Business Card Advice
Make Your Business Card Stand Out
Written by Brenda Stokes for Gaebler Ventures
When you own a business, you need a business card to hand out. But how do you make a business card that will stand out and not find itself in someone's garbage can? How do you make a card that will inspire the recipient to keep it?
Your business card is an advertisement.
In a limited amount of space it tells your potential customers what you're all about and how to get a hold of you if they need anything. The business card can be the difference between making and not making a sale.
The concept
To create a business card, you have to have a concept. The best way to do this is to come up with three concepts. You can then choose the best one or you can combine the best elements of all three to create the final result.
Ensure that each business card concept and your final business card design consist of your business colors. Customers associate the business colors with the business name. You can probably think of at least three businesses right now and the colors that they use in addition to their business names and logos.
The keys to a successful business card
When you design a business card, there are key elements that must be present. Those elements are:
1. Your name - Customers have to know your name.
2. Email - Many customers prefer to contact via email before calling on the telephone.
3. Phone numbers - It is up to you whether your home number is on your business card design. Remember that space is of the essence. Make sure you have your business number, fax number, and/or your mobile phone number.
4. Website - The first stop for many customers is the website so they can see what you're all about before actually contacting you.
5. Slogan or tag line - If your slogan or tag line is 7 words or less, include it. Tag lines are memorable for customers.
6. Utilize the back of the card - Place a calendar or a conversion table on the back of the card. If you enable individuals to utilize the card as a reference tool, they will be less likely to throw it away.
7. If you have the room, place a professional head shot on the card.
It doesn't have to be hard to design a business card. As long as you include all of the pertinent business card information and add something unique to the card, you should have no problem making it stand out.
What not to put on a business card
Just as there are elements necessary to put on a business card, there are those elements that are not necessary. Those include placing all caps on the card because they are hard to read, fancy typeface that can be difficult to read, handwritten information, and light colors. You want the card to be readable from top to bottom.
So when you want an effective business card, take your time, test several concepts, ensure all of the necessary information is present, make it a useful tool, and make sure that it is easy to read. When you have all of these elements, you have more than an effective business card, but a powerful marketing tool.
Brenda is a graduate of California State University and a professional writer covering a variety of business topics. To learn more about Brenda, check out her website at The Digital Inkwell.
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