Your business card is a way of reaching out to potential customers. They may base their first impressions of your company off of the card, so it is important to make it stand out. A card that is memorable will encourage people to learn more about what you are all about. Therefore, your card should not be too complicated. It should also have a nice design that is attractive. The information in this piece will help you obtain great business cards that can put you on the map.
1. What Information Should You Put On It?
As you start to think about your business card, you need to consider what information you want to put on the card. Your name is obviously important, as is your logo, company name and title. As for contact details, you need to consider what is most crucial to list. You want people to be able to contact you, but you don’t want to have so much information that the card becomes unreadable. For example, you definitely need a phone number, email address and website address. You likely don’t need to put your physical address on the card, particularly if space is at a premium.
2. Make Sure It’s Clear
If you are trying to pack a lot of information into one small card, the natural tendency is to make the text smaller. However, while you might be able to read the information just fine on a computer, small text does not turn out very well on a business card. The smallest size the text should be is 8pt. In addition, don’t choose a complicated font or something like Comic Sans because it will be hard to read. Be professional and keep it simple.
3. Save Space With A QR Code
If you are concerned about space, obtain a QR code. This enables you to pass along a lot of information, but you don’t have to worry about making the card unreadable. Potential customers can scan the code and are directed right to your website. You don’t even have to pay for this service, as there are a lot of QR code generators available for free on the Internet.
4. Be Colorful
If you do it well, bright colors can help your card avoid getting tossed aside. They catch the eye and generate interest. In particular, if your business is involved in a creative field, this could be a great option for you. Sometimes, though, a simple design and color scheme is all you need. Black and white can stand out, sometimes as much as a colorful card, and may be deemed more modern looking.
5. Embossing Is Your Friend
If you do opt for a black and white color scheme, think about embossing the words. Doing so makes the card almost look 3D, which jazzes up the simplicity of the card just a bit.
An embossed card also feels neat. Because it taps into people’s sense of touch, they are more likely to remember it and you. That’s obviously what you are going for here, so give it a try.
6. Keep Your Colors Consistent
If you have certain colors on your website and logo, make sure that your card reflects that as well. You want everything to be as consistent as possible so that you are recognizable. In some cases, you may not already have a color scheme. In this situation, you can do whatever you want. However, try and make sure the colors are complementary so that your card is appealing rather than tacky. If you need help, there are color matching tools available on the Internet.
7. Add An Image
People respond well to pictures. You can incorporate an image on your business card as well. Obviously, you have to have text on one side of the card. But, what about the other side? You can put your logo there or even print a picture of one of your products. Make sure, though, that you don’t just leave it empty. It is a common misconception that people don’t look on the back of these cards, but they really do. Don’t disappoint them by leaving it blank. Here are some free designs to tickle your fancy.
8. Stay Away From Borders
Your card should not have a border. This is because you never know how something will look when it is printed. The border may appear straight on the computer, but when you print it out, it looks terrible because of the printing process. You should have a 3mm bleed around the perimeter of your card in your background color to keep this from happening.
9. Be Aware Of The Safe Area
Printers usually indicate that there is a safe area in which you can put information and not have to worry about it. Make sure anything crucial to the card, like your contact information, is in this space. That way, you know it will be there when the printing process is complete.
10. Opt For Thicker Cards
A thicker card feels nicer. A thinner card seems cheaper. Therefore, opt for a thicker card because it makes you seem more business-like. No one will pay attention to a thin card that is likely to tear quickly.
11. Don’t Get Too Complicated
Some people choose different materials for their business cards because they think it will help them stand out. However, before you do this, think about the functionality of the card. Does the material you’ve chosen keep people from jotting down extra notes about your business? If so, you shouldn’t use it.
Paddy Losty has written numerous articles on design and will continue to do so. He enjoys a few pints of Guinness at the weekends and a fry here or there.
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