You may be mistaken into thinking that business cards have no purpose now in the age of technology but they are still a great marketing and networking tool. Business cards often lead to the first point of contact from a potential customer so you need to make the right impression, whether you are representing a business or working freelance. At Mauve we have five tips to perfect your design.
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Answer Questions
This is an obvious place to start but all business cards must answer questions. Place yourselves in the position of a customer and think about what information you would want and need in order to make contact. Answer the who, what, where and why so that there is no doubt about what you are representing or offering. Try not to make the card look cluttered but include all of the essential information. It’s also a great idea to add Twitter handles or Linkedin profile URLs now. Physical address is no longer a must and can save space if you leave it off.
Consider The Fonts
Above all a business card must be legible otherwise potential customers are won’t get in touch. Make things easy for them by using a clear font in an appropriate size. Although smaller text may look alright on a screen, it could become just a smudge when printed. Usually designers would advise that you don’t go smaller than 8pt. The font itself should be professional and simple. You could mix things up a bit by using a more calligraphic font for your name or business name, but contact details must be readable.
Play Carefully With Colour
Bright colours can really make a business card stand out but they also run the risk of making it look garish. The best thing to do is to experiment with colours and see what combinations work best. Play carefully and don’t underestimate the power of simplicity. Sometimes the best business cards just use a plain black and white design, and often look far more stylish. Think about you personal branding and the company you are representing (if any) when using colour too.
Mix Things Up With Visual Content
Pictures are always a more effective way of grabbing a person’s attention compared to words so consider how you might be able to use visual content on your business card. The back of a business card is often forgotten but this is the ideal place to fit in visual content and make you card more dimensional. It could be used to add your company logo, a product image or something else related to your business. People do and will check the back of a business card so make sure they’re not disappointed!
Choose The Right Thickness
Another thing that is often swept aside is the paper thickness. Obviously thicker cards are more expensive but because of this they can seem more professional. Paper thinner than 300gsm looks and feels a bit too thin and may give the wrong impression to potential customers. Don’t let your business card look tacky or cheap! Spending a bit extra will work wonders.
Find more tips on our our blog where we have a variety of articles to help you market your business. For all print management queries and projects, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Mauve. From design, to print management and web2print; we’ve got you covered!
Visit the Mauve Print Management website for more information on 5 Tips For Creating A Stunning Business Card Design