In order for any business to make the best possible impression on clients and potential customers, business cards are essential. However, a badly designed business card can result in poor representation of a company. There are several fundamental factors which need to be included to ensure that the correct message is portrayed to the customer. Care needs to be taken when balancing practicality with attractiveness.
The essential information needed to be present on a business card is, of course, the name of the company and the name of the individual. Remember to include both names, address and contact details. It is crucial that you use contact details that are current and relevant. There is little point in handing a potential customer a card with an email address on it that you only check occasionally.
After all, by handing business cards out to people, you have to expect and, moreover want, those people to actively get in touch. The name is of particular importance as consumers always like to put a face to a company. It will also help if the name stands out from the other body of text and so it is advisable to include this on both sides of the card.
The logo of your company is another essential element, however cards with a logo and limited information is less likely to attract attention as those with both. Although a logo is desirable, care needs to be taken with this as many business cards can become cluttered and messy with too much design and too many graphics. This, although pretty, will make the card seem less professional.
Pick an image or colour that is consistent within the company. This can be said for the shape of the card too, but remember that cards need to be easily stored. For example, a folded business card may look appealing but it will become easily damaged and less likely to be read and acted upon.
The material that is used to make business cards is also a factor. Metal is extremely durable and will stand the test of time, however these will be considerable more expensive than those made from card. It is important to think about what your company is offering and whether or not metal will suit the image of your business. Also, it can be handy to make additional notes, such as personal comments, on a business card; this cannot be done with metal. This is the problem with plastic as well but, as stated before, the image of your company is what should be considered first.
Business cards are a great way to showcase design and artistry skills whilst pursuing practical duties and client relationships. By following these tips, you are less likely to fall victim to the thousands of people who receive business cards and throw them away simply because they don’t fit in a wallet or purse or are difficult to understand. You could design the most beautiful graphic but if the customer cannot easily find the contact details, it will be discarded.
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