Are you designing your first business card? While technology is taking over, business cards still remain an important way to get your information out to prospective clients. But, you have to ensure that your business cards not only look good but also contain all of the necessary information for marketing.
Do you want your business cards to stand out? Here are some tips to remember during the design process.
Know the Key Information
Everyone gets excited and wants to work on the colours and style of the business card. Of course, you are going to get to this. But, first, you have to work out what the key information is for your business card. Most of the time, this is going to be:
- Your business name
- A contactable phone number
- An email address
- Your social handles
- The website address
All of this information is going to allow prospective clients to check out what products and services you offer. It is also going to make it easy for them to contact you if they have any inquiries they want to make. Do not forget to double-check all of the information to ensure it is correct.
Consider a Special Finish
Business cards can be pretty simple. While this might suit some people that are working on a tight budget, if you really want yours to stand out, you have to think outside the box. This is particularly true for new businesses to the market. One way you can do this is by considering a special finish for your business cards. For example, you can consider thermographic printing for your design. This involves having raised ink for a simple yet effective finish.
Think of the Size and Shape
Everyone knows what a standard business card looks like. But, who says you have to follow the norm? There is a lot of freedom to make your business card stand out and be unique. In particular, you can choose the size and shape. So, while a lot of business cards are rectangular, you can choose to make it square or include rounded corners. Think about what size and design would match your brand the message you are trying to portray.
Avoid Cramming
A lot of businesses fall into the trap of cramming a lot of information onto their business cards. Of course, they want to portray their business in a good light and they think they can do this with lots of details. But, remember the simple saying; less is more. The basic design for a business card is to list your contact details on one side. On the other, simply have a logo and a brand message. That is all you need.
When someone receives a business card from you, chances are, you will already have a conversation with them. So, they have already found out about your brand. If they want to follow-up, they can use the contact details on the business card.
Remember White Space
Just as you should avoid cramming your business cards, you also want to ensure that you leave some white space. this means that you should not be afraid to show a lot of background. You do not even have to use a lot of colour. It can be simplistic and contemporary to include white space and you should embrace this easy-to-read and straight to the point design. Again, remember that less is more.
Make it Legible
It is easy to get carried away when it comes to designing a business card. In other words, with so many fonts to choose from, you can choose a fancy one. But, you have to ensure that your business card is legible and easy to read. Otherwise, people are not going to follow up and check out the details you have listed. Of course, you are free to choose a different font and one that is less common. But, it has to be legible and not require a lot of concentration and hard work to read.
Use a Call to Action
Remember that you want to encourage people to check out your socials and contact you. So, just like on a business website, you can include a call to action. This is going to give clients and customers a push to check out what products and services you are offering. One way you can do this is to include a special offer or discount code on the business card. This can work wonders and lead to sales.