A good business card should convey the overall image of yourbusiness, which isn’t always easy, considering the card measuresjust 2 inches by 3 inches. So how can you possibly get a messageacross in such a small amount of space?
Don’t expect your business card to be able tell your company’sentire story. What you should expect it to do is present aprofessional image people will remember. The color, wording andtexture of your business card have a lot to do with its appeal andits ability to convey your company image. Use common sense whenyou’re designing your card. If your business markets children’stoys and games, you might try using bright, primary colors andwords written in a child’s script. On the other hand, if you run afinancial consulting service, you want your business card to conveyprofessionalism and reliability, so stick to traditional looks suchas black printing on a gray, beige or white background.
Of course, professional designers claim entrepreneurs shouldn’tattempt to design a business card on their own, but manycash-strapped business owners have no other choice. Your bestcourse of action? Look at all the business cards you’ve receivedover the years, and emulate the cards you like. You have moreleeway if you’re in a creative business, such as party planning orretailing, but in general, keep the following tips in mind:
- Use your logo as the basis. Make it the largestelement on the card.
- Keep it simple. Don’t cram too much information onthe card.
- Do include the essentials–your name, title,company name, address, phone and fax numbers and e-mailaddress–and make sure your name and business name are immediatelyidentifiable.
- Make sure the typeface is easily readable.
- Stick to one or two colors.
- Make sure it’s easy to read.
Once you’ve got business cards, make the most of them:
- Always give people more than one card (so they cangive it to others).
- Include your card in all your correspondence.
- Carry cards with you at all times, in a card caseso they’re clean and neat.
