Business cards have become a staple piece for countless positions, yet they also seem to rank as some of the most disposable pieces of information out there. Business card printing occurs 27,397,260 times per day. That’s right, over 27 million printed every 24 hours. Furthermore, around 88% of them will be thrown away in less than a week from when they were distributed. In the midst of all these cards being so effortlessly disposed, it’s hard to stand out in the crowd as a business, let alone an individual. So what options do you have to create a memorable business card? Here at House of Printing, we want to give some helpful tips to not only create a unique business card, but also have it catch the attention of the public to help grow your business. Let’s take a look at a few key components that are necessary when designing a business card.
Business Card Printing: Making Yours Count
Give Yourself A Rough Draft
Most business cards look painstakingly similar. Sometimes this is due to a popular template that is lower in cost and tends to be overused, and other times it’s due to the sheer simplicity that attracts certain business individuals. Before you decide what and where you want to place everything on your personal business card, take a few things into consideration before ordering any business card printing.
Allow yourself some creative nature. The name of the game is to stand out against the mundane nature of all those small rectangles that seem to accumulate in the wallet or purse of potential customers and clients. Being able to design your own business card, you have the opportunity to create a unique design to stand out. Give yourself a few different ideas, or reference previously used graphics. Once you have decided on a concept of sorts, set everything aside and pour over a few details of the content for the business card.
It can be easy to get caught up in color schemes and graphics; they’re usually the exciting part. While these facets are important, the most important business card design tip you will need to first decide the overall message of the card. This can include contact information, name and title, company name and logo, phone, email and URL, social media, address, QR code, and a map. Knowing how and what to put on your card can be tricky, as people make personal connections in different ways. Some potential customers/clients may prefer to connect through social media; others prefer an address and phone number. To know how to best approach each one, let’s look at them individually.
Name & Title
If you have ever contemplated whether to put your name on a business card or not, let us save you the trouble, do it. While it may look cool, or you simply prefer not having your name out there for whatever reason, it becomes the exact opposite of a memorable business card and instantaneously useless to recipients. If you’re looking for a clean, simple look, keep it to your first and last name with a brief job title. The likelihood of the recipient to respond to the business card is far more favored.
Now if you are not accustomed to your job title and would like to spice it up a bit, let your creative nature in again. This does not include descriptions such as, “aspiring unicorn”, or “professional sleeper”. While it may be tempting to go similar routes such as these, we recommend keeping it simple. For example, “Hair Artist” versus “Cosmetologist” or “Stylist” will work.
Social Media
Choosing a social media platform that will best represent your brand is the first choice you will need to make. Consider the nature of your business, and choose a platform accordingly. For example, if you are an interior decorator, Instagram would be a better fit for you than Twitter.
In the case that you have multiple social media platforms that are applicable to your business, displaying the primary ones that are relevant on your business card can be extremely effective in connecting with recipients. Keep in mind to not clutter your card with multiple platform resources. There are studies that show when people are given multiple options it will create anxiety when they have to choose, and can cause confusion.
Logo & Company Name
Putting your brand name on your business card is the best verification a recipient. When you design your business card, draw specific attention to your brand name and design. Creating a trustworthy brand name and design is crucial for establishing your business.
Website & Email
Using your email and web address is beneficial for the recipient, if they are looking to contact you directly or, if they are simply interested in perusing your site themselves. As a general rule of thumb, never reference any personal information. However, you may want to include some key links on the card that will direct the recipient to a blog, video, or specific page that explains more about your business. If you run into the issue of having a long URL, you are able to customize your business card printing.
Phone
Almost as popular as social media, phone calls are still extremely common. Much like the website and email as mentioned above, using a generic phone number, or one that is specific to your office, is the safest bet. Due to the personal nature of phone conversations, you may find that your clientele prefers a voice to connect to. Try to streamline all potential callers by only using one phone number, versus three or four.
Address & Map
In the case that you or your client only work online, you will not need an address to occupy space on your card. Instead, consider putting in another potential point of connection. However, if your clientele will need a reference address, rather than adding a jumbled conglomeration of numbers to an already filled card, consider taking it to the next level. Use the backside of the business card as a reference map. Requiring little to no research, a simple reference map will work. If you end up using a resource such as Google Maps, make sure to cover your bases and use a copyright symbol. If you wish to make a map more intricate, it is possible to make one from scratch.
These few points cover the first facets of a business card that you will need to decide on. Knowing how to create business cards successfully means finding definitive answers to each one so you are able to go into the overall execution with a designated goal in mind. This will help you from being overwhelmed in your own decision-making process. Make sure to check back with us to learn more about choosing different material options, shapes, stamping and more to make your card stand out against the others. For all your printing needs, House of Printing is here to help! With overnight printing available, you’re sure to have everything you need and more. Contact us today to learn more business card design tips or place an order.