Business cards are an essential part of networking and letting customers, suppliers, or professionals remember YOU. However, did you know that out of the millions of business cards printed DAILY, almost 90% are thrown out within the week?
One of the reasons why people would throw out their business cards is because of its crummy design. After all, who would want to hold on to something that looks and/or feels cheap? It’s crucial for you to create a unique and compelling business card design people would hold onto for a long time.
How? Read on as I show you nine helpful tips to design the perfect business card!
How to Design the Perfect Business Card
I know how difficult it can be trying to put yourself out there when there are millions of different templates people already use. To stand out from the crowd and have people genuinely interested in contacting you, here are ways to spruce up the card designs:
1. Plan Ahead
I recommend that you do some research so you know what you need to add to your business card. Find templates and collect real business cards, which you can use for inspiration. There are a lot of samples you can find online to examine, seeing which concepts can improve your design.
Also, make sure that you consider the rules of design, making it according to your profession. When it comes to picking the companies for promotional material, you can view printing services here to know who can offer the best quality business cards for you. It’s important to have a plan beforehand to save time and money on revisions!
2. Choose Your Contact information Wisely
When you already have a concept in mind, set that aside and look into the card’s message, starting with your contact information. This may be a challenge since we now connect in various ways. To know what contact info to prioritize, learn how your target market communicates.
Add the following:
- Your name and title
- Company name and logo
- Phone number
- Email and website URL
- Social media accounts
- Address
- QR code and map (optional)
3. Add Supportive Texts
Besides contact information, add supportive text to explain why your audience should contact you. Have a tagline or call-to-action to inform people who you are and what they do.
For example, you can add in, “call and get a free quotation,” or to add a tagline after your name such as, “The Friendliest Agent In the City!” Just focus on adding ONE tagline or CTA, though!
4. Place Illustrations or Photos
Adding photos to your business card allows you to express things words aren’t able to. You can have a photographic background, showcasing samples of your work, or portraits to remind who you are.
Portraits are effective since people can match your name with a face, refreshing memories better. If not your portrait, adding illustrations can create that unique visual effect to stand out.
5. Choose Quality Material, Coating, and Imprint Methods
The medium is the message, yes, but the way you present information is just as important! That’s why you need to go beyond the typical flimsy card paper and surpass limits.
Your paper material should be made of high-quality, or you can opt for recycled, textured, or even metal materials! Besides that, there are coating and imprint methods to consider, which printing companies offer.
6. Shape Your Card
Regardless of where you’re from, business cards are rectangular. But why should you follow the typical card shape? Go for something fresher and more creative, such as die-cut cards or 3D designs!
Sure, it may not be a card anymore, but with its different and interesting shape, it will stand out. Make sure to round the corners to prevent it from wearing out quickly.
7. What’s Your Color Scheme and Typography?
Color is crucial to your design, with people keeping colorful cards even longer compared to black-and-white ones. I recommend that you get business cards with black backgrounds or that have pops of bold red, as they would stand out more. However, if you already have a company color scheme, then stick with that for branding purposes. Just make sure that you keep it to three colors at most.
Besides this, also think about the typography, which should only be up to three fonts. I suggest, using an easy-to-read serif or one with an understandable and decorative font for personality.
8. Lay It All Out
Once you have all the elements needed for the business card, put them together! It should be easy to read with all the information fitting in the small space.
Start off by creating the hierarchy with size, with the most important item being bigger. Check if the design is too cluttered, utilizing white space. It should have the balance of putting in vital information without it looking overcrowded.
9. Prep for The Printing Stage
Lastly, prepare it for printing and communicate with the printing company. Make sure that everything has been proofread and that there are no bleed areas, blurs, or inconsistencies in the design.
Wrapping It Up
As a designer, you have that power to whip up the unique business card design. You need to break out of the usual templates and get yourself out there. Once you have that, you can find reputable business card printing in Brisbane to make your cards look and feel sleek for people to hold on to.
I hope that these tips on designing the perfect business card helped you out! So start using these tips and get more traction as you network today.
Do you have any questions or want to share your own tips on designing a business card? Share it in the comments section below, all your thoughts are much appreciated.
