keeping track of the competition is crucial as this allows you to capitalize on opportunities to bring more customers to your business instead.

Every business has its own competitor to watch out for. If you run a computer hardware store, keep an eye out on other similar stores and their strategies in getting customers. For example, if they are running a promotional campaign, study their approach and take note of its success and effectiveness. This can help you better plan a unique strategy of your own.

By keeping tabs on how your competition operates, you will be better equipped to come up with an approach that’s original and effective to attract customers you want.

10. Don’t become stagnant

The business world is a fast-moving place, and those that fail to keep up rarely see success, if ever. It’s important to remember that existing customers don’t last forever and getting new customers is an inevitable process. Thus, don’t get stagnant in running your business.

Lack of innovation, overreliance on old strategies, not employing new tactics… stagnancy can be caused by many things, such as complacency. Whatever the reason is, don’t let it get to that point – always look for new ideas and initiatives to keep your business moving.

Put simply, don’t stop preparing for the worst even if you have found a strategy that works. Seeing as how the pandemic has shut down numerous businesses that failed to pivot, always seeking new ways for success is the key to keeping your business afloat in the long run.

At the end of the day, attracting new customers is not an impossible task. 

It might take some innovation and creativity depending on your business, but the main factor for success lies in being what the customers want. Similar to how one would rather pick something that’s fresh and interesting, business owners should also strive to make their business the best ones among the competition. 

While the tips above are no guarantee for success, they should still come in handy for getting some of your customers’ attention heading your way.

First Impressions in Business Meetings

First Impressions in Business Meetings – The Dos and Don’ts

In the world where clients, investors, and businesspersons come together for business, there’s nothing more important than a good first impression to seal the deal. Like it or not, how people feel about you are all based on first impressions, and this can be hard to change once they’re formed. For this reason, getting it right the first time is crucial. 

As you’re essentially meeting someone new, leaving a favourable impression requires some finesse and knowledge. Speaking appropriately, presenting your best self, acting professionally and so on, the key here is to present yourself in a way that others will like and appreciate.

While there are no set number of rules to follow, here are some handpicked dos and don’ts that can come in handy for tackling your next meeting with a business prospect.

Dos

Whether you are meeting up with a simple business prospect or a super important client, it is still a social meeting between you and another party. Although each encounter may vary, here are some general rules to follow to land that good first impression.

1. Present yourself well

Just like going on a date, no one appreciates meeting up with someone that doesn’t put effort into presenting their best selves, especially for first-time encounters. As such, strive to present yourself well by dressing appropriately and looking sharp.

Depending on the person you’re meeting, here’s a general rule of thumb for your dress codes:

  • Meeting high-profile businessmen? Formal attire fits best.
  • Have an appointment with clients? Semi-formal works well.
  • Seeing an artist or musician? Casual attire may suffice.

Besides fashion, it’s only fitting that you complete the look with the right smile and body language. This applies to both men and the ladies, so remember to have a warm smile, stand tall, and make eye contact as it will help the other party feel more comfortable and be at ease.

Also, presenting your best self doesn’t end there – you should also leverage the latest digital tech! Since the Internet is king nowadays, your online presence matters just as much too, so do strive to look your best on social media and online platforms. 

If that’s done, you can step it up a notch by having a good digital business card in your arsenal, like @card

With plenty of features to boot, your prospects can easily check out your company’s social media and website through @card and connect with you after the meeting. This is great for first impressions as it paints you in a positive light as a tech-savvy person!

2. Have a good and positive attitude

Nothing kills a first impression faster than an unpleasant attitude, so strive to have a good and positive attitude with everyone you meet. After all, your attitude shows through your actions.

Naturally, you won’t come across someone who is agreeable or fair every time, but having a good attitude will help you combat that and keep the meeting from going sour. In the same vein, strive to be confident as it shows that you are approachable and can be a good person to work with, which are good traits to have in business.

Although positivity and confidence are certainly important, this doesn’t mean that you should forget to be open and authentic. Sure, wanting to project the “perfect image” is understandable, but that doesn’t mean you should pretend to be someone you are not, so try to be your best and truest self. People respect someone who is as honest as they are nice.

3. Have good conversation etiquette

When you meet someone new, appearances form one part of a first impression, and the way you speak forms the other. This makes having good conversation etiquette quite important if you want to be viewed in a good light.

Proper wording choices and pronunciation aside, it’s important to remember that a good conversation revolves around both parties, so look to prevent your conversations from getting one-sided. Even if you are doing most of the talking, you can still be a good listener by taking the time to listen to what the other party has to say.

Moreover, a good conversation is not filled with distractions. Everyone enjoys a smooth-sailing conversation, so pay attention and stay focused on them – keep your phone away, don’t let your mind go adrift, and maintain eye contact. This will show you are focused only on the person you’re talking to, which helps pave the way for a much better relationship.

4. Demonstrate professionalism

A person who acts professional will always triumph over someone who seems like they’d rather be somewhere else. As befits the business world, always look to be professional whenever you’re interacting with someone, especially for first-time encounters.

In practice, acting professionally basically boils down to being a nice and reasonable person to others. Much like how one should treat others well, the facets of professionalism that one should practice include:

  • Be polite 
  • Be respectful
  • Be punctual

Furthermore, the business world also calls for good and proper conduct. When meeting a prospect or a client, try to understand their needs first before explaining what solution you have to offer. In the event that you are unsure of something, do make it a point to politely inform your other party that you will discuss the matter with your team. Altogether, this does wonders for your first impression as it demonstrates your competency and professionalism.

Don’ts

When it comes to the don’ts, the rules are similar to how you should avoid behaving like an undesirable person in real life. As a professional, you wouldn’t want to make any avoidable mistakes that might garner disapproval. Here are some to look out for:

1. Act like a nonprofessional

It goes without saying that failing to demonstrate proper and professional behavior in the business world will quickly get you the disapproval or even contempt of many. No matter who you’re dealing with, always try to avoid acting unprofessionally at all costs.

The premise to this is simple – a professional environment has no room for spiteful or bad behavior. As a professional, it’s paramount that you show good manners and mindfulness in what you say:

  • Don’t sound condescending.
  • Don’t complain.
  • Don’t make unfriendly or offensive remarks.

Besides saying the right things, it’s also quite crucial to never interrupt someone when they’re speaking either as this will make them feel that their opinion is unimportant. Likewise, remember to never say something inappropriate or offense either! As long as you can show some civility, you will be well on your way to a more positive first impression.

2. Get distracted

Nothing annoys a person who’s speaking more than a distracted listener. Not only does it show that your attention is drifting away, but it also reflects poorly on your part by giving others the impression that you think they’re unimportant. So, try to avoid getting distracted.

For the most part, keeping your focus on your listener lies in keeping distractions at bay. The easiest place to start is to avoid playing with your phone, but you can also stay focused by:

  • Keeping your mind off other things.
  • Listening intently.
  • Avoiding multitasking.
  • Confirming what the other party has said.

With the right amount of concentration, you’ll be on your way to much better communication, which leads to better first impressions. Nevertheless, here are some other helpful tips that can help bolster your focus in your future conversations.

3. Keep your phone on

If you have not kept your phone on silent mode, now is the time to reconsider this! A promising meeting can be quickly shot down by an unwanted phone call or text message. So, just like in the cinema, strive to silence your phone in all your meetings whenever possible.

Thing is, receiving an audible notification on your phone can disrupt the flow and atmosphere of your business meeting. Unless it’s an absolute emergency, notifications that can wait till after the meeting include:

  • Emails
  • Text messages
  • Social media platform notifications
  • Unimportant phone calls

Remember, professional behavior should not have phones as a concern. Out of respect for both your self-image and whoever you are meeting, just silence your phone. 

4. Be unprepared

Undoubtedly one of the biggest mistakes to make, being unprepared will make a first impression anything but good. A lack of preparation reflects incompetency and becomes apparent rather quickly, so do yourself a favour and always be prepared.

Thankfully, unpreparedness can be tackled by taking the time to prepare properly. As you’ll likely be unfamiliar with the person you’re meeting, doing some research beforehand will help you get a better grasp of who they are. When researching, here are some things to look for:

  • Their background
  • Their career / profession
  • Their company & its background
  • Personal interests

By having a better feel for who you’re meeting, you will find it a lot easier to navigate a conversation with them and stay on track. 

While you’re at it, don’t forget to bring your most important item along either – your name card. No business meeting is complete without it, but if forgetting them is an issue, consider getting an @card instead! With convenient links and QR codes available, you won’t have to worry about forgetting your cards!

Together, all this preparation will do wonders for your first impression as it shows the effort and dedication you put into meeting someone.

At the end of the day, first impressions are a big deal in the field of business. Acting like a professional is the norm here, and those that fall short in acting like one will quickly find themselves at a disadvantage. As impressions can be difficult to change after the first one, it’s certainly in your best interest to get it right the first time, because trust us when we say that you don’t want your first meeting with a client to be your last. Good luck with the meetings!

Digital Name Card

Why Digital Business Cards in 2021? How it helps your business.

In this day and age that we live in, almost anything and everything that we use has now gone digital – even your business cards! With the introduction of digital business cards, printed name cards are no longer the only way to go for impressing and connecting with prospective clients. 

Certainly, digital business cards are not a totally perfect tool, but their flexibility and customizability are enough to make them a valuable addition to almost any business. Still have some doubts on whether you should get one? Read on and we might just convince you otherwise!

Why are people switching to digital business cards?

Before digital business cards came along, business cards were created on paper cards. Designed in the all-too-familiar rectangular size, these pocket-sized cards made rather impressive tools in getting one’s business noticed by others and are still used even to this day.

Nowadays, advances in technology mean that business cards are no longer restricted to small paper cards as digital business cards become a growing trend. Here are some reasons why:

  1. Paper business cards can be a hassle to bring and keep

As professional as it is, carrying your own stack of printed business cards does come with its own drawbacks. For starters, it’s all too easy and common for someone to forget to bring their business cards along. Additionally, paper business cards can easily get lost or unorganized by your recipients, especially if they have many other business cards to keep.

By using digital business cards, you can easily send them out through your devices without worrying about forgetting to bring them or your cards being lost among others.

2. Contactless is the new norm

In the wake of the pandemic, the trend of giving out paper business cards is falling out of favour as going contactless becomes the new norm for everyone to keep themselves safe.

Since digital business cards are fully contactless and can be shared with anyone from anywhere without the need for any physical contact, many people are making the jump over to digital business cards as the preferred medium for approaching others nowadays. 

3. Environmentally friendly

As their name implies, paper business cards are made with paper, and the amount of trees needed to create paper-based business cards does not make them very environmentally friendly considering how often paper business cards are thrown away.

In contrast, digital business cards are fully digital and do not require any printing nor paper to be made. For this reason alone, digital business cards are the superior choice in terms of helping the environment.

4. Constantly reprinting name cards can be draining

Whether it’s due to a typo in contact information or just your staff members needing updates made to their cards, reprinting business cards can cost you a lot of money, energy, and time. As such, digital business cards are a better choice as you can readily make any changes to your cards without the need for reprinting.

Although paper business cards continue to be used today, digital business cards are growing increasingly popular for some of the reasons above. Since they can be adapted to fit most needs, digital business cards can be readily used in place of traditional business cards for almost any business purpose.

How can digital business cards benefit my business?

Assuming you’re thinking about getting a digital business card, here are a couple of benefits that you can net for your business by having your own card: 

1.Unlimited sharing to prospects at minimal cost

When you hand out business cards, paper business cards can only reach as far as the number of people you hand them out to. Digital business cards, on the other hand, can be easily shared to a lot more people at no extra cost!

In a business context, this makes digital business cards particularly useful for expanding your business’s reach to more people; for instance, you can easily connect with thousands of prospects with just the minimum cost of creating your business card. Plus, those who have your digital name card can easily reshare it with others who might seek your services, which further helps increase your reach.

2. Provides a visual showcase of your business

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or just a simple business owner, a good visual showcase for your business helps you stand out and impress your audiences. Given the number of visuals you’ll want to display, a paper business card is not the most ideal tool for showing off your business’s visual side – you’ll need a digital business card.

By using a digital business card, you can easily include eye-catching photos and video about products and services you offer to give the audiences the most impressive glimpses of your business.

3. Effective for networking

Although paper business cards are commonly used, their effectiveness as a business tool for networking tends to be disadvantaged by high costs, a lack of functions, and limited room for creativity. In contrast, digital business cards do not have this setback as they can be easily outfitted with various buttons and features for the benefit of your recipients.

With plenty of buttons like Save-to-Contact, WhatsApp, social media, and even appointment booking to choose from, these features can prompt your recipients to take action, encouraging them to know more about what you do on social media and so on. This way, you can network much more effectively with just one digital business card.

4. Leaves good impressions

Nowadays, it has become a trend to take the digital approach for many things. In a business context, following the current trends can help set a positive image for your business as it shows you are up to date on the latest happenings. 

As such, using digital business cards can help leave a good impression on your audiences as prospects would see you as proactive and trendy for adopting the digital approach.

All things considered, a digital business card can be just as effective as, if not better than, a paper business card. Seeing as how its digital nature gives it an advantage in lesser costs and easier sharing to others, this makes digital business cards a viable choice to just about any business out there.

So, what should you include on a digital business card?

Unlike paper business cards, digital business cards can accommodate a lot more information plus a variety of digital features and functions. These include social media, email, and product or service portfolios in addition to the usual contact details found on a traditional business card. Here’s a quick rundown for what you should include:

  • Social media: Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are all the rage now, so look to include your personal details on them into your digital business card. If your business card allows it, you can even integrate these platforms into your card to boost your business card’s functionality.
  • Email: No business card is complete without adding your own email address, but how about stepping things up by being able to send emails from your digital business card? For the more corporate folks out there, this feature can come in super handy for sending out emails quickly and conveniently.
  • Product / Service portfolios: No matter the business, a good portfolio to showcase your products or services can really help you leave better first impressions. This is particularly helpful for professions like barbers or skincare specialists as you can include a portfolio that proudly displays your handiwork and achievements.

Of course, there are plenty of other features and functions that you can add to your digital business card, so feel free to add whatever else you need. Don’t worry, a digital business card has a lot more creative space to work with compared to a paper business card.

How do I share my digital business card?

In fulfilling its business purpose, a digital business card needs to be easy to share to others. Fortunately, sharing a digital business card is rather similar to sharing content online – you are just a few clicks and presses away from sending them to everyone.

  • Share buttons: The most straightforward way, a “share” button can be added to almost any digital business card. With a press of a button, you can share your digital business card to anyone, anywhere.
  • Links: Similar to website links, a digital business card can also be shared with others via URLs. By using links, your recipients can view your digital business card with just about any device that has a browser.
  • QR codes: One of the most direct ways to get your digital business card seen, this is a great option for business owners that have a storefront – just display your QR code front and center and your visitors will be able to scan and view your business card with ease.

At this point, you should be well convinced that a digital business card is a cost-effective and easily shareable medium that can fulfill most, if not all, of your business’s networking needs. 

If you’re looking for good card options, @card is a great choice that comes with all the benefits and functions that have been listed above! Created and refined by professionals at Artisense, the @card is a digital business card that is on par with the best ones out there on the market.

Why @card?

Customizable, adaptable to a variety of uses (even weddings invitation!), and available in a large selection of designs, the @card is a versatile digital business card created by Artisense. Flexibility and convenience aside, the @card has a few distinctive features that help it stand out from other business cards. These include:

1. No app downloads needed

Some digital business cards may need a special app for it to open and run properly, and this can be rather inconvenient (and annoying) for people who don’t have it.

Fortunately, this is not a problem for @card as it is built in a way where it can be readily opened and viewed on any device, which means no additional apps need to be downloaded to open it. 

2. Everything you need in one package

Thanks to the number of resources available online, it’s definitely possible to create your own digital business card from scratch. Only thing is, this can be quite a long and tedious process, especially with the research needed.

With @card, you can save up on all that time and effort as @card comes with a large variety of designs and templates that can be easily customized to fit all your needs. From formal and geometrical designs to more chic and colourful ones, our extensive selection has designs for all sorts of different industries. Just pick your desired design and we’ll provide you with your very own ideal digital business card.

Depending on your needs, @card is the most comprehensive solution for getting a digital business card thanks to its multitude of functions, customizability, and ease of use. If budget is a concern for you, @card is available in a basic LITE series and a more complete version that comes equipped with extra features like appointment forms and many more.

Now that we have reached the end, what would your verdict be? Would you consider getting a digital business card or perhaps stick with the classic paper ones? Or maybe use both? Considering the number of pros they have, having your own custom business cards can be the most worthy asset in helping any business grow and prosper!

After all, in a time where business cards are making the leap to the digital side, you’ll need a digital business card that properly caters to all your needs. So, have your own personally customized digital business card today with Artisense. With a team of dedicated professionals at our agency, @card is nothing short of the best for your business.

10 Tips for a Budget and EcoFriendly Wedding

10 Tips for a Budget & Eco-Friendly Wedding in Malaysia

It comes as no big secret that weddings are not the cheapest affairs in the world. It is not uncommon for newlyweds to rack up rather hefty expenses when organizing their wedding ceremony, especially for more extravagant ones. 

What’s more is that weddings may not be very environmentally-friendly either – paper materials, leftover food, flowers, disposables, and even party favors just become waste after the event, which is bad for both your wallet and the environment.

If you are looking for some budget wedding ideas or just some tips for hosting an eco-friendly wedding ceremony in Malaysia, congratulations! You’ve come to the right place. While you might have to make some compromises, a budget wedding can be just as elegant as any other wedding. Without further ado, here are some helpful tips to help you get started.

Wedding planning done right

Hosting a wedding that is friendly to both your wallet and Mother Nature isn’t too hard – the key here is to look for areas that can stand to be less expensive and more eco-friendly, such as for the wedding attire, food, venue, and gifts. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives for you to choose from for these items.

1. Embrace preloved

While it is understandable to want the best things for your wedding, going for preloved items instead can be a solid choice if you are hesitant on getting everything brand new. Since weddings are typically large affairs, there are dozens of preloved wedding items that you can get, like ROM dresses, wedding gowns, accessories, reception props, and many more. The main benefit to preloved items is their lower prices. If you don’t mind their secondhand nature, this means you can get branded items for as little as half their price! Finding sellers of these items is rather easy too: just head on over to any online marketplace (like Carousell) or online selling groups on Facebook (such as Preloved, Malaysia Wedding related group) and you will be able to find whatever you need. With a bit of luck, you can even get a nice ROM dress for less than RM100 by looking for the right seller.

2. Rent!

If there’s one thing that is cheaper than buying, it’s renting, and for one-time occasions like weddings, this can help save you a lot of money. If you are looking for wedding items to rent, one good tip is to rent the more expensive ones like wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses as they can cost a sizable portion of your wedding budget, especially if they are bought.

The reason behind this is simple: wedding dresses are expensive. Because of their exquisite and labor-intensive nature, the average wedding gown can generally cost up to thousands, and this may not really be worth the money considering that the bride usually only wears it for the big day. 

So, unless you are keen on keeping your wedding dress for sentimental purposes or for your future daughter, renting is the better choice from a financial standpoint. Just be sure to do your research to get the best prices and you’re all set.

3. Have sustainable meals

Although weddings are a joyous occasion for you and your partner, this might not be the same case for Mother Nature. The truth is that weddings tend to produce a lot of waste, and food is one of them. For this reason, having sustainable meals for your wedding can go a long way in saving both your money and the environment.

Depending on your wedding arrangements, you can opt to have a buffet instead of a typical wedding banquet for you and your guests. Besides being comparatively cheaper, you also get to save money thanks to the buffet’s lower staffing costs. Plus, a wedding buffet will generally produce less food waste compared to a plated dinner.

But if your wedding calls for a banquet-style meal, you can still be eco-friendly by being selective with your menu options (such as not having shark fin soup) and having your wedding planner or caterer offer more local and seasonal dishes instead. By choosing fewer exotic dishes and a more sustainable cuisine, you get the best of both worlds of affordability and being eco-friendly.

For Chinese couples, there is also the matter of the wedding buffet that is normally held at home. If you’re the host, you can keep your eco-friendly game up encouraging your guests to bring their own containers and cutlery for a “green” party. Not only does this let you all have a guilt-free meal without any waste, but your guests also get to take any leftovers home with them if there happens to be too much food!

Also, you can go the extra mile and donate any excess food you have to those that are in need. You can check out What a Waste, a dedicated team on a mission to rescue surplus food and distribute them to the needy. Just reach out to them on Facebook or Instagram in advance with details of your wedding banquet or buffet and they’ll arrange the logistics to save any of your  excess food. 

After all, why not help others out too while you save the environment?

4. Take the wedding venue outdoors

For most couples, weddings often take place in large event rooms or banquet halls. Although this provides a posh atmosphere, this grandiose setting is not very eco-friendly as a lot of energy is used for the lighting, air-conditioning, and ambience. As such, one good way to reduce your carbon footprint is to just ditch the indoor wedding venue and host the wedding ceremony outdoors!

Aside from using less electricity, getting married outdoors provides for a relaxing and natural atmosphere that everyone can enjoy. When planning an outdoor wedding, you can adorn your venue with a variety of flowers, greenery, and trees to really nail that outdoorsy feel. 

Plus, there is a growing trend for couples to say their vows when surrounded by nature, which also provides the perfect backdrop for getting the most gorgeous wedding photos outdoors.

5. Do away with paper invitations

Nowadays, almost everything has gone online, and you should do the same with your wedding invitations! Put simply, paper invitations won’t do you or the environment the best favors as they can be quite costly and essentially becomes wastepaper after your wedding. While they do make fine outlets for showing your creativity, e-invitations are just as good for this.

The main advantage to using e-invitations is the trees you will save from not needing any paper cards. This is especially helpful to the environment because printed invitation cards have little room for mistakes as any big changes or corrections just means having to reprint the invitations all over again. 

By using e-invitations, you can easily edit and share your invitations to all your guests with additional features to boot – which @card has it all! With a large variety of wedding designs, head on over to Artisense to get the perfect e-invitation for your wedding today!

After all, time is money for many couples busy planning their wedding and going for e-invitations is just a lot more economical compared to sending invitations the traditional way.

6. Have a smaller guest list

Before you invite all of your beloved friends and family to your wedding, you might want to remember that large guest lists mean more costs and effort for you and your partner. If you’re looking to be thrifty, one good tip is to cut down the number of guests to a more manageable number. For instance, consider having a guest list of 125 people instead of 250 for a medium-scale wedding. 

By inviting lesser guests, you get to cut costs all around and also free yourself of the burden of dealing with too many people. The environment will also thank you for this as lesser people means you will produce much lesser waste compared to a large-scale wedding. Plus, a smaller guest list is not all that bad either since you get to spend more time with the people you have invited.

7. Settle for natural confetti

In a way, weddings can be thought of as big parties, and what party is complete without its confetti? If you fancy the idea of having guests throw confetti as a blessing at the wedding, try using natural confetti instead. This lets you cut down on the pollution that paper or plastic confetti can cause without missing out on the fun.

To create your natural confetti, you can use materials like leaves, dried flower petals, grains, and even birdseed for all sorts of combinations. The confetti can be mixed and matched based on your wedding theme and you can either create them on your own or purchase them from various shops and online sites. 

Beautiful yet eco-friendly, natural confetti blasts make for stunning displays at any wedding with just the right hint of nature.

8. Go practical with your party favors / gifts

As the bride and groom, your party favors are small gifts to show your appreciation to your guests for attending the wedding. These gifts don’t have to be boring, so try going for something practical and meaningful instead.

If environmentally friendly gifts are your preference, you can look for plantable favors like potted herbs, succulents, and seed packets for your guests, which make thoughtful gifts that lets them do their part in helping the environment. If edible gifts are more your style, you can also choose to give snacks like chocolate bars, handmade jams, honey, or coffee beans from local businesses. 

By choosing the right products, you get to save money and help both your local businesses and the environment all at the same time! 

9. Consider which flowers to get

In Malaysia, flowers add an important touch to many weddings, whether it is for the wedding bouquet, car décor, floral arches, or even venue décor. But the downside to these beautiful flowers is the cost – the bride’s bouquet can cost up to RM300 to RM400 each while floral décor can reach up to the thousands. 

If you are not keen on paying heavy prices for your flowers, one good tip is to source them from your neighborhood florists instead, who may likely have your desired flowers at lower prices. There are dozens of florists around that have flowers as beautiful as any other.

It is also worth noting that flower prices can vary depending on the type and season as certain imported and non-seasonal flowers are naturally more expensive. For this reason, looking for flowers that are in season can certainly help cut your costs. But if that is not feasible, replacing those pricey blossoms with lookalikes in similar color palettes works just as well.

10. Live within your means

When it comes to weddings, couples may often plan the ceremony with their friends and family, and this can sometimes lead them to make decisions that are not the best for their wedding. If overspending is a concern, striving to live within your means is a very effective way to keep your budget in check.

While it is normal to want the perfect ceremony, the important truth to remember is that this is your big day. You do not necessarily have to select the most expensive items for your wedding, nor do you need to take up every suggestion that others might have. 

For instance, consider skipping the Chinese wedding traditions if you and your parents have a more modern outlook. Similarly, you will do just fine without those imported ampoules that your makeup artist so sorely insists on. 

At the end of the day, taking a money-saving and eco-friendly approach to planning your wedding can be a lot of fun and our list above covers only a few of many ways to do it. 

But if wedding planning has you stumped, Artisense’s specially-curated wedding checklist is perfect for all you Chinese couples out there to ensure you have everything you need from the planning phase to the big day itself!

Although weddings are indeed super special occasions, that does not mean you have to go all out with your spendings as a budget wedding planned with the environment in mind can still be as fantastic as any other wedding ceremony. 

After all, this is your wedding, there is no harm in doing what you know is best for you and the environment.