Effective Business Cards: How to Make the Most of Yours

You want a business card that does the business for you. We take a look at what makes effective business cards and how to make the most of your own.

Face-to-face interaction in the business world is essential to networking. In fact, Virgin reports 72% of professionals are influenced by the first look and handshake during an introduction.

Likewise, your business card says a lot about you. When you’re mingling at a networking event, it’s your introduction and your final words. What does yours say about you? Does it stand out in a stack?

Find out as we take a look at what makes effective business cards, and why they make such a powerful statement.

Why Are Business Cards so Important?

When you consider that 85% of jobs are filled through networking, it only reinforces the importance of business cards. More specifically, good business cards. But what makes them such an effective networking tool?

These lead generating momentos are part of your initial impression. They paint a snapshot of your brand and who you are that people you connect with can keep on hand long after you’re gone.

Plus, they convey your level of professionalism. If you’re handing out business cards you printed at home after designing them in Microsoft Word, people are going to notice. It gives the impression you aren’t well-established and can even deter potential clients.

On the flip side of that point, a great business card can seal the deal. If your card showcases a strong brand and impressive design, you appear more professional. This can instill trust, which in turn gives you an edge over your competition.

An Introduction in Your Pocket

But what if you don’t frequent networking events? Do you really need a business card?

Yes! Every time you step out of your door, there is a chance of running into a potential new customer or client. Having a business card in your wallet or bag at all times ensures you are prepared.

When you strike up a conversation and someone asks, “What do you do?” it opens the door for a networking opportunity. Business cards are a quick introduction you can deliver at a moment’s notice, and people can keep them on hand in case a need for your product or service arises.

This is why they’re so essential to businesses.

How Do You Create Effective Business Cards?

But what exactly makes a good business card design? It’s a combination of design skill, material quality, and the strength of your message. Below we’ll explore each one of these elements and the questions you’ll need to ask as you consider your business card design.

The Elements of a Great Business Card Design

There are several common elements found in great business card designs, including:

  • Your Name
  • Your Job Title
  • Your Company’s Logo
  • Your Contact Information
  • Your Photo
  • Information About Your Business

Some of these elements may seem like common sense. After all, knowing your name, company, job title, and contact information are all important when establishing new professional relationships.

But let’s take a closer look at each of them individually. A personal photo of you isn’t required for a great business card design, but it does make your face easier to remember. Recipients will be more likely to remember you after your first meeting, especially if it was brief.

A good business card includes your company’s logo and colors as part of your branding. However, it’s important to make sure you take it a step further and align it with other marketing collateral as well. A business card that matches brochures and your website design make your business appear more professional.

If you need to, add information about your business and what it offers. Make what you bring to the table clear so recipients of your card know your service and product offerings.

If you aren’t a graphic designer, make sure you employ one to bring your business card design to life. Aim for a design that draws the eye and stands out in a stack on the table.

The Importance of Quality Materials

Business cards aren’t just a visual experience, it’s also tactile. People will notice the texture, the weight, and the sturdiness of your business card when you pass it along.

This can either work for or against you, depending on the materials you choose. A staggering 72% of people make instant judgments about a company or individual based on the quality of their business card design.

If you select cheap stock that feels flimsy in the hand of the person you give it to, it can make you appear second-rate. This can lead to the perception that you are a new or struggling business on a shoestring budget.

In contrast, a well-established business is expected to take pride in its brand. It’s willing to pay for quality, so people take notice when they receive a well-crafted business card.

After all, if you aren’t willing to produce quality products for yourself, why would someone expect you to produce something of quality for them?

Metal business cards are a growing trend. Like a metal credit card, they give off the impression that your business is high-end. It’s a quick way to stand out and people are more likely to hold on to such a unique business card design, even if they don’t have a need for your services at that time.

Why Crafting a Great Message Matters

What does your business card say to those who receive it? Don’t just consider the unwritten message spoken through your color palette and logo design. Add a message or call to action!

Business cards with a blank back are missing an opportunity to communicate with potential customers or clients. Use this space to convey additional information or even a QR or coupon code.

Offering a special discount or call to action with your business card encourages a follow-up action. It’s a great way to hook a lead or get them interested in what your business has to offer.

Make Every Impression a Lasting One

If you’re looking for effective business cards that will impress recipients every time, consider our metal business card designs. With 8 stunningly different styles to choose from, we customize your design for a truly unique look.

Start shopping metal business card options online now. If you have any questions, we are happy to answer them. Drop us a line, and we’ll be happy to help.

Top 5 Business Card Design Tips & Ideas To Stand Out

Top 5 Business Card Design Tips & Ideas To Stand Out

A great business card can help you get ahead of your competition, so check out these business card design tips and ideas to help you stand out over the rest!

If you want to stand out in your profession, you’re going to need a business card that stands out as well.

That’s right.

Even in today’s constantly connected world of social media advertising, the traditional ways of spreading your information to potential customers still matters.

So how do you design a card that attracts attention?

It’s really not that hard. If you follow just a few basic business card design tips, then you’ll be sure to see your contacts grow.

What follows are some of the most important things you should think about when you are designing a business card. Keep these in mind and you’re sure to have a card that’s worthy of your profession.

But before you design your card…

Think About Your Specifications

This one pretty easy, so you can start by deciding what general design you would like your business card to be. We offer a variety of cool, creative metal business cards in different shapes and designs.

Do you want to go with a traditional rectangle or a more contemporary shape like a circle or square? Do you want your card to be oriented vertically or horizontally? What about size?

The more you think about your card design, the easier it will be to get started.

Business Card Design Tips

So let’s talk about designing your business card. There are a few rules that you need to follow to make sure creating a card is worth your time and money.

What are they? Let’s take a look.

Keep Design Principles in Mind

Whatever business you are in and whoever your target audience is, the overreaching principles of design should always be foremost on your mind.

You don’t have to be an art student to use the principles of design. Just remember a few key things and your business card will be pleasing to the eye.

Balance. You want the card to feel balanced, so don’t overcrowd one side with fonts and images while ignoring the other.

Alignment. The way each image and text space aligns with each other gives a feeling of unity and purpose. Good alignment creates order and avoids confusion.

Contrast. By utilizing light/dark and verticle/horizontal as well as opposite colors, you can make the important parts of your card stand out.

Space. Negative spaces are places where there are no images are text. Use these to your advantage to make your information shine.

If you familiarize yourself with these principles and others, you’ll be starting out in the right direction for a great business card design.

Understand What You Want to Tell People

What do you want your business card to say about you and your company? This may seem like a silly question, but when you’re staring at a blank card template, you’d be surprised how many people don’t know what they want to say.

Remember: your business card is an extension of yourself as well as your product and services. They can also be the first impression that gains you a new customer.

What do you want to say?

If you’re an artist, you may want to convey creativity and whimsy. If you’re a financial planner, on the other hand, maybe you want to convey strength and stability that will give your clients peace of mind. If you’re a contractor, you may want your card to show trustworthiness and the ability to do good work.

The simple fact is that you can’t create an effective business card unless you know what it is you want to show your customers when you hand them the card.

Avoid Common Mistakes

There are as many different business card designs as there are companies. Even with those examples, you’d be surprised how many make the same mistakes over and over again.

If you want to make your business card great, try to avoid these common mistakes:

Putting too much information on the card. This leads to a cramped style that doesn’t look good at all and may even confuse potential customers. Say what you need to say and nothing more.

Bad coloring. Some colors just don’t go well together and make your message hard to read. Find nice, contrasting colors that are pleasing to the eye. This will make it your message clear.

Not using the back of the card. Cards have two sides: use them! You can use one side for a slogan or an eye-catching design and reserve the other for your contact information.

Before you commit to a design, look around and see what others are doing and what mistakes they may have made. It’ll save you a lot of headache in the future.

Make Your Card Practical

One of the newer trends in business card design is making the card used for other purposes than relaying information. And you can really get creative with this.

If you’re a chef, you can use one side to display baking conversions and tips that people will want to keep in the kitchen. If you work with plants, you can attach seed packets that produce pretty flowers or even herbs. If you own a bar, you can pass out cards that also act as bottle openers.

What customer wouldn’t enjoy any of these ideas?

The possibilities are endless and there’s one for whatever field you work in.

Know When to Break the Rules

In other words, you need to get creative and sometimes the best results are realized by ignoring the rules.

In the end, your card needs to be all about you and your company. If there are things you think you shouldn’t try — things that may scare you a little — then try it out and see.

The more you experiment, the more you may surprise yourself!

Get Started

There’s no better time to start designing a business card than right now. You’ll see an increase in customer interactions, which can lead to more sales and even more customers.

What are you waiting for?

For more information and everything business-card related, check out our blog.