Leaving a lasting impression with a well-designed business card
By: Mark HaslanAugust 31st, 2010
Business cards are essential marketing tools. They enable entrepreneurs to leave long-lasting impressions on potential clients and could possibly lead to further sales. Despite this, many companies have trouble when it comes to designing business cards, often including too much information or using unappealing or forgettable layouts. A recent article from the Tribute offers advice for creating memorable business cards.
As the source notes, the format of business cards often depends on which industry an individual serves – a plain black-and-white card with Times New Roman font could work for a lawyer, but a photographer may need something more creative. That being said, there are certain elements that are universal to business cards that designers should take into account.
A representative image can help recipients connect a face with a card down the line. These pictures could range from professional head shots to caricatures. Additionally, business cards could feature a visual representation of the product or service an entrepreneur provides.
An element unique to business cards is that they are tangible items. Entrepreneurs can take advantage of this physicality by giving them a specific feel. This could be achieved through myriad design choices, ranging from embossed fonts to constructing them cards out of non-paper materials, such as metal or wood.
Choosing what type of information to include on business cards is also an important decision to make. There is a fine line between too much and too little. “Ideally, a good approach is to break the essentials down into three areas: identity, credibility and clarity,” says the Tribune. Identity and credibility establish the business card holder by conveying essential information, such as their name, positions and company. Meanwhile, clarity should govern how much information is deemed important. For example, if hours of operation are listed on the entrepreneurs] website, that information doesn’t need to be on a business card.
While designing a business card is important, a recent article from Inc. magazine suggests holders should also remember it’s important to engage prospective clients when they present cards to them. “A snazzy card is no good if you hand it out left and right without an exchange of pleasantries and ideas, but a poor quality card can undermine even the best rapport or the most persuasive conversation,” says the site.
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