- Choose the Best Shape and Size for Your Business Card
Although business cards have always been horizontal and rectangular, it does not mean that yours too should follow the same format. Try beating your competition by trying something they do not have in common. Your card can take different shapes from organic to geometrical depending on your industry, the audience you are communicating with, and the brand image you intend to project. If you do not want to go too far with your idea of shape and sizes, consider vertical rectangular business cards.
- Keep Your Design Simple
Many design novices have a belief that simple is boring but that is not the case with business cards. Minimal business card designs can be quite elegant as they allow enough room to add important information that catches the eye. Use basic design principles such as keeping the minimum size of your text legible, using a grid for proper business card layout, and positioning your key elements at least 5mm from the trim edge. This not only helps you achieve the right hierarchy of information but also ensures proper alignment of different elements of your business card.
- Don’t Leave Out the Key Details
Many people focus on the aesthetic appeal of their cards that they forget essential information that must be included. The crucial information that is written on every business card for customers and potential clients to contact you may vary from company to company or from one individual to another. However, the most standard information on every business card should be the company name, your name, job title, and contact information. Adding a positioning statement can differentiate you from competitors as it clearly defines your brand as well as its values.
- Consistency with Other Brand Materials
Both existing and potential customers can easily remember a brand by the colors that often appear on their products and other materials. Before designing a business card, you should already have decided on your brand logo, color scheme, and typography. These three items are the major pillars that create the foundation of your brand identity. Since they play a significant role in the style and layout of your card, these items need to be consistent across your website as well as other promotional materials.
- Use First-Rate Materials and Professional Printers
A professionally printed and well-designed card creates a good start to a healthy customer relationship and inspires trust among potential clients or customers. A business card that has been designed perfectly can be let down by poor card stock and shoddy printing. Once your design is complete, it is important to have your card professionally printed on quality and appealing card stock. This not only makes a good impression on your first clients but also ensures card durability so that your customers hold onto the card much longer.
- Be Creative All the Way
It is important to be so creative with your business card that everyone you give wants to keep it and portrays a good image of your company. The first step to getting more creative is to do your research beforehand by studying the best business cards across several industries. This gives you a good idea of how to make your card unique and better than your competition. However, you should not emulate your competition so much, because you need to retain a few qualities that will differentiate your business from the rest.
A good business card should gain the interest of the recipient and convey crucial information on how they can reach back to you. You need to design your card in such a way that a single glance tells a person what the business is all about. The colors, design, and quality of the card all play a significant role in how people perceive your business. However, the most crucial part is the information written on the card as it provides a way for people to connect with you. Always dare to be different from your competition and strive to be unforgettable to your customers.