A business card is your introduction to potential new clients, as responsible for creating a favorable first impression as a firm handshake or a friendly demeanor. For that reason, your business card can be one of your most important marketing tools, one that can help you bring in new business and help to garner repeat business. Your business card is akin to your social media profile; it represents your company succinctly by providing the key points of your identity and recording your contact information. Your business card is a portrait of your company that can become your picture of success by showing your customers who you are, what you do and how to reach you.
There is no overstating the importance of a well-designed business card. In as much as your business card summarizes your platform on the business stage, a card that presents your company in a good light can become your passport to a world of new opportunity. Equally, a card that is poorly designed can leave a less than favorable impression that can cost you customers.
Elements of Successful Business Card Design
There are certain vital elements that should be considered when striving to design a successful business card, including physical components such as the material on which your card is printed, and visual elements including font style, layout, images and colors. However, the most important element of any successful business card design is branding, or how the card represents your company.
Designing a Card that Represents Your Business Identity
The goal of a business card is to present your business to potential customers. It is vital that this representation be accurate, informative, and most of all, memorable. Think of the way you want people to remember your company. If you want your company to be the one your customer thinks of first when they need or want your particular field of goods or services, then your card needs to represent your business in a way that differentiates it from your competition but quickly and easily identifies the type of good or service that you offer.
Select an image or logo that actually fits your business. There’s no point in handing out a business card with pictures of flowers if you are a car salesman, and ocean waves have nothing whatsoever to do with a computer repair service. You can’t just select your business card design because you like flowers or the ocean. You need to carefully consider the artwork that you choose to represent your company and ensure that it is not distracting from your purpose.
Keep It Simple…
The worst thing you can do with your business design is to clutter it up with too much text, too many colors, or too many images. You do want your card to be eye-catching and memorable, but you don’t want it to be confusing or overwhelming. You’ve heard the term before, “less is more,” and in this case it is always best to stick to basic information and present it in a way that is visually appealing without being overdone. This applies both to the decorative aspects of your business card and the content. As advised by the experts at Entrepreneur.com, a business owner should be careful and deliberate when selecting the images and information that appear on a business card. Too much clutter causes loss of interest rather than providing a favorable impression.
it is always best to stick to basic information and present it in a way that is visually appealing without being overdone. This applies both to the decorative aspects of your business card and the content. As advised by the experts at Entrepreneur.com, a business owner should be careful and deliberate when selecting the images and information that appear on a business card. Too much clutter causes loss of interest rather than providing a favorable impression.
Business Card Design, Step by Step
- Select Artwork: You can design your own artwork, as long as it remains professional in appearance. You can also select appropriate images and logos from collections that are categorized by business field and provided by online printing specialists like Instant Print Business Cards. There are many relevant designs available with a simple selection process that allows you to design a business card like a professional. This logo or artwork should be consistent on all your marketing materials.
- List Accurate Contact Information: Never, ever hand out a business card printed with a telephone number that is no longer in service or one that lists a former address. Inaccurate contact information is far worse than no business card at all. List your name, your position, your address, telephone numbers including landline, mobile, fax and toll free, website and email addresses.
- Invent a Slogan: Come up with a brief, single-line statement that describes the goods and services you offer in a positive light with a call to action that is inviting and appealing. Every time someone sees your business card you have an opportunity to market yourself and your company. Your slogan should stimulate a positive response.
- Select Good Typography: The Basics of Business Card Design (www.smashingmagazine.com) advises that legible typography is critical for a successful business card. Select a very limited number of font styles, no more than two or three, that can be differentiated with bold print or italics. Your font should be large enough to be easily read, and avoid using any fine print.
- Choose Card Stock, Shape and Size: These are elements that can help your card stand out from others, but remember to represent your business accurately. In other words, a serious professional isn’t taken seriously with a heart-shaped card printed on glitter paper, but that might be just right for a florist or a party planner.
First Impressions become Lasting Impressions
As previously mentioned, your business card is your introduction to new customers. Your business card announces your presence, describes your service, and lets your new customers know how they can contact you. It is important that this first impression is a good one, so take your time and think carefully as you design this most important marketing tool.
One last tip: when you give your business card to a potential new customer, go ahead and give two, one for him and one for him to give a friend. Personal references are the best type of advertising.
