7 Considerations For Better Business Cards

By Karen Layman, aka Karen Cropped view of young Arab man showing empty business card with mockup for design at modern office.

Business cards are a great way to connect and network with potential clients and people in your industry. However, not all business cards are created equally. A well-designed business card is an asset because it can help set you apart from the competition. Here are some reasons why business cards still matter for your brand and a few considerations for better business cards:

Why Business Cards Still Matter For Your Brand

You might be wondering if you even need a business card in today’s digital world. However, business cards are still relevant because they’re a piece of marketing that you can carry with you. They’re also helpful for building brand awareness and any networking you might do in person.

Business cards can sometimes be the first line of communication between you and any prospective clients or business relationships. During networking events, details may be forgotten, so a business card helps avoid that. They can also be an easy icebreaker and conversation starter at networking events.

7 Considerations For Better Business Card Design

If you have business cards that are in need of a refresh or you’re thinking about getting some, here are a few tips and considerations for a better business card design:

1. Define your audience and goals.
2. Communicate your brand.
3. Don’t forget your logo.
4. Include the most vital information.
5. Communicate clearly.
6. Follow basic design guidelines.
7. Go to a professional printer.

1. Define Your Audience and Goals

One of the most important things you can do for a better business card design is to make sure you define your target audience. This can help you better design a card that relates to your audience, as well as the industry. If your industry is very professional, such as legal or accounting, your card should reflect the serious nature of your job. But if you’re an artist or in a more creative field, your business card should reflect that creative nature.

You also need to define what goals you intend to achieve for designing a business card. If your goal is to make more networking connections, the info on your business card should display that. If you want your portfolio to get noticed, it should be prominently displayed so people know where to find it. Knowing what goals you wish to achieve will help you build a better business card.

2. Communicate Your Brand

Your brand matters to business, so your business card should effectively communicate that brand to anyone who sees the card. One of the best ways to do this is to come up with a positioning statement. A positioning statement is a motto or even a short phrase that defines your brand, as well as any values or beliefs. It should help set your company or yourself apart from any other competitors.

Your brand is essentially your identity when it comes to marketing. Because it’s your identity for marketing, it needs to be consistent across many different platforms. If your brand isn’t consistent, this can be one of the signs it’s time to rebrand.

3. Don’t Forget Your Logo

Logos are another important part of your branding and should be on a business card. This logo should be close to your contact details, either on the front or the back of the card. A good logo helps people identify you quickly, making it necessary for any business.

If you don’t have a company logo, make it a priority to get one. Make sure your logo is clean and clearly matches your brand. These details, along with thinking about how you use your logo, are vital logo design tips.

4. Include the Most Vital Information

The main goal of a business card is to communicate what you do and how you can be contacted to any prospective collaborators or clients. Make sure you include the most important information that helps people learn more about you or your company by providing important contact information. Include information such as:

  • Your name and job title
  • Company name
  • Contact information, including your phone number, office extension number if applicable, email and physical address, and any social media account pages.
  • Optionally, include a QR code that allows people to immediately access a website when they scan the code with a cellular device.

A well-designed business card with the right information can help keep you top-of-mind for potential customers and make it easier for people to find your website and contact you. An easy URL or QR code on your business card and in your email signature can also help drive traffic to your website and connect tangible touch-points and offline marketing assets to online efforts.

5. Communicate Clearly

Effective communication is extremely important in all aspects of your business, including business card design. You also want to communicate in the language that your target audience is used to. If your brand or profession is more casual, make sure your business card reflects that.

Use clear and consistent language to communicate any vital information. Ask for input from trusted business associates or coworkers. If they have any feedback, be sure to keep that in mind and rework any content to be clearer.

6. Follow Basic Design Guidelines

A business card is no good if no one can read it well because the design is complicated. Just like you use fonts effectively in website design, make sure you pick a good minimum size font to allow for easy reading. It’s also best to stick to a CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model.

While fun or fancy fonts can be great in some design materials, it’s best to start with a simple and clean font for your business card. There are many typography trends, but Serif or Sans Serif fonts are your best bet because they’re easy to read, something that’s very important for a business card.

Web design and print design will also have different considerations. You also need to be aware of how color affects your business card. You need enough of a contrast so people don’t have a hard time reading. Don’t pair light backgrounds with light-colored text. A darker font against a light background is your best bet.

7. Go to a Professional Printer

Because business cards are one of the first things that prospective clients or collaborators might see, you should invest in a high-quality business card. This can help build trust and a solid relationship that can set the tone for a working relationship.

Make sure you choose a high-quality and professional printer and business card material. Take the time to feel the materials to give you an idea of how they will feel when you hand them out. High-quality printers will use materials that don’t fade and look sharp and clean.

While there are plenty of design tools available that can help you design your own business card, you might want to work with a professional designer. Reach out to a few graphic designers to get quotes and an idea of their work. Working with a professional designer allows you to get a business card that is designed well with all of the design considerations in place.

These are just a few considerations for better business card design. Business cards are still relevant and are useful in setting yourself apart from your competition. If you’re unsure of where to start, contact MIND, and we can help support your business, both online and offline.

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