Picking the right business card can be tricky, especially if you’re barely starting off. There are so many options out there: different business card sizes, different business card materials, different business card stock thickness, colors, additional uses, and so much more.
So today, we’ve decided to make all that just a little less complicated! Here are 8 things to keep in mind when deciding on your professional business cards:
- Choose the impression you want to give
- Choose the correct size and shape for you
- Maintain simplicity
- Maintain consistency across your business
- Place important information in the best location
- Use something special to make it memorable
- Make your business card useful
- To facilitate things further, talks to a professional!
How to: A good business card
1. Choose the impression you want to give
There is no doubt, first impressions are very important. You should keep in mind that the first impression that a potential customer has of your business is most likely your business card. It tells your company story at a glance. Think about the way you work, are you no-nonsense and to the point? Are you carefree, playful and creative? Try to get your business card to be a glimpse into what it would be like to work with you.
2. Choose the correct size and shape for you
Let’s cover the basics: size and shape. The most commonly used business card is a 3.5” x 2”, which is the typical rectangular business card. You can change it up by choosing your business card to be vertical instead of horizontal in order to stand out. But you have many other options. Round business cards are a thing, and they can be quite memorable! Keep in mind that they may be less convenient to carry around. But if you’re willing to trade away some comfort for memorability, think about switching up the sizes and shapes to give yourself some uniqueness!
3. Maintain simplicity
Keep in mind that a business card is supposed to contain the most important information so that the client knows who you are, how to reach you, and how you can help them! The business card should remain quite simple since there isn’t really much space on business cards. White space on the business card (areas where there isn’t anything going on) can be very beneficial to not overwhelm the client and keep them focused on the critical information.
4. Maintain consistency across your business
Try your best to make it so that your business card design matches with all other marketing materials and promotional locations such as your website and social media. You want to make it easy for customers to recognize your business. The best way to do this is maintain consistency across your business.
5. Place important information in the best location
The front is the best place for the most important information. We talked about first impressions starting with a business card. Well if we dig deeper, the first impression of a business card is the front of it! This is where you should add what the client needs to know and the back should be supplemental or decorative. A good tip to figure out how you should organize your business card is to consider your own behavior when someone hands you their business card!
6. Use something special to make it memorable
Changing the shape of your business card is sure to make it memorable. But if you prefer a more traditional shape and size, you can always embellish! You can add a sparkling foil finish, use eco-friendly kraft materials, or add raised foil. These are just a couple of options!
7. Make your business card useful
If you make your business card something that is useful, potential customers are more likely to hold on to it! For example, if you run a bakery maybe you can put a simple recipe on the back of your business cards. Or if you run an auto service business, you can add how often one should change their oil and why. Another good option is to make your business card a magnet, that way if you have a business that offers recurring services (plumbing, pet groomer, hairdresser, etc.), you’ll make it easy for your customer to place it where they’ll be most likely to see it and can refer back to it: their fridge.
8. To facilitate things further, talks to a professional!
Talking to a graphic designer is a great way to get your business cards done so they look professional, without hours of research on your part. Because it’s what they do, a simple conversation may be all that is needed for them to create the perfect business card design. Furthermore, they know what resolution is needed to print a business card. Having a pixelated logo with hard to read text is the last thing you’d want after spending so much time working hard to get your business cards to your liking.