4 Do's and Don'ts on Creating an Effective Business Card
Business cards play an essential role in expanding your business network. When meeting new people, you are typically expected to have a business card to promote future contact.
Not only does it cost less than most other methods of marketing and advertising, but it also builds your brand awareness. However, you must ensure that your business card is effective in design and function.
To develop effective business cards that helps you put your best foot forward, here are four do's & don'ts on creating an effective business card:
Do's
1. Provide The Right Information
You'd be stunned how many people hand you cards that are out of date. This can leave a bad impression on potential clients and partners.
Cards should contain the following:
2. Utilize the Back of the Business Card
When you print your business cards, optimize the space you have available. The back of the card is just as important as the front. Not only do you still need to be mindful of space and clutter, but you also have the opportunity to include more information on the back of your card.
If you'd like to include details about your company, such as your company slogan, a shortlist of services, or appointment reminders, print them on the back of your card.
3. Keep Your Brand Identity
Your brand serves as your identity in the marketing world, setting you aside from your competitors. Consistency is critical in branded products across various media, such as your website, marketing materials, and products in-store to identify your brand.
4. Hire a Professional Designer
First impressions are the most important, so hiring a graphic designer makes sense. A professional designer will know the latest design trends while at the same time preserving the integrity of your branding on the business card.
Don'ts
1. Don't Use Cheap Materials
Never print anything from a home or office computer since the risk of inconsistency and misprints is much greater than ordering from a professional print shop… and the quality will be 100 percent better.
2. Avoid Clip Art or Stock Images
You can easily download a variety of free images from the internet, but it’s highly likely that they’ll be recognizable as stock images.
Your business cards must be unique and represent the authenticity of your brand. For this reason, it’s best to use your official logos and branding visuals or hire a professional photographer to take key images for you.
3. Don't Skip on Proofreading
Proofread your contact information to make sure it is accurate. Look at the card and every element on the card again, then have someone else proofread it to be sure. You definitely don't want to invest in business cards, then find out they are inaccurate.
Besides checking your grammar, make sure the fonts are readable and look professional. Stay away from fancy and cursive font styles with lots of swirls or curls, or look like they're written in cursive. Instead, using bold and italic text styles can really make your card stand out.
4. Refrain Providing Too Much Information
Providing too much information on a business card can distract a reader from focusing on what they need to know about your business. Remember that white space can make your card look clean and organized, and it helps direct the viewer's eye to the correct information.
Conclusion
The purpose of business cards is to introduce yourself and promote your brand. Remember that you may have to produce business cards regularly, so you should make sure that they look their best.
If you need quality business cards in Chattanooga, Printree can print business cards, postcards, brochures, and other various types of printed materials. They can be made to your specifications and ready to go. Call us today to request a quote!
Not only does it cost less than most other methods of marketing and advertising, but it also builds your brand awareness. However, you must ensure that your business card is effective in design and function.
To develop effective business cards that helps you put your best foot forward, here are four do's & don'ts on creating an effective business card:
Do's
1. Provide The Right Information
You'd be stunned how many people hand you cards that are out of date. This can leave a bad impression on potential clients and partners.
Cards should contain the following:
- Logo
- Name
- Job title
- Phone number
- Email address
- Website
2. Utilize the Back of the Business Card
When you print your business cards, optimize the space you have available. The back of the card is just as important as the front. Not only do you still need to be mindful of space and clutter, but you also have the opportunity to include more information on the back of your card.
If you'd like to include details about your company, such as your company slogan, a shortlist of services, or appointment reminders, print them on the back of your card.
3. Keep Your Brand Identity
Your brand serves as your identity in the marketing world, setting you aside from your competitors. Consistency is critical in branded products across various media, such as your website, marketing materials, and products in-store to identify your brand.
4. Hire a Professional Designer
First impressions are the most important, so hiring a graphic designer makes sense. A professional designer will know the latest design trends while at the same time preserving the integrity of your branding on the business card.
Don'ts
1. Don't Use Cheap Materials
Never print anything from a home or office computer since the risk of inconsistency and misprints is much greater than ordering from a professional print shop… and the quality will be 100 percent better.
2. Avoid Clip Art or Stock Images
You can easily download a variety of free images from the internet, but it’s highly likely that they’ll be recognizable as stock images.
Your business cards must be unique and represent the authenticity of your brand. For this reason, it’s best to use your official logos and branding visuals or hire a professional photographer to take key images for you.
3. Don't Skip on Proofreading
Proofread your contact information to make sure it is accurate. Look at the card and every element on the card again, then have someone else proofread it to be sure. You definitely don't want to invest in business cards, then find out they are inaccurate.
Besides checking your grammar, make sure the fonts are readable and look professional. Stay away from fancy and cursive font styles with lots of swirls or curls, or look like they're written in cursive. Instead, using bold and italic text styles can really make your card stand out.
4. Refrain Providing Too Much Information
Providing too much information on a business card can distract a reader from focusing on what they need to know about your business. Remember that white space can make your card look clean and organized, and it helps direct the viewer's eye to the correct information.
Conclusion
The purpose of business cards is to introduce yourself and promote your brand. Remember that you may have to produce business cards regularly, so you should make sure that they look their best.
If you need quality business cards in Chattanooga, Printree can print business cards, postcards, brochures, and other various types of printed materials. They can be made to your specifications and ready to go. Call us today to request a quote!