I came across a blog today called Buy Appeal Marketing which is authored by Karen Saunders, owner of MacGraphics Services a creative and graphic design business. Karen published a great two-part post that describes fourteen tips to make a better first impression with your business card. Here are the fourteen tips Karen recommends:
- Choose a strong cover stock (i.e., paper) to match your strong impression.
- Create a focal point.
- Make sure your logo is clear and strong.
- Remember, less is more.
- Use a highlight color sparingly.
- Make sure the colors you use fit with the type of business you have.
- Use no more than two typefaces on your business card (including bold, italics and underline).
- Simpler fonts work better than trendy, over-embellished fonts.
- Keep a tight rein on the amount of text you use.
- Avoid using all capital letters.
- Use a grid to ensure text and graphics are aligned correctly.
- Illustrations should be bold, not delicate in order to print correctly at the small size necessary to fit on a business card.
- Don’t look amateur by using clip art or unprofessional images.
- Don’t forget the back. That real estate is sitting there. Use it!
I think Karen put together a great list that can help anyone create a better business card. Remember, don’t clutter your business card with extraneous information, and keep it professional. Also, check out Karen’s posts here and here to read her complete suggestions.
Can you think of any other tips to build a better business card?
“Don’t forget the back. That real estate is sitting there. Use it!” – as a big fan of great looking business cards, I would agree, however, many a successful professional networker believes the opposite.
The challenge with a graphic on the back of the card is that there is no place to write anything. Good networkers will jot down information about the person they just met on the back of their card so if you are not providing a card with writing area… Also, if the person you are talking with doesn’t happen to have a card with them, you will need a blank spot on the back of yours where they can write down their information for you…
Something else to remember is if the card stock has a gloss finish, the only pen you can use is a ballpoint – everything else will wipe off.
Reply
Great tips, William! Thank you for sharing!
Reply
[...] at Brand Curve has a great article about business cards, Top 14 Tips to Build a Better Business Card. She summarized these tips found on Karen Saunders’ Buy Appeal [...]
Reply
Great article with tips for business cards. I’ve mentioned this on Home Biz Notes and linked to your post. Even though some people think business cards aren’t so important in the Internet age, my husband and I’ve not found any decreased use.
Reply
In direct opposition to my last comment, the one question I struggle with is whether or not you can combine business cards? Is it possible to have say your business on one side, and your personal branding on another? For example, for me, I have my content management business for which I would like to have a card, yet I also do consulting under my own personal branding – can this be combined or is it better to have a separate card for each?
Reply
Mary Emma, I completely agree. Business cards are still an important part of business. Networking will never lose its influence!
Reply
William, I prefer separate business cards for separate businesses. Of course, that’s just my opinion, but I think a more focused message on a business card is more effective than one cluttered with different messages that may confuse a customer.
Reply
I agree with William, use the back. This provides you with the opportunity of doubling the text and has proved highly effective in my marketing efforts.
Reply