The internet is chock full of collections of innovative business card ideas. But is a card that breaks the mold right for your business? Not always. In most cases, it’s more important that your card cover the basics than knock people’s socks off. Think about what your business card says about your business before you spend tons in design and printing fees. At its most simple, a business card provides clients and colleagues the information to get in touch with you. If it’s not doing that, no matter how clever or well designed it is, it’s a failure. Before anything else, make sure your name, your company name, email, and phone number are easily readable on the card. If they’re not, it’s time to go back to the drawing board.
Beyond those basics, how you develop your business card can impact how your company i
Considerations when developing yours include:
- Stay On Brand: Your business card should integrate, if not match, your website. And your letterhead, promotional materials, and newsletters. Don’t confuse customers and water down your brand with conflicting materials.
- Think About Size: There’s been an explosion of business cards that break from the standard 3.5” x 2” card size. While large and oddly shaped business cards immediately differentiate you – and position you as outside the norm – they’re not the most practical. A card that’s so unwieldy it’s immediately tossed out isn’t going to help you generate leads in the future.
- Cut the Clutter: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram. You’re active in all the right social media circles. Advertising that on your business card isn’t the best idea. You’re working with a small space, and the less information you pack on there, the more impact it will have.
- Readability: Nobody is going to take the time to read a card where print is too small, is in a color that’s hard to read, or in a font that’s illegible.
- Create a Memory Hook: This is a little trickier, but embedding a memory hook into your card will help others remember you the next time they run across it. The easiest way is to include a headshot, but something basic like space to write a personal note can also help connect your card to your company.
At the end of the day, you hand out business cards so clients can contact you – not to impress people with your clever designs. Make sure your bases are covered in the communications department and focus on what your business card says, not how it says it.
s perceived.