Tips to Designing Business Cards
Business cards are simple cards printed with business details about an individual or a company. They are usually shared during official introductions as both a personal memory aid and a convenience. However, the very purpose of a card is to gain customers or clients’ attention and potentials of a particular business by sharing details of its profile. And for that it should be brief, sweet, to the point, attractive, easy on the wallet and most importantly, useful!
As you can see, the very nature of business cards is highly professional in its approach. One should be careful not to use too many colors on the same line – choose one predominant color and do not mix in any others. In fact, most experts advise against using more than three colors on one line. Such overwhelming colors can distract the reader’s concentration and this may result into an adverse reaction.
For business cards that display a certain brand, it is important to use premium quality cards. Glossy and bright colors are preferred as they create brand visibility, making it easy for the readers to spot your brand or logo. Glossy and premium business card stock usually comes in full color designs and patterns, with minimal artwork or graphics on it.
The shape of business cards varies according to what they’re meant for – from the shape of traditional credit cards to the latest shape of loyalty cards. Shapes such as the square, triangle and circle have become the most popular ones. Card manufacturers also make cards in shapes such as heart-shaped, animal-shaped, envelope-shaped, etc. Premium business card shape also depends on the brand value – shapes which have a visual appeal and strong corporate recall are preferred.
As far as the design and shape are concerned, make sure that the one you choose is unique and doesn’t look like any other business cards that you have seen before. Try to go through the portfolio of the designer and look at some examples of their previous work. See if there’s a particular style or look that strikes your fancy. Designing your own business cards ensures that you put in all your effort and creativity to ensure that they stand out.
Last but not least, make sure that your contact information is presented in a manner that your target audience can easily understand. Use short, simple and effective jargon and Punctuation in your contact information (otherwise known as the ‘branding’ of your business cards). You should also keep your contact information layout consistent – don’t change fonts, colors or layouts just because someone else did it. Always remember that a well-designed business cards will always give a lasting impression.
