Out of the millions of business cards printed daily, approximately 90% are thrown out within a week. Well, this doesn’t happen because business cards are an ineffective marketing medium. Actually, a startup company only needs 2000 business print cards to increase their sales by 3%. Therefore, why do most cards end up in the dustbin?
The answer to this is simple. Most companies print and distribute crummy designed business cards. Certainly, nobody wants to hold on to items that appear cheap. To avoid having yours ending up in the dustbin, observe the following 12 tips to design a perfect business card.
1. Plan Ahead
Start your process by doing some research to identify what you should have on the business card. It is prudent to check out some templates online and real business cards that can be used for inspiration. Examine each of the templates and pick concepts that can help meet your design goals.
2. Remember basic design principles
This might seem obvious since business cards are just a piece of printed material. Basic design principles include;
- Keep the wordings at least 5mm from the edge
- Use the 300dpi for god image production
- Maintain minimum size typography
- Design with CMYK unless when working exclusively using spot colors
3. Be Creative
There are several standard business cards sizes. Typical cards measure 55mm X 85mm. Despite the relatively tiny size, you should get creative with the little space. Consider the key information you should include, such as the names, phone number, email addresses, and social handles.
4. Go Big on White Space
One common thing you will notice from favorite business cards is a lot of white space. Leaving a significant white space enables other design elements in the card to stand out, thus easy to read. Packing a lot of information to the business card makes it difficult to read.
5. Avoid Common Errors
There are common pitfalls that occur when designing business cards. While some might be obvious, others may come unaware. For instance, ensure that you provide a bleed specified by the printer. This can be either 3mm or 5mm. This is as important as using a straightforward border on the entire card to avoid misalignment.
6. Use Unique Finishes
The best way of making an impact with your business card is giving it a special finish. These include spot – UV, metallic inks and foil blocking that adds some cost to the final print. They make the card tactile and visually impressive.
7. Cut Into the Card
Cutting into the card using the die-cut process leaves a void, which makes your card overly unique. This can be done by using a die to alter the card’s shape or cutting shapes from the centre. Dies can be expensive, but modern printers offer economical laser-cut options.
8. Try Unusual Materials
Majority of the business cards are printed on card stock. They are surely cost-effective but trying out something unusual pays. Get creative and try several materials such as transparent plastic, wood, metals, or slate. Ensure that regardless of the materials, the cards are portable and not ambiguous
9. Make Them Useful
One common problem with paper is that it is found everywhere. People won’t hold on too much, especially if they amass a lot of paper. To avoid the risks of your card being discarded, make them useful. Have the card incorporate memorable design functions to ensure that they survive quite longer than other cards. For instance, you can have a business card that can fold to a miniature armchair that holds a phone or one that can be used as hair clips holder.
10. Recycle Old Cards
Old postcards and business cards can be repackaged to make new intriguing cards. This act allows designers to explore their creativity in an exciting way and environmentally sound as well. This can be as simple as having some stickers printed or complex to suit the recipient.
11. Pick Correct Colors
Most people prefer bright colors since they stand out. However, not all business owners would like their garish look. Besides, such bright – loud colors may be difficult to read, especially if not designed correctly. That said, pick the right mix of colors to use in your business card.
12. Include Some Information at the Back
Business cards often have the essential information, including what you do, how to contact you and who you are on the front. However, note that people receive a lot of them, and as mentioned, cards end up in their trashcans. This is why you should think of a reason to make the customer keep your card.
Achieve this by adding something at the back. For instance, as a realtor, you can have a list of approximate monthly payments for apartments in different locations. Security personnel can have emergency numbers and such information.
After you are finished designing the card, it is important that you double-check the entre artwork. Otherwise, it will be disappointing to discover a typo in your name or email address after printing the card.
