Are business cards dead? Depends on who you ask. For some, it’s an outdated method of networking, while others find it essential to making a good impression on prospective connections.
Plus, you never know when you’ll come across a potential customer, so having one on hand never hurts.
Your business card is a marketing tool. And just like with any marketing collateral, it requires careful consideration and deliberate design. To maximize their value, it’s essential to create a business card that’s memorable and stands out from the crowd.
13 Tips for Designing a Business Card
1. Choose the right size
A business card should be large enough to see its contents but small enough to fit into your pocket or wallet. The standard size is 3.5” x 2”, but you could opt for something a little larger to fit more information, or something smaller that includes links to online portfolios or profiles.
2. Use your brand’s color scheme
Some prefer all-white business cards, while others lean toward eye-catching colors. However, don’t overlook using your brand’s color scheme, which can help spread brand awareness to potential clients.
When you make significant brand changes, make sure to update your business card.
If you’re not set on a color scheme, then learn about the psychology of colors to see which represents your brand’s image.
3. Include your business’s logo
Including your company’s logo is another way to create brand awareness. The more times a customer sees your logo, business name, and other company references, the more likely they are to remember it.
Consider adding it in one corner of the card or in the center, depending on the logo’s shape and size. The goal is to make it visible without taking up too much space for important information (e.g., business name, number, services).
4. Include all of your contact details
Aside from your name and number, include other forms of contact, such as your email address, website URL, and social media handles.
If you’re a local business, add your company address in case prospects prefer to stop by.
5. Select quality materials
Cheap paper or flimsy cardstock can make your card look unprofessional — so choose a thicker cardstock that gives a premium feel. You can also opt for different ink options, such as metallic, acrylic, or raised ink, for something more unique.
Wieger Waardenburg, managing partner at digital marketing agency Fris Online, chose a quality material and spot varnish on the ink to give his card a glossy look while keeping the background matte.
Image: Courtesy of Fris Online
The vertical orientation also makes it stand out since horizontal layouts are more common.
6. Don’t forget a call to action
A business card should urge people to reach out to you, so include a call to action to ensure prospects take the next step.
For example, your CTA could be, “Call us today” or “Visit our website for more details,” or “Request a free demo.”
7. Keep it simple
People receive business cards throughout the year from all kinds of businesses and professionals. While it’s tempting to use eye-popping colors and designs to make your card stand out, this isn’t always necessary or helpful.
If your business is unique or offers a quality service, odds are the person will keep your business card around. Instead of worrying about an exotic color scheme, opt for something simple that includes all the essential information needed to buy your product or service (e.g., name, logo, number).
8. Use quality printing
There are two options for printing business cards: doing it yourself or using a design service. If you go the DIY route, you’ll need a quality printer and ink to ensure it looks professional. Look for the latest printers from popular brands like Epson and HP.
Otherwise, use a design company, which can provide you with multiple designs, cardstock, and ink to choose from.
9. Proofread before you print
Before printing your business cards, proofread to ensure there are no typos or mistakes. Double-check that the contact information is accurate and up-to-date, and that the logo, taglines, and colors convey your brand accurately.
10. Add a QR code
Adding a vCard QR code to your business card makes it easier for people to contact you. Have it link to your number or a landing page on your website; some use it for coupon codes to encourage prospects to become customers.
Your call to action could say something like, “Scan the QR code for a discount!”
11. Choose a legible font
A >business card design is about more than logos and colors. The typeface you choose can also be the difference between getting a call and having the card tossed in the trash.
Selecting a font that’s difficult to read will guarantee the latter. So opt for something readable like Arial or Helvetica. If your brand’s typeface is similar and legible, then go with that.
12. Place your headshot on the card
Adding a headshot to your business card adds a personal touch and makes it memorable. It can even help prospects recognize you in person or on social media platforms.
If you decide to include your photo, don’t be afraid to show your personality. Here’s an example of how freelance SEO consultant Steph Andrusjak included herself on a business card:
Image: Courtesy of Steph Andrusjak
“I wanted to have a bit of fun with the layout of the contact details,” Andrusjak says. “As my theme is ‘80s/‘90s inspired and quite colorful, I decided to make the reverse of the card look as though my contact details were scribbled on Post-it notes."
13. Choose eco-friendly materials
Have a mission to save the world? Then back it up with everything your business does, including your business card. Select eco-friendly materials, such as bamboo and vegetable-based ink.
Showcasing your company’s commitment to sustainability can help attract similarly minded customers.
How To Make a Business Card Stand Out
You don’t want your card to be lost among stacks of white cards. Here are a few tips to make your business card more noticeable.
- Include testimonials: Adding a line from a customer review or testimonials offers proof that you’re a professional worth calling. Consider placing it at the top or bottom of the card.
- Give it some texture: Matte or glossy finishes aren’t your only options. You could try textured designs, such as raised ink, to make words and shapes pop out (literally).
- Use a unique shape or size: Instead of sticking to the standard shape and size (3.5” x 2”), try changing the shape to a circle, star, or square.
Another option is to use laser-cut letters and designs. Yoel Israel, CEO of marketing agency WadiDigital, went with a wooden material, over typical metal, with laser-cut letters.
Image: Courtesy of WadiDigital
How To Design a Business Card for Free
Don’t want to dish out hundreds of dollars for a design agency to create your card? Do it yourself using free software that offers business card templates.
Here are a few options:
- Canva offers a free plan you can use to create professional-looking business cards. It offers a variety of templates and customization tools, as well as the ability to upload images and logos.
- Visme is an online graphic design tool that allows members to create business cards using dozens of templates. You can also design from scratch, then download it in JPG format.
- Adobe Express comes with templates, design assets, and royalty-free photos you can use to create business cards. You can download your design as a PDF, PNG, or JPG.
- Jukebox is an online business card maker with various templates and customization options. You can print directly from the site (no sign-up needed), or save your design as a PDF or JPG file for later use.
- Business Card Maker is an easy-to-use online tool for creating professional-looking cards and offers pre-made color schemes. You can download the final version as a PDF or JPG.
- VistaCreate is a free graphic design tool that allows you to create custom cards with its drag-and-drop editor and library of templates and graphics. You can upload images and logos, and print directly from the site or save your design as a PDF file.
- Shopify’s business card maker simplifies card design with its fill-in form that collects key details about your company, and allows logo uploads, to generate a business card you can download and print out.
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Few statements are as widespread in business as “Here’s my card.”
Business cards have been a part of any entrepreneur’s self-promotion toolkit for a long time. And they’re an important part of your company’s brand identity.
Hundreds of years ago, the Chinese handed out calling cards (in the 15th century) to let people know they planned to visit.
The French in the 17th century swapped cards as a way of introduction, and this spread to the British and eventually America.
The exchanging of cards is one of the most ubiquitous traditions in the business world. This institution endures even in a world dominated by e-signatures and digital address books.
You can chalk up the longevity of business cards to many reasons, but one of the biggest is that exchanging information digitally still feels impersonal and cold. Business cards are tangible reminders of your business (and you have to be there to hand them out) and can’t be beaten for memorability.
Business cards are also a cheap and effective way to ensure people have accurate contact information.
More importantly, they serve as a physical reminder that you met someone. That can trigger reflection, often leading to more business or a renewed connection.
While generic business cards are inexpensive, some business owners worry that the cost of custom business cards can be prohibitively high.
Many design companies and agencies indeed charge thousands of dollars for their services. But this isn’t universally true (crowdspring’s custom business card design projects start at just $299, including all fees).
Here are 7 essential tips to ensure you get the best results from your professional business card design.
1. Hire a professional to design your business card
When you hand your card to someone, you give them a proxy for you and your company.
That small piece of cardstock is not just a way to hand someone your contact information. It’s a reminder of who you are and what your company represents.
If you don’t have the skills to create them, make sure your card captures the essence of your brand: hire a professional.
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Business cards are the first layer of a company’s brand.
A skilled designer ideally creates your cards and the rest of your branding collateral (letterhead, brochures, etc.). This creates consistency and boosts your organization’s professionalism.
2. Keep the design of the business card simple
Ultimately, your card should have accurate, easy-to-read contact information. Your cards have failed if people can’t find them quickly and easily. Ensure your business cards have the essential information and minimal design elements.
Many people scan business cards they’ve received (often with an app on their phone like Adobe’s free Scan). If the design is complicated or cluttered, scanned cards may not be legible.
3. Choose the information you put on your card wisely
Standard business cards are just 3.5 by 2 inches. That’s not a lot of space to work with, and you want to make your cards as easy to read as possible.
What information should there be? Must-haves include your business name, company logo, role or position, and the best way to contact you. Whether that’s via email, social media, chat, or the good old telephone, you should have a preferred method.
If you have extra space, you can add other ways to reach you, such as a headshot or some other info, but try to keep whatever you choose brief. For example, you can make a QR code and embed it on your card, encouraging the other person to look at your websitesite.
Don’t offer too many contact options, even if you’re a member of every social network.
4. When in doubt, stick with the standard business card format
You may be tempted to make cards with unusual sizes or shapes. Unless you can find a compelling reason to use something different, stick with the standards.
Most wallets are designed for regular card sizes, and ones with different dimensions or shapes can end up more frustrating than they’re worth (and end up in the circular file cabinet – aka the trash).
Think long and hard about what colors you choose for your card. Your brand’s primary colors may not translate to a card’s small size. Also, as we already mentioned, scanning cards is problematic if they’re not a light color. Make sure your card is optimized for readability.
5. Use the space on your business card properly
To go two-sided, or to not do two-sided? Careful planning of how you use your card’s limited space is necessary.
Your card is fundamental to your brand, so it should be clean and well-structured. Two-sided cards might work well for your brand, or it may be better to stick to one side only. In general, when in doubt, err on the side of simplicity.
6. Choose your business card paper carefully
Flimsy cards are like limp handshakes: they feel terrible in your hand and leave a poor first impression.
The quality of the paper you choose reflects on your business or products. If you’ve picked fragile paper or printed it on cheap cardstock, you may make people feel like they’re dealing with an unreliable or low-quality company.
The type of paper you choose is also important.
Glossy paper is usually hard to write on, and people often write notes or other information on the cards they give out or receive.
Mitchel Freidman recommends writing on cards as a way of remembering the person you just met:
When you meet a person at a business event, get their business card. Perhaps even write a note or two on the reverse side of the card to capture the key points of your conversation while they’re still fresh in your mind. The bottom line here is to have a physical record of contacts you make so you can follow up as appropriate in conjunction with your broader job search/career development efforts.
This type of in-the-moment note-taking becomes much harder if your card is printed on both sides on glossy paper. This may not be important to you, but it’s another thing to consider when choosing paper.
7. Think of other uses for your business card
Once you have your information planned out, it’s fun to try and think of interesting ways to make your card more useful to the recipient. Your card is a physical object, which can potentially have some interesting extra features.
A landscaping company could print their cards on small envelopes that contain seeds.
A bike repair shop might have a card that doubles as a multi-tool. A brewery’s card could include a bottle opener.
Some more strategic ideas include adding promo codes or other coupons to your cards.
Companies that book many appointments might hand clients business cards with the date and time written on the back. Or if it makes sense, create custom cards that include a free sample of your product.
Cards with added functionality may not work for all companies, and their added cost could make them a non-starter. However, the added delight and brand recall that specially designed cards can have may be worth the expense.
Many companies have tried to create “business card killer” apps, but the tenacity of these little low-tech bits of cardboard endures. The Economist credited this persistence to cards being a fundamental part of doing business that has grown even more important as our lives become more “connected”:
That business cards are thriving in a digital age is a forceful reminder that there is much about business that is timeless. Take, for instance, the eternal and inescapable question of whether you can trust someone. A good deal of business life will always be about building social bonds… And the more that machines take over the quantitative stuff the more human beings will have to focus on the touchy-feely.
Your card can be the first volley in a long and fruitful relationship. It serves as a stand-in for you and your business and can be a powerful initial contact point for your brand.
Invest a little time to make sure yours is attractive, accurate, and on-brand so that handing someone your card is the first step in creating the beginning of a beautiful friendship.