What Does Your Business Card Say About You

While business card printing may be an affordable advertising option, you should not take the design of your business card lightly. Your business card makes a statement about you as an individual and your business as a whole. Without proper planning and design, you could be making the wrong statement to those you are giving your business card to throughout your day.

The first step in choosing the right business card design is choosing the right type of card, and this is not as simple as it might seem. A basic business card is one option. These are the plain cards with one color printing on simple cardstock. They give your contact information and a little more information about your business, but they rarely contain images.

If you want something a little more colorful, you may want to invest in picture cards. Picture cards contain your picture in some form, usually a small photograph. If you want people to remember what you looked like the next time you meet, this is a great option.

Do you want your business card to provide incentive to potential customers to visit your business? If so, consider a multipurpose card. These cards have some offer on them, such as a discount coupon, which you will honor if the customer brings the card with them to their first visit. You can add this feature to just about any business card design if you wish.

If you want a business card with a little extra pizzazz, consider a tactile card. These cards are made to feel different than other business cards. They may be printed on a special surface, such as metal, or they may have raised or embossed designs that can be felt with the fingers. Keep in mind that commercial color printing companies will charge extra for this type of card because of the added work it takes to design and print them.

Once you have chosen your basic design, you will need to decide what you are going to put on the card. Remember, simple is usually better with a business card. Avoid the temptation to cram the card full of information. Your slogan, name, title, business name, contact information, and perhaps one other piece of information are all that is needed on a business card. Keep it short, sweet, and professional. If you have a website, be sure to include it on the card. Add a logo or small image to make it look attractive.

Now that you have a design in mind, it is time to order. Choose your finish: either smooth, linen, or laid, and decide how many cards you want to order. Order as many cards as possible, because you will get a discount for the larger sized orders. You will also need to choose the colors used on your cards.

Many business owners choose two-color cards to help their cards stand out, yet save money on printing. You can choose as many colors as you want, however. Once you have made these decisions, you are ready to order classy, professional business cards that will make the right impression about you and your business.

Read more articles by: Katie Marcus