7 Cringeworthy Business Card Mistakes
In this day and age it’s not uncommon to hear bold statements such as “The business card is dead, it’s all about wireless vCard” or “I’ll email my contact details over after the conference”.
The truth is business cards are as prominent as ever, especially with the ever advancing methods that printing allows, such as: unusual shapes, textures, thicknesses, and sizes.
Business cards provide a platform to express your workmanship and creativity, allowing you to nudge aside the tech obsessed that are trying to bump their phones together to exchange details. You can attract the attention of potential clients or partners with a compact and handy card. What do you think is going to make more of an impact, an electronic vCard you forget about the moment you receive it, or a sturdy and beautifully designed business card?
We have compiled a list of common mistakes people make when designing their business cards, which will help you to create a compelling business card design.
1. Low Quality Images and Graphics
Nothing ruins a business card design more than blurry or pixelated images. You wouldn’t put one on your website, so why make an exception for your business card. Remember that just because something looks good on your screen, doesn’t mean it will print fine.
A good guide if you are using photographs is to make sure that they are at least 300dpi. Also, if you are using a logo ensure that it is vector based. Vector files will easily scale up (or down) without any loss of quality.
2. Cheap Quality Card
Think about what your card “says” as you hand it over. Is it strong, sturdy and solid or is it weak and flimsy like a limp handshake? Nearly all online printers offer free sample packs these days, so request one and try them out!
3. Poor Grammar
Be sure to check the spelling and grammar of your business card numerous times. Triple-check to make sure that all your contact information is correct. You will be kicking yourself after receiving a batch of 500 business cards and realizing you missed a full stop on your email address, or a digit in your phone number.
4. Unusual Shapes/Sizes
Be careful when choosing unusual shapes and sizes. If done correctly they can turn out great – ensuring your card (and you) get remembered. But, if your business card doesn’t fit in a client’s pocket, wallet or purse, the only place it’s getting stored is in the bin (or maybe even a dumpster!).
5. Don’t use plain white designs (people write on them)
Be cautious when designing a mostly white or plain business card, and don’t be too offended if it is used as a piece of scrap paper for scribbling notes or other people’s phone numbers. If you want your card to be all about you, make sure it’s a quality piece of engineering, and not another sticky note.
6. Don’t Clutter Your Card
Be sure to only include important information on your card. Your client should be able to find your email or phone number at a quick glance – you don’t want to hide your details so they can’t call.
7. Be Careful Using Your Own Picture!
Lastly, be careful using your own picture on your business card. It can be cheesy and dated, but it can also be rather brilliant. One easy way to determine if adding a photo is a good idea is by taking a look at your card and asking yourself “what do I think about this person?” or “would I keep this?”.
Do you have any strong dislikes when it comes to business cards? Ever make an embarrassing mistake while getting a set printed? Get involved by posting in the comments.
Leave a Comment
Interesting thought about having white space on your card. I had always thought that white space was a good thing, so that the recipients could note when or where they met you, or anything that was relevant in the conversation that they should follow up on. Perhaps it depends on the person receiving the business card.
Maybe it’s a translation error by my side… but nothing stands against using dark “white” space, because no one would e.g. use the dark blue big business card as scrap paper as one could only hardly read on that.
For those of us who are keen business networkers a white card, or space is useful because we can make relevant notes about those we meet.
What is much worse is a shiny or laminated card, because you can’t write on it.
Wow, I think I really did cringe. Is the tennis one for real?
I also think it’s important to put what you DO on your card. I have come across many that don’t have that info, and when they are left for someone else to find, it can be a missed opportunity. It also helps people remember when they find your card again, “Oh yeah, I needed that ____.”
Looks like the tennis one was an attempt at showing a cheesy slogan. Good attempt.
http://blog.franklyrealty.com/2007/01/cheesiest-realtor-slogan-contest.html
“Be Careful Using Your Own Picture”…I think people should eliminate their photo from their business cards entirely, I think it is a bit much.
Depends on how good looking you are though…
In an industry where the person is the brand then a picture is good. Then they remember what you look like, or know what you look like. I’m thinking real estate, financial planning, etc… It makes sense for a piano teacher, or a substitute. Just choose the right picture and make sure it is the “current you.”
This is going to sound like spam, but I would highly recommend Moo.com. I’ve had a wonderful experience with them. Their printing is fantastic, the paper they use is some of the highest quality I’ve seen. They have a lot of other cool ideas to (stickers, etc).
Great company.
I agree, I used Moo Luxe Cards as well. The quality of the card is nice, the thickness is awesome and the side color is really what got me.
http://sametomorrow.com/blog/index.php/post/moo_luxe_business_cards
Anybody know of online printer that does custom die cuts? Been looking for one for ages.
I’m also one of those people who appreciates a bit of space for taking notes on a card. When I’m meeting a ton of people at an event, being able to jot down a small note or symbol on the card is super helpful.
And besides, after you hand over your card, why do you care if they write on it?
Real-state is a bad one for business cards. They tend to not care for design and jam pack it with phone numbers etc… I am in the process of making a new set of cards for my re-branding. I am thinking just the phone number and website and email. No more location address and such. My clients can always get that information once they deal with me and I will be glad to provide that on my invoice and such.
Funnily enough that guy’s pic on the business card would have worked if it was a creative director and not a real estate guy.
It would have been seen as irony.
Very embarrassing that he tried to make the whole card a pun.
Yeah that photo cracked me up. To the point of cheap material I have to agree on that. I don’t hand out a ton of cards so would rather them be nicer. My most recent ones are laser engraved, kinda expensive but really cool.
http://www.digitalskratch.com/laser-engraved-business-cards.php
I agree 100% with Nigel. White cards or space is very useful, especially for avid networkers. And, shiny or laminated cards are almost impossible to write on . . .and your ink smears.
Anna is also correct, “. . . after you hand over your card, why do you care if they write on it?”
Uh-oh. I got a chuckle at an “oops” early in your “7 Cringe-worthy Business Card Mistakes” article. My grandson often says: “You’re cheeky, Nana” … and he’s right, I am. Being “cheeky”, I just can’t pass up sharing the chuckle, since Item #3 (Poor Grammar) states:
“Be sure to check the spelling and grammar of your business card numerous times. Triple-check to make sure that all your contact information is correct. You will be kicking yourself after receiving a batch of 500 business cards and realizing you missed a full stop on your email address, or a digit in your phone number.”
It’s not a batch of 500 business cards, but early in your article there is a single word that must have slipped by the proofreader(s), despite their careful checking. And it aptly demonstrates how easily something can be missed.
I (teasingly) challenge you to spot it! Answer is below – but NO PEEKING! See how many times you may need to read the first paragraph before actually seeing the “oops”.
4th word, 1st sentence: “In this day an age” should read “In this day and age”
Awesome post! And I agree with all of ‘em. The worst by far is odd sized business cards. If someone tries to be clever or creative by giving me a card that’s 5 times larger than standard cards (or even 1/2 inch bigger), unless I REALLY REALLY want to work with them, 99% of the time I trash it. If a card doesn’t easily fit with my stack of cards, it’s annoying and useless.
I have seen a lot more people put photos on their cards, but generally it’s a simple professional headshot. And I think that’s a great idea. I meet hundreds of people at conferences and get their cards. I’ll remember their face if I see it on a card, and it’ll trigger my memory about what we talked about at the conference.
I made it a point to leave the back of my card blank so people could jot down notes. People tend to find it useful.
The problem with photos on business cards is that people tend to put them on the same side as their contact info so it makes the card look crowded. Real estate folks get it wrong most of the time but I’ve seen a lot of photographers get it right.
I think including all of these on one card could be great for a Graphic Designer.
Great post! For me, getting the right paper quality is a definite must!
I always use the back for my social media profiles as I find a lot of people like to reach out that way
I agree, it’s important to make sure a good grade of paper is used. Nowadays, many people opt for plastic, fabric, or metal cards – which would no doubt be more expensive, but less likely to be ripped or thrown away.
It drives me nuts when I have a business card … that doesn’t tell me anything about what that business is or does! I do like the idea of putting social media profiles on the back, but please, please include a summary of what you do on your card!
As far as recommendations, I’ve been pretty happy with the quality of cards from Vista Print.
creating some business cards and want to add my facebook page but it is extremly long.
would i be able to put
http://www.facebook.com/cherriedoutdesigns
and would people find my page?
Alicia,
Why not just use the facebook ‘f’ logo, followed by /cherriedoutdesigns
The opinions about your photo on a bus card range from never do it to always do it regardless of the business. Not just this posting – there are many. The last organization I worked for was government funded extension program at a university. We provided engineering services. We had our photos on full color cards. Many commented how the photo helps put a person to the name and that they were different and attractive.