Tips for Designing Your Next Business Card

Business cards remain one of the hallmarks of marketing for businesses of all sizes. Business cards are invaluable in customer-facing roles such as real estate and consulting. They are essential for freelancers and contractors since the business card is often the only lasting connection someone has after a face to face meeting with you. Here are a few tips for designing your next business card. 

Look at It from the Receiver’s Point of View 

Always look at the business card from the receiver’s point of view. Put the information down that they expect and require before you add extras like lovely flourishes and cute icons. Ensure that the text is readable by someone who is holding in their hand and may not be wearing their reading glasses. This includes having easy to read fonts in moderately large text. Don’t forget to put the contact information in a familiar format, since deviating from these conventions is a turn off with most prospective clients. Don’t make the business card so busy that they’re confused as to what you do or simply can’t make out any of the images on the card.  

You can and should include your website address or email address. If you really need to include social media links, that could be shared on the back of the business card. However, your goal is to get them to contact you, not visit five social media profiles to determine how to reach you. 

Use a Template

Whether you need to design a business card for your new business or want to revamp the business cards you use, try a business card template instead of trying to work from scratch. Business card templates have built-in design elements. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of where to put text, how large logos and graphics need to be, and what type of design elements you can include. It can’t prevent you from using a colour too light to be legible or eliminate a thumbprint from the picture you just took. However, it eliminates most of the common mistakes people make when trying to work with a blank screen in graphics editing software. 

Design the Card So It Is Portable 

Too many people forget that a business card may sit in someone’s wallet or drawer for weeks before they review it again. This affects the business card in several ways. First, invest in quality cardstock that won’t fall apart if shoved into a wallet. Second, put a neat border around the text and images so that casual handling or minor damage to the edges doesn’t render critical information unreadable. Third, places images where minor smudges and rips don’t undermine their quality. This is one point in favour of having a large sample image on the back of the business card where the centre of attention is literally in the middle of the card. Fourth, choose business cards that conveniently fit in a credit card pocket or business cardholder. If you want to be creative with the physical card’s design, choose a matte finish, rounded edges, or foil flourishes. 

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