6 Tips for Designing a Promotion Worthy Business Card
You might not always know when an opportunity for networking or the chance to expand your client base will present itself. Incorporating personalized business cards into your professional and personal marketing efforts is a positive way to ensure opportunities will not be missed.
But before you can promote, you need a well-designed business card.
There are many options when considering what information should be included on your business card. The choices you select should clearly represent your brand or business, but there are many different techniques available.
Keep it Simple
Your business card should provide basic information to customers. Consider including your company name, your name, your professional title (if applicable), and what service your business provides. Make sure to provide a variety of contact information since people differ on their preferred method of communication. Some may use email while others appreciate a listed phone number.
Double-Sided
Consider if you want to use both sides of the card. If you have specific information that requires a strong emphasis, you might want to leave one side blank. Other uses for a blank side includes the ability to add notes for any specific information you might want to leave with the specific individual to whom you just handed your business card.
Careful Title Selection
The service you provide may be self-evident within the title of your business. If this is not the case, be sure to add a description that easily identifies the service or product you provide. Consider the brand it will be representing. If you don’t have a company logo, don’t feel like you need to add one if it isn’t applicable. Make sure to include your company logo if you have one since it is important your business card supports a brand recognition strategy.
If you are selling art, consider the design of the business card as an opportunity to invoke your artistic vision. This may also help your business card stand out from among the pack. For instance, you could change the shape of a traditional business card to create a more unique and personalized look.
For more information on title selection on business cards visit the article: Picking a Job Title on Business Cards here on FreelanceSwitch.
QR Codes
In the age of technology, the Internet has become an important tool and a marketing medium you should consider taking advantage of when creating a business card template. Including a URL link to your business website creates another way to provide a customer with more information about your service. Quick Response (QR) codes have recently created a simple and stylish way to add informational depth to your business card without sacrificing a simple format.
QR codes are two dimensional bar code-like designs. Once scanned by a smart phone through an easily downloadable QR code reader application, the QR code does the rest.
The customer is instantly connected to a website, virtual card, or just a plain text page, detailing information about your company further than the convenient yet physically limiting capabilities of a business card. QR codes were created in Japan and are an integral part of their marketing and advertising strategies. They haven’t become established in the U.S. as effectively since QR code readers do not come standard within phones. As U.S. society transitions further into the smart phone era, however, QR codes will become more of a reality within American culture. And if your target audience is mainly of the younger generation or business persons, the QR code is a must since these two targets have a tendency to own smart phones.
Formats
When looking at printing your business card, there are different types of formats to consider. Offset printing is by far the best quality for your buck, since you can usually get 250 business cards for around $20, depending on which online printing company you use. Digital printed cards are created by digital presses, and is cheaper if you only plan to print a handful of business cards. A thermographed business card raises the print from the card, making a physical impression. Foil stamping is a tool that can give a card a shiny and polished single tone look. One type of foil stamping is accomplished through utilizing silver or gold inks which imitates a metallic look. Ultraviolet lighting may be incorporated as well.
Many of these types of printing can be done independently of each other or through a collaboration of styles. You can decide to foil stamp a thermographed business card if it fits your needs. If you are considering incorporating multiple printing styles on your business card, keep in mind it will increase the cost and often requires multiple vendors to be involved.
Free business card templates, available from your online printing company, allow individuals a fairly easy way to design and print cards within a reasonable budget.
Graphics
Adding pictures is another option. Make sure if you add pictures, the type of printing style can support detailed images to ensure your business card is aesthetically pleasing and maintains a polished and professional appearance.
Look at the designs common in your industry. The real-estate industry is an example of a trade with an established business card style that includes a portrait of the agent. If your industry has certain standards for business card designs, you should strongly consider following those standards.
Start Promoting!
Once you have your cards in hand, make sure to always keep a few on you at all times. It’s frustrating and embarrassing when people actually ask for a card and you don’t have one available. And don’t forget to get fresh cards on occassion as cards can get bent and worn if kept on you for too long.
When appropriate, leave your cards on local announcement boards or at your table in a restaurant. You never know who might find themselves in your seat next. And always bring a handful to any event where you expect to meet a group of potential clients. Don’t run out when you need them the most.
References:
- How to Create Memorable Business Cards
- QR Codes: the Future of Marketing
- How QR Codes Can Grow Your Business
- 30 Creative QR code business cards
- Business Card Advice – Putting Your Best Card Forward!
How have you used business cards in a creative way to get business? Any tricks you’ve found to be especially useful?
Leave a Comment
And don’t forget to look for inspiration before you start designing:
http://www.cardfaves.com
Very informative post. I think one of the most important points would be keep it simple but I would also add that usage should be taken into consideration.
Many people jot down notes on business cards so they can remember details about the person that gave them the card. However, I’ve seen many glossy cards that are impossible to write on with anything but a marker. I’ve also seen cards where every bit of the card is covered by a vivid pattern making it difficult to read the printed information on the card and impossible to read notes.
Excellent point! Business cards can be a very effective marketing tool but only if designed with functionality in mind.
I have a QR code on the back of my business cards – they actually bring in a lot of traffic.
Like you said, leave them on your table in restaurants and everywhere else you go. The more people you hand them to, the better your chances of getting business. It only takes one good handoff to start a long business relationship (and pay for your cards many times over).
Exactly! Great job with the QR code.
I’ve recently re-designed my brand and am trying to settle on a business card design. As a web designer, I like to (of course) design my own custom business card and I want the card itself to be a positive representation of my work. With that in mind, I’ve gone back and forth about including a QR code. I’m not really sure I like how it impacts the design of the card. At the same time, I obviously want to take advantage of every potential entry point to my business. I guess if I could feel relatively sure that it would generate some traffic, I would include it. Then again, my thought is, “how hard is it to type in a url?” Thoughts?
By the way, I’m trying out moo.com for my printing and so far I’m impressed.
I believe that most businesses in today’s digital age really should include a QR code. Easy accessibility is one of the main elements that seems to continually separate the businesses that grow and those that fade away, and a QR code is the “new” way to be easily connected with.
That being said, some businesses may still not benefit as greatly from QR codes on business cards, for instance, those with a target market who spends very little time online. Keep in mind, though, that a QR code is still scannable at even 1x1in.
I recently handed out 25 business cards promoting my music website. I have never done this before and i was so nervous. I got positive responses from people so i was happy. They liked my design especially. I ordered my card from Vistaprint with whom i have ordered from in the past. I have made sure that my business cards design is tied into my website’s color scheme. I use my business cards logo as the background for my twitter page and profile too. The logo was courtesy of Vistaprint. They are so awesome. Now if i only had some more business cards. My motto is “Build it and they will come”. You just have to keep them coming back. I totally loved reading your article and the comments from the other readers. Very informative by all. Have a great evening.
I’m glad you found a printing company you like. I personally use PrintPlace.com, which I also write for. But I’ve used them for years now to print out my business cards and other company literature. In researching other companies, I chose them simply because they have more options at a better price than anywhere else I saw, not because I write for them.
But I’m happy you found success with your printing company!