How to make business cards work for you
Many believe that there is no room for physical business cards in this age of digital communication, phone apps and video calls. This is not exactly true. When designed right, business cards can leave a lasting impression on potential clients and business partners. They contain relevant information about you, your product, and your company which they can access even without smartphones and internet connection. Think billboards that can fit easily in your wallet or purse. So, no, business cards are neither outdated nor old fashioned.
Although they are considered a traditional way of marketing your products and services, business cards don’t necessarily need to come in conventional designs. You can go modern with unique shapes and materials. With the right design, these pocket-sized marketing tools can help to make your business stand out.
What can an effective business card do for you?
An effective business card not only connects you to a potential client or customer, but it can also help people to recognise your brand. For example, having a good business card on hand is a must in an exhibit hall full of potential customers and business partners.
Business cards’ tangibility makes it a powerful networking and marketing tool because they are easier to spot even in a stack of cards if you know what you are looking for. Your card should be able to make whoever is looking to easily recognise your business from the information it contains as well as the design.
How to design a good business card
Professional presentation is vital to make you and your business look good. A well-designed business card can give potential customers a good first impression. Get in touch with a graphic design artist to help you put together a business card that is not only professional but is consistent with your brand. Here are five things to consider when designing the ultimate business card.
1. Be consistent with your business brand.
Your visual presence online and offline should match. This means having the same logo, business colours and fonts, so they appear the same to your audience. Having consistent business branding helps people know that they have found the right place.
2. Decide on a shape.
As new and advanced printing techniques become available and affordable, alternative shapes to the traditional rectangular business card have become an option. Die-cutting allows you to create any shape you can think of while still printing in volume. For example, you can design a business card in the shape of a mason jar or an animal if it is relevant to your business.
Using creative shapes helps you convey the image you want people to see. Special and unique shapes create an impression and make you look playful and interesting, but may not be suitable for some industries. You will also want to ensure your card fits in a wallet or a small purse.
3. Keep your card simple.
Remember that you are working on a tiny space, so keep both copy and design simple. It should be easy to read and take in with a glance. Don’t squish everything on it – instead, use it to highlight information that best tells your story. For example, you don’t have to include all links to let people know about your online presence. Just pick a few that has the most followers and audience.
4. Choose the information that you add carefully.
Your business card is not a telephone directory. You don’t need to include every phone number you have – switchboard, fax, mobile, Viber, WhatsApp, Skype, fax. Choose only one or two that you commonly use, then use the rest of the space for your email and website.
These days, it is no longer crucial to include your business’s full address. That’s because people can look for your company address online quite easily.
5. Use quality materials
People can usually tell the quality of your business with the quality of your card. So, let them know that you mean business by choosing the right material for your business card. There are plenty of options available, from traditional paper to plastic, metal and wood.
The material’s coating or finishing also helps create an impact. Spot UV highlights a design element – whether your logo or name – and makes your print look more alive. Matte coating suggests elegance and creates a more subdued effect.
Make your cards work for your business
A business card with all the right design elements and information plays an important role in your business. When you are confident enough about the quality of your business card, you are more likely to give it out to people that you meet. The more cards you hand out, the more connections you are bound to make, helping you widen your customer base.
