While many aspects of business have gone digital, business cards remain critical pieces of print marketing material. There is nothing wrong with a classic business card that simply has an email address and phone number, but many business owners and networking professionals look for ways to stand out. Here are some of the basic dos and don’ts of business card design.
Don’t Be Afraid of White Space
Because business cards are such small pieces of paper, it’s tempting to fill every inch of them with the information that you want to share. However, white space is critical to great business card design. Empty areas make it easy for people to see what information is most important. Additionally, white space allows for clearer reading so that your phone number and email don’t get lost.
Do Pay Attention to Typography
Many business cards have no pictures at all and are solely typography. When you are designing your business card, think about how you can use a hierarchy of fonts to naturally guide the reader through the card and all the information on it. There are many ways to do this in your business card design, including using different font sizes, colors, or weights. In general, avoid using more than two or three different fonts and always choose complementary ones.
Don’t Ignore Bleed Lines
When you are making your business card design, you must pay attention to the bleed lines, trim lines, or safety lines. Anything in your design that lies outside of these lines will be trimmed or cut during the process of printing and finishing your business cards. These lines are not a suggestion; they are a rule.
Do Proofread
Once your business card has been printed, you are probably going to be stuck with 500 or more of them. That means that mistakes have a much bigger impact and can lead to a lot of wasted money and paper. Always pace yourself when proofreading and consider asking a colleague to have a look at your business card before you approve the final proof to confirm that there are no errors.
Don’t Forget Multiple Contact Options
Minimalist design is having a moment in many industries, but there are some things that every business card must include. At the absolute minimum, every business card that you hand out should include your name, your phone number, and your email address. To add a little more info, consider including your company name, physical address, and website. Adding multiple contact options makes it easy for someone to still find you in the event that your voicemail inbox is full or they make a typo in your email address.
Do Work With a Professional
It can be tempting to create your own business card design, but it’s often better to work with a professional. They understand how to make a design that is eye-catching and compelling but that still includes everything that a business card needs to have. Additionally, they are pros at integrating other things into a business card, like pictures, logos, QR codes, and more.
Get the Business Card Design You Need from My Content Co
At My Content Co, we offer print marketing and digital marketing solutions to businesses just like yours. For a great business card design that you’re excited to hand out at networking events, you can trust us. Start the process today by visiting us online or calling us at (410) 324-3934.