How to design perfect business cards
Ever wondered what makes a perfect business card? It’s a hard one to figure out, but all you really need to do is remember when you’ve been given a few or just go through those that you already have. In this article i will list top tips that might just help you to come up with that perfect one.
Recently i decided to print that perfect one for myself. My main marketing tool was internet, so i never really considered having some. But recently, stumbling upon potential client’s in my everyday life, i realised that i need them. And they must have “The Wow Factor”.
Tip #1. State what u do obliviously obvious.
Why? Cos you want your prospective client to instantly recognize your business among all others in massive pile of business cards that they might have to go trough.
If you’re designing a business card for a company or yourself, you have to make sure that first thing the receiver sees is what you actually do, what service or product you are selling. An instant trigger like a well made logo or a bold statement normally does the trick.
Tip #2. Make it easy to find contact details.
Why? Cos that’s probably what clients are going to be looking for on your card.
Make your contact details easily readable, you might as well make your number (or e-mail) stand out a little bigger than the rest, if that is the way your clients would use most often. Keep in mind that you still have to keep it aesthetically sensible.
Tip #3. Looking professional.
Why? Cos no-one wants to deal with tacky looking people/businesses.
One important thing: NEVER use tacky templates with unrelated pictures, print website templates and all templates of this kind. Make sure the paper is think enough not to look cheap, the cheaper your business card looks, the more likely it’d get thrown away 5 minutes after you give it away. If you’re not sure of your own capabilities, hire a professional to design it for you, it will pay off. If you can’t afford to hire a professional, hire a student, the chances are he will still do a better job than a template would.
Tip #4. Give them a reason to contact you.
That’s where USP (unique selling points) come in handy. Do you have one? What makes you different? What is it that you have that would make them call you and not your competitor? Make sure you state it clearly on the business card, but keep in mind that you don’t want to look desperate, otherwise, you’ll have an opposite effect.
Tip #5. The WOW factor.
Look slick and professional might not be enough these days, so surprise your clients with something that has a “wow” factor, that could be anything, creative shape, idea, implementation. Doing some competitor research can help with this one too, as you get to see what your competitors didn’t do or were too afraid to do with their business cards. Stand out from the crowd, but make sure you stand out with “wow”, not with “weirdo” factor.
Tip #6. Colors.
Make sure your business cards are done in appropriate colors, as they vary from industry to industry, it’s a good idea trying to project some particular feelings with colors. If you have a corporate palette that would come in handy too. Once again, don’t use insane colors to stand out, all it does is that it makes you seem desperate.
Tip #7 . Little humour and human touch never hurts.
Add some humour, make it interesting, engage a person into actually being interested in what you do. It could also be a good ice breaker and conversation starter.
Expert Opinion
Rytis, Graphic Designer
Most important is a unique idea, which doesn’t cover the main concept. The most important to stay in memories of the person with who you just been talking. Next thing that I always value is the price of the card itself, not the design, but a paper (strong or soft, texture, material) the quality of choice is very wide, and that selection can provide me with a lot of information (of course I am in the same market). Next – the ink. I like to touch the card, and feel the rounded edges of the ink. These small things can tell me how careful you are at the details and how much you are experienced in print design techniques.
Random Opinion
Thanasis, Civil Engineer
First of all keep it simple and professional. Colors should not be too vivid, because you must make the viewer focus on the information.
Futher Reading:
The best 65 business cards of the year
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ABOUT THIS AUTHOR
hey, those are great tips. thanks for sharing
great tips Elena.
Thanks for sharing
Connor @ Kaizen Print