Tips to Remember When Designing & Printing Your Business Cards

* If you're serious about your business be serious about your business cards. Don't focus on the money, focus on the quality. Business cards not only provide contact details, they represent you and your organization. People you give your card to will form a first impression within seconds of receiving your business card (oftentimes before even reading it), and you want that impression to be a good one. Make it appeal to the senses.

1. Have someone in house create a catchy logo and/or design and layout for your card. If you don't have anyone to do that, hire someone.
2. Get high-quality, thick card stock that feels nice to the touch.
3. Apply foil or glossy finishes it applicable to catch their eye.

Make your card stand out. If you spend enough time and quality on your card people will believe you put that same amount of effort into your business.

* Make the most out of your cards. Don't be afraid to use them as a marketing tool. Give them to everyone you meet. In fact, give everyone you meet two or three, so that they can give them out if the opportunity arises.

* Give your business card additional value. If you wish, you can usually create a useable backing for your business card—a calendar, appointment card, coupon, referral discount —give it value and decrease the chance that it will disappear into the trash bin.

* Be creative...but not too creative. It is important to design a visually-pleasing layout for your business card. But there are times when you can take creativity too far. Nobody likes to receive business cards of odd shapes and sizes that wont fit into their Rolodex or other business card holder. Make the text big and dark/light enough to read. Don't use 'wacky' colors or fonts.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kim DiBrito on February 5, 2009 at 2:22pm

Great post. Readability is very important. Thanks for sharing.

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Permalink Reply by Earl Weldon on February 6, 2009 at 7:58am: Some good points here. If anyone out there needs help on business cards, we design and print them. Check our website at WeldonStudio.com. Especially if you're in or near Philadelphia, we can help you, but we also ship across America. We've done work for clients in Florida, Texas and California.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nishit Kumar on February 9, 2009 at 10:24pm: I agree with the comments. Apart from design, the eco friendliness of your card - do you use recycled paper for instance, the choice of font- does it jell with the name and activvity and profile of your organisation or individual personality, all are important. While travelling internationally, I take care to ensure that one side of the card carries the information in the local language.
By the way, I am a designer, a brand and srategy consultant a trainer and a writer. I run my own consulting firm, am based out of Pune in India, and am reachable at nishitnk@yahoo.com.
Nishit Kumar; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lesly Federici RN, CWC on February 13, 2009 at 5:39pm

Informative article. I've seen some pretty nice biz cards lately. One was not the usual biz card size, the person was an architech. I am always at a loss of what to put on them - especially when I do so many things.

So, here's a question: If you do a lot of things, what do you say on the card? List them all, keep it simple?

What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Todd Davis on February 13, 2009 at 9:15pm: Hey Lesly,

Say what they do...not everything they do.

Resist the temptation of filling the back up with a list of "we can do" these things too! It will tend to be confusing the those that haven't met the architect. If they get a card at say a Chamber Event, by the time they get home, they won't remember WHY they kept the card, or really what the best referral would be.

In a Gold Star Club meeting, we had a visitor from a skin care company. The very nice lady stood up and said, "The best referral for me is anyone with skin." How can you refer to that? Totally no clarity of a good referral.

Just imagine if she had said, "A good referral for me is someone that works outside in their garden, and has a wonderful green thumb. They should be sure to protect themselves from the sun, and should consider giving my super-duper sunscreen a try, its great."

Simple, clear, and it could result in referrals/dollars.

Regards!
Todd Davis
National Director
Gold Star Referral Clubs
www.goldstarclubs.com
"Business Made Easy"
Start a referral clubs where you are...We make it simple, and profitable!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sandra (Sandy) naultsmithson on March 4, 2009 at 5:30pm: Thank you so much for all the information. It is making me rethink everything about my card.

From your friend Sandy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sandra (Sandy) naultsmithson on March 4, 2009 at 5:33pm: Hi Stan,

I couldn't help it, but I couldn't stop laughing about your remark. He sounds like a pimp, would you or myself ever buy anything from him. Just the conclusion I got from what was said. lolllllllllll Have a great week. Sandy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sandra (Sandy) naultsmithson on March 4, 2009 at 5:35pm: Hi Everybody for the great advice. Has any one tried to go to staples and get their cards there?
Sandy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kevin Doyle on March 14, 2009 at 9:33am: excellent! very useful tips.

business cards are an investment that must be managed for returns.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Todd Davis on March 14, 2009 at 10:05am: Curious...

Mark filled up the back of the card, and I'm not sure what he does...website I get...3D Civil Training? What are all those websites on the back...and why are they important?

Wouldn't make more sense to be clear with what you do (targeted business), and maybe a hint of what a good referral would be?

It kind of like the cosmetic sales representative that tells me a good referral is, "Anyone with skin!" I can't refer to that. I can refer if she gave something specific to refer...like: "A good referral this week would be someone that does a lot of work outside that complains about the sun. I have a fantastic product that...."

I can refer to that! I love to fish, and spend lots of my time outdoors. Being somewhat hair folically challenged...sunburn and I are old friends.

In my opinion only: Make the referrals you want - easy to understand and specific. You'll get higher quality referrals.

Todd Davis
National Director
Gold Star Referral Clubs
www.goldstarclubs.com
"Business Made Easy"
Start a referral clubs where you are...We make it simple, and profitable!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JenniferLynn Productions on April 9, 2009 at 2:52pm: I would tend to agree with Todd. Perhaps a better approach would have been a single link to your own web site, where you might have links to the sites you've designed. It makes for a much cleaner presentation.

My card is one I designed via VistaPrint. I found a template I liked and have my company name, a brief descritpion of what I do, and my email address on the front. On the back--it is a lighter color than the front--I have a single link--to my blog (all of my shops are linked from my blog)--and my company's motto.

This article is very helpful.

Thanks!
Jen M.
JenniferLynn Productions, LLC; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cathy Hanck on April 16, 2009 at 11:30am: Hi Randy: I am a graphic designer and can get you professionally designed business cards for a reasonable price. I believe that a quality business card immediately gets you remembered and in this world of seconds to make an impression, a quality business card can put you ahead of someone who did theirs on the home computer and printed them out. A professionally designed business card says - I care about my business and have taken the thought and time to make a good impression. Please tell me your requirements - my e-mail is cahanck@yahoo.com - thank you - Cathy Hanck; ▶ Reply to This