Tips on designing a great Business Card

Business Cards are one of the most used marketing items in business and that is evidenced by the 22,200 Google searches every month, in Melbourne alone. So it seems obvious that almost everybody in business uses Business Cards.

The problem is … how do you make your cards stand out?

It’s fair to say that you really only need to stand out from your competitors, however, there are significant benefits for having a truly remarkable card – after all, you don’t know who other people know or who they may pass your card on to.

Great business cards leave great first impressions & first impressions are everything. So how do you create a great business card?

Here are my top 5 must-haves…

1. Easy to read information

Obviously, you want people to be able to read the information on your card so a balance is required between layout, style and text size.

2. Choose your colours carefully

Colour can mean different things to different people/cultures so make sure the colours you choose are relevant to your target audience.

3. Showcase your logo

Business Cards are one of the only marketing items that are ‘all about YOU’ so make sure that you show it off. Having a great logo is a subject for another article.

4. Quality (design, paper, printing and finishing)

This may seem obvious, but even a fantastic design can look ‘cheap’ if the quality is sub-standard, leaving the impression that your service or product may also be ‘cheap’ or sub-standard.

5. Brand Consistency

Whilst you should show off your logo, make absolutely sure that your cards are consistent with your overall brand. When somebody receives your card (whether it’s their first exposure to your brand or not)

if it’s not consistent with your brand, you are likely to confuse them and your brand will not gain the recognition you want and need.

In this takeaway/drive through world it’s very tempting to grab the ‘easy to do-it-yourself’ design and ‘buy online’ cards, but remember you will only ever get what you pay for.

Unless you have training or a background in Graphic Design all you are doing by choosing the DIY option is removing the skill and experience that a Graphic Designer provides. Think about that in relation to your own products & services! A suitably qualified and experienced Graphic Designer typically also has a good understanding of marketing, which is vital to have if you want a good outcome.

In my opinion Marketing is everything that has anything to do with your business – every interaction, connection, advertisement, conversation, etc. and it will all have an impact on your customers (and prospects). Everybody will form opinions about you and your business based on what they see, hear, touch and sometimes smell and taste. And that is often before they ever make contact with you. So naturally its important to make sure all those interactions are as positive and favourable as possible.

Business Cards are part of your overall marketing so when you offer someone your Business Card, you want it to be something special. Something that will give the right impression and be remembered, particularly if you’re at a networking event or a business meeting. Of course, you need to make the connection between your business and what it is that you offer, so that when the people you’ve met see your brand or advertising at some point in the future, they will immediately remember/make the connection with you.

Often before you can create a great business card, you first need to have a great logo. And your logo is usually the centrepiece of your brand and having a good logo that is easily recognisable with a visual connection to who you are and/or what you do is a vital part of your overall branding and marketing.

Brand Consistency then builds your brand identity and is one of the secrets to Brand recognition. Repetition helps people recognize the look, feel and personality of your brand and a consistent face for your brand helps build familiarity, trust and ultimately, brand value.

So the 5th of my must-haves is undoubtedly the most important. Your business cards must be consistent with your brand so they become one of many touch points for your prospects. Business Cards are a reflection of you & your business.

Great business cards leave great first impressions & first impressions are everything.