Here are 10 golden rules to help you design your business card
The next step to making your small design your business card dream come true is creating a business card. For many potential customers, this is the first time they will interact with your brand. So make sure it’s a positive experience.
A thoughtfully-designed business card does more than carry your contact information. Your business card will help you appear professional, increase customer trust, and differentiate your small business from other businesses. Before you give out business cards, ask yourself what makes a good businesscard. How can you make your business card standout and help bring in more clients?
The solution is Careful combination of information and presentation. Here are 10 tips that will help you create a business cards that is representative of you and your company. Tristan Le Breton (creative director at 99designs) can offer advice. 99designs is a creative platform which connects graphic designers with clients to create logos and websites.
Are you ready? Here are the steps to create a business card.
1 Select a template that represents your brand’s personality.
Your business card speaks volumes about you and the small business that you run. Make sure it reflects your brand. You might be an interior decorator who is passionate about modern styling. If so, a simple template would reflect your style. You might be a dog walker or a sociable person. Use a more casual, colorful card to reflect your personality.
2 Select the right typeface.
You can bring any fonts that you use on your website or in other marketing materials into your business card. You should choose a font that represents your brand. This could be an elegant font for an etiquette coach or a typewriter-inspired one for writers. Text should be no more than 8 points. But, important information such as your business name or name can be printed in larger sizes, in a different font or in bold.
Tristan’s recommendation? “A good rule of thumb: Make the company name larger that a 12pt font and avoid using fonts smaller than 8pt.
3 Choose a size and a shape.
Your business card size and orientation affect text size, information and how many you can include. Do you want to be a simple, straightforward business? Or are you an unconventional non-conformist?
Most business cards are rectangular and about the same size as credit cards. They are laid horizontally. It’s the most common format so it’s easy to remember. But if your goal is to make a statement, you can use a square shape, with rounded corners, vertical orientation, or another shape.
4 Organize all your information.
Information…your business card must give customers all they need to find you online, contact you, or locate your storefront. Your name and job title should be included along with your website address, telephone number, email address, social media handles, and website URL. You should include all the information necessary to allow customers to contact you as they wish.
Think about how you arrange your information when you add it to your business card template. Each piece should be easy to identify, yet work well together. Tristan recommends that business cards have a visual flow. The logo should be followed by the name and then moved on to secondary information, such as email addresses and telephone numbers. The visual flow can be altered by changing the size of an element, moving its location or adding white space.
5 Do double duty.
You can make your business cards twice as effective for your small business. You can use the reverse side to remind people of appointments, stamps for loyalty, or simply as a blank page to show off your business. You could include a recipe for a special dish or drink if you are a bar owner. Do you sell handmade products? For jewelry, clothing and accessories, use business cards.
You can also make your business card a magnet. This is especially useful for businesses that provide recurring services like pet sitting, plumbing, hairdressing, restaurant services, and car services. Your contact information will be easily accessible to customers by sticking them on their fridges.
You have many options to reuse your business cards. They can help you make a better impression, get more attention, and last longer.
6 Maximize your logo.
Tristan said, “Your card represents more than just your contact details – it is a representation for you and the brand. Two key design elements you should consider when creating business cards are your logo and your brand colors. These elements are essential to your visual branding and will have an impact on other aspects of the card design process.
A business card is all about the logo. You might consider dedicating one of the sides to your logo. Your logo is an important visual representation of your company and deserves to be prominently placed so that potential clients notice it.
7 Keep some white space.
Avoid cluttering your card with too many text elements. They will compete for the attention of the reader and make it difficult to see the main point. Remember, you can use both sides of a card! Design-wise, it is better to leave a little white space. It can also help to draw attention towards the most important details.
A note might be a good idea. You can also leave a small space for a note or a new phone extension.
Tristan reminds that the “less elements you have, is the greater impact each one will make” – so think of how you can get rid of the clutter to leave an impression.
8 Add something unique.
Tristan believes that “special finishes” can leave a lasting impression upon potential clients, partners, or customers.
You can easily make your cards stand out by adding a unique design element to the card or a special print treatment. Foil accents add a touch more sophistication to your cards, while embossed glossy creates a raised and glossy coating giving them a 3D look.
You can also add something unique to your design your business card by using paper stock. Extra-thick paper is luxurious and gives off an organic touch. Recycled Kraft Paper lends a natural feel.
You should ensure that these features are appropriate to your branding. It might seem odd to add a shimmery foil accent for your business card if your work is less glamorous.
9 Include a call-to-action.
While a CTA does not require a business card, it can motivate potential clients to make the next step. You can create an incentive for your business, whether it’s a special offer or a helpful tip or a coupon code.
As part of your call-to-action, consider using a QR Code. QR codes can be scanned by people more easily than ever so adding one to your business cards is a simple way to direct them to your website, to sign up for your mailing list, and to offer a promotion. It’s best to place the code on your backside of your business card. This makes it easy for people to scan and doesn’t take away your logo.
10 Is there any worse thing than opening a freshly design your business card opened book?
10 What could be worse than seeing a box of freshly printed business cards (or flyers or menus) and discovering a typo? Ask a friend or colleague for help in spelling out any typos on your business cards before placing your order. To make sure your business card is flawlessly proofed, you can hire a professional copyeditor. A business card has very little text so it should be easy to complete.
Additional Resource:
https://www.psprint.com/design-templates/business-cards/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-business-card-printing-services/
https://www.namecheap.com/visual/card-maker/