How to Design an Eye-Catching Business Card
Have you ever been to a trade show and handed out a countless number of business cards only to find that many of them ended up in the trash or were left scattered around on the floor? That’s a pretty common occurrence because the lifespan of a card is actually pretty low. In fact, 90% of cards are thrown away in less than a week after being handed out.
If you want your card to last longer or to give you return on investment (ROI), you have to step up your game. Consider these eye-catching business card design tips for optimal results.
Include Only Necessary Information
No card can be complete or even useful without having the necessary information on it. However, you have to be careful and make sure that it doesn’t have too many or too few details. This is what your business card needs to include:
- Your name and title
- The business name and logo
- At least one way to contact you (i.e., phone number, social media, or email address)
- A website URL
Keep it simple! Don’t go into information overload. It should only take a few seconds for the receiver to process what’s on it.
Consider Your Audience and Their Tastes
Your card should be designed to attract those who it’s intended for. You have to understand who they are and what they like—think in terms of stereotypes. For example, a lavender-colored card with feminine, cursive writing isn’t going to fare well with the typical rough and tough truck driver-type of person. Yet, it would be a good fit for brides-to-be who are planning their weddings.
Before brainstorming your card’s design take a few minutes to jot down some notes. Think about the people you serve. What are their interests? When you think of them what design styles come to mind first? You may even want to think about the type of clothing that they wear—are they high-end and fancy, hipster and trendy, or plain and simple? If you can answer those questions, then you are at a good starting point and are ready for the actual design brainstorming process to begin.
Utilize Appealing Design Features
We know how important a good business card is. In fact, Matt Varanakis, the general manager of Presto Print, was interviewed as part of an article in Utah Business. He says, "Having a nice business card shows you have credibility and there is substance to your company." You can read the full article on Utah Business.
Business cards are often seen as an old-school, traditional marketing tool. With the right design, however, yours can be modern, attractive, and influential. Your card should be simple, easy to read, and clear-cut. It should be a conversation starter! To help it stand out you could have it designed with special finishing features like foil accents and die cuts.
Another attention-grabbing way to design a card is to have it made with an unusual material. Creative Bloq highlights two companies that do this in interesting ways:
- The cheese company Bon Vivant had their business card printed on metal and double as a mini grater.
- Sergio Freitas, a dog coach, had his name, title, and phone number printed on edible dog treats.
You don’t have to go the extravagant route like they did but the point is to be unique. With this idea in mind, we’ve designed beautiful frosted and transparent plastic business cards for our clients.
Your card should look different from all of the other companies’. After all, you don’t want it to end up being stuffed in a potential client’s wallet with the rest of their business card collection never to be looked at again.
Be Willing to Experiment
Keep track of those who seek out your services because they got a business card. This can be done with the help of surveys and custom tracking phone numbers that only go on your business cards. If you’re not seeing an increase in business, launch a new card design. Be willing to play around, adapt to trends, and make alterations in order to create a card that gets you the best results.
As the saying goes, ”If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Pay attention to what works and switch out what doesn’t. If you’ve used cards that you don’t think gave you much ROI in the past, consider how the design (or lack thereof) may have influenced that. Talk to a graphic designer so they can help you understand what improvements can be made to create a better, successful card that will help you reach your intended audience and have them seeking out your business.
Trust Presto Print to Design the Right Business Card for You!
At Presto Print we know how important it is to have a top-notch business card that you can hand out to potential and current clients. Call us today and our trustworthy graphic designers and staff will work hard to create the best card for your business pursuits.
Are business cards dead? Depends on who you ask. For some, it’s an outdated method of networking, while others find it essential to making a good impression on prospective connections.
Plus, you never know when you’ll come across a potential customer, so having one on hand never hurts.
Your business card is a marketing tool. And just like with any marketing collateral, it requires careful consideration and deliberate design. To maximize their value, it’s essential to create a business card that’s memorable and stands out from the crowd.
13 Tips for Designing a Business Card
1. Choose the right size
A business card should be large enough to see its contents but small enough to fit into your pocket or wallet. The standard size is 3.5” x 2”, but you could opt for something a little larger to fit more information, or something smaller that includes links to online portfolios or profiles.
2. Use your brand’s color scheme
Some prefer all-white business cards, while others lean toward eye-catching colors. However, don’t overlook using your brand’s color scheme, which can help spread brand awareness to potential clients.
When you make significant brand changes, make sure to update your business card.
If you’re not set on a color scheme, then learn about the psychology of colors to see which represents your brand’s image.
3. Include your business’s logo
Including your company’s logo is another way to create brand awareness. The more times a customer sees your logo, business name, and other company references, the more likely they are to remember it.
Consider adding it in one corner of the card or in the center, depending on the logo’s shape and size. The goal is to make it visible without taking up too much space for important information (e.g., business name, number, services).
4. Include all of your contact details
Aside from your name and number, include other forms of contact, such as your email address, website URL, and social media handles.
If you’re a local business, add your company address in case prospects prefer to stop by.
5. Select quality materials
Cheap paper or flimsy cardstock can make your card look unprofessional — so choose a thicker cardstock that gives a premium feel. You can also opt for different ink options, such as metallic, acrylic, or raised ink, for something more unique.
Wieger Waardenburg, managing partner at digital marketing agency Fris Online, chose a quality material and spot varnish on the ink to give his card a glossy look while keeping the background matte.
Image: Courtesy of Fris Online
The vertical orientation also makes it stand out since horizontal layouts are more common.
6. Don’t forget a call to action
A business card should urge people to reach out to you, so include a call to action to ensure prospects take the next step.
For example, your CTA could be, “Call us today” or “Visit our website for more details,” or “Request a free demo.”
7. Keep it simple
People receive business cards throughout the year from all kinds of businesses and professionals. While it’s tempting to use eye-popping colors and designs to make your card stand out, this isn’t always necessary or helpful.
If your business is unique or offers a quality service, odds are the person will keep your business card around. Instead of worrying about an exotic color scheme, opt for something simple that includes all the essential information needed to buy your product or service (e.g., name, logo, number).
8. Use quality printing
There are two options for printing business cards: doing it yourself or using a design service. If you go the DIY route, you’ll need a quality printer and ink to ensure it looks professional. Look for the latest printers from popular brands like Epson and HP.
Otherwise, use a design company, which can provide you with multiple designs, cardstock, and ink to choose from.
9. Proofread before you print
Before printing your business cards, proofread to ensure there are no typos or mistakes. Double-check that the contact information is accurate and up-to-date, and that the logo, taglines, and colors convey your brand accurately.
10. Add a QR code
Adding a vCard QR code to your business card makes it easier for people to contact you. Have it link to your number or a landing page on your website; some use it for coupon codes to encourage prospects to become customers.
Your call to action could say something like, “Scan the QR code for a discount!”
11. Choose a legible font
A >business card design is about more than logos and colors. The typeface you choose can also be the difference between getting a call and having the card tossed in the trash.
Selecting a font that’s difficult to read will guarantee the latter. So opt for something readable like Arial or Helvetica. If your brand’s typeface is similar and legible, then go with that.
12. Place your headshot on the card
Adding a headshot to your business card adds a personal touch and makes it memorable. It can even help prospects recognize you in person or on social media platforms.
If you decide to include your photo, don’t be afraid to show your personality. Here’s an example of how freelance SEO consultant Steph Andrusjak included herself on a business card:
Image: Courtesy of Steph Andrusjak
“I wanted to have a bit of fun with the layout of the contact details,” Andrusjak says. “As my theme is ‘80s/‘90s inspired and quite colorful, I decided to make the reverse of the card look as though my contact details were scribbled on Post-it notes."
13. Choose eco-friendly materials
Have a mission to save the world? Then back it up with everything your business does, including your business card. Select eco-friendly materials, such as bamboo and vegetable-based ink.
Showcasing your company’s commitment to sustainability can help attract similarly minded customers.
How To Make a Business Card Stand Out
You don’t want your card to be lost among stacks of white cards. Here are a few tips to make your business card more noticeable.
- Include testimonials: Adding a line from a customer review or testimonials offers proof that you’re a professional worth calling. Consider placing it at the top or bottom of the card.
- Give it some texture: Matte or glossy finishes aren’t your only options. You could try textured designs, such as raised ink, to make words and shapes pop out (literally).
- Use a unique shape or size: Instead of sticking to the standard shape and size (3.5” x 2”), try changing the shape to a circle, star, or square.
Another option is to use laser-cut letters and designs. Yoel Israel, CEO of marketing agency WadiDigital, went with a wooden material, over typical metal, with laser-cut letters.
Image: Courtesy of WadiDigital
How To Design a Business Card for Free
Don’t want to dish out hundreds of dollars for a design agency to create your card? Do it yourself using free software that offers business card templates.
Here are a few options:
- Canva offers a free plan you can use to create professional-looking business cards. It offers a variety of templates and customization tools, as well as the ability to upload images and logos.
- Visme is an online graphic design tool that allows members to create business cards using dozens of templates. You can also design from scratch, then download it in JPG format.
- Adobe Express comes with templates, design assets, and royalty-free photos you can use to create business cards. You can download your design as a PDF, PNG, or JPG.
- Jukebox is an online business card maker with various templates and customization options. You can print directly from the site (no sign-up needed), or save your design as a PDF or JPG file for later use.
- Business Card Maker is an easy-to-use online tool for creating professional-looking cards and offers pre-made color schemes. You can download the final version as a PDF or JPG.
- VistaCreate is a free graphic design tool that allows you to create custom cards with its drag-and-drop editor and library of templates and graphics. You can upload images and logos, and print directly from the site or save your design as a PDF file.
- Shopify’s business card maker simplifies card design with its fill-in form that collects key details about your company, and allows logo uploads, to generate a business card you can download and print out.
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