Business cards have been around for quite some time, and still, do have the same effect/purpose as they did a few decades ago. This is despite the digital era where everything seems to have moved to the cloud, with very few people still using pen and paper. Business executives and entrepreneurs still exchange printed business cards as they interact. Most business executives strive to ensure they have a stack of well-designed business cards wherever they go. Business cards are meant to make it easier to share contact information, mainly if one is a service provider. A business card may be the link between you, your clients, or even larger corporates. For this reason, a well-designed and useful business card is required for any good marketing strategy.
What Constitutes An Effective Business Card Design?
For a business card to be effective, The following elements should be considered/included:
Information:
The main idea behind a business card is to make it possible for people to have your contact information, or contact you. Only include the necessary contact information and means in which one can find you. Your name, phone number, email address, website and job title should be included on the business card. You can also provide a summary of services you have to offer as well. Limit textual information as much as possible to give a cleaner easier read.
Brand:
These include a logo, fonts, colors and other brand elements. It’s important to maintain consistency with other branded materials you may have. This is to say; you need to use the same logo or theme on the business card as there is with branded shirts, vehicles, and such. Consistency is the key to reinforcing your brand, and also makes it easy for new associates remember you better.
Size:
All business cards should have the same standard dimensions of 3.5″ by 2″. While you may wish to make yours fancier, it’s essential that you maintain this size. Business card holders and wallets are only designed for this size. Anything larger or smaller risks being tossed in the trash for it won’t fit the wallet. Have your target audiences in mind when designing a business card.
Paper Quality:
Paper quality and finish play a huge role in the effectiveness of a business card. Design, weight, and finish are the three things you need to prioritize when redesigning your company business cards. For instance, the card needs to be sturdy enough to avoid getting torn easily. Its color and texture should be considered as well. Glossy, matte, and uncoated textures are a preferred option for many people. While most printers and designers may be able to accommodate these textures, you need to be careful about the finish. Glossy and matte finishes make it almost impossible to put additional information on it.
Design:
With the standard business card size, its design needs to remain simple, clean, and well organized. Leaving negative space on the card is one of the best ways to ensure only the intended info gets the expected attention. Using just the right font and font size not only makes the information eligible but also allows you to put just enough info on the limited space. The sans serif and classic serif fonts retain eligibility at a small size. You’ll also need to ensure the content is well organized, visually appealing, and user-friendly. As mentioned earlier on, contact information and branding elements should be included in the card design. If you want a helpful start, these graphic design bundles can provide some tools and guidance
A simple, easy to read card design is all you need to deliver the intended information painlessly. While you may want to include as much info as possible, keeping it simple makes it more attractive. The other person should be able to grasp your contact info and position with the first glance on your business card. As long as all the other critical elements are considered (design, paper quality, size, brand, and information), the business card should serve its purpose well.
