If you’re designing a new business card here are a few tips for you to consider. First important tip is that unless you design business cards for a living and have experience dealing with printers it is always best to leave the graphic design and print co-ordination to a specialist. This doesn’t mean that you are not involved in the process – after all your card is an extension of your business. Be aware of some of the basic business card design tips so you can provide a quality design brief to the designer and then review the business card designs you are given.
What to include on your business card
Avoid the temptation to include too much information on the business card. The essentials (if applicable) are:
- business name
- logo
- your name
- job title
- telephone numbers – mobile and landline
- fax number
- email address
- web address
- for tradies include your licence or registration numbers e.g. QBSA registration numbers
Optional
- tagline (but please don’t use ‘big enough to get the job done, small enough to care’!)
- qualifications & associations if relevant
- photo of yourself, premises or product (if it works with the design)
- ACN and/or ABN
Presenting the information
- Make sure these details are correct and not likely to change in the near future. Email addresses are particulalry prone to change. One way to deal with this is to set an email address at your domain name and arrange to forward this to your regular (ISP) email address.
- Not all of the above info needs to fit on the front – the reverse of the card can be used as well.
- Consider using the reverse of the card for something memorable or useful to your clients. Examples include a location map, appointment note area, interesting statistics, rates calculator, comic strip and many other options.
Tone and style
- Do your homework and show your designer examples of cards you like and that have attracted your attention. There are plenty of online resources with hundreds of examples of business card design.
- Make sure the design of the card is consistent with the characteristics of your business or clientèle. For instance a solicitor would typically avoid an overly lighthearted design and a kid’s party service would not use an overly formal design.
- Make sure the card is consistent with your other marketing materials. If there is no consistency in your materials consider a redesign of the full range of materials. While this may cost more it will certainly create a great impression.
Other design considerations
The following gives you a basic checklist to make sure the design has the basics in place:
- Print should be readable however it does not need to be HUGE.
- Make sure capitalisation is consistent.
- Avoid too many different typefaces and make sure they are complementing your identity and image.
- Make sure there is good contrast. For instance blue text on a green background is usually unreadable.
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