Designing Your Business Card
Published on June 5, 2008 | In Graphic Design Articles | 492 Viewings | Rated 
Business cards are an essential part of every businessperson’s arsenal. You have to have a business card ready to hand to anyone who might be a potential customer. Ideally, each business card will bring you an extra sale (or ten). However, that will only happen if your business card is effective, and it can only be effective if you make it better than the zillions of others out there. Let us go through the process of designing your business card, step by step.
1. Determine the goal of your business card
Are you simply trying to introduce yourself and your business? Are you trying to gain an advantage in a competitive market? Are you re-establishing yourself after a tough period or an embarrassing moment? Whatever your goal is to make your new business card, always remember to stick with it. Business cards do not have to be just your name and contact information anymore. Be bold when you are thinking of your goals.
2. Decide what your business card will say
Once you know your overall strategy, now you will have to be a bit more specific. Decide exactly what content you will include on your business card. Remember that you can include more than your name and number. Write your slogan on the card. If you are offering incentives to new customers, put the incentive right there on your business card! You can even put special offers or coupons on them. It is really up to you, but has a clear plan in mind at this point.
3. Decide how your business card will look
Let me give you a hint right away: you do not want the same old, black and white business card that you have seen thousands of times. You will want to go with color business cards, which are significantly more effective. Moreover, do not worry about the extra cost. Business card printing is not that expensive anymore, even for color business cards, and the increased profits you will see make it well worth the expense.
So now that you know what you are going to say on your business card, and you know you want to have color on your business card, decide how you want to put it all together. Do you want it to look formal and professional? On the other hand, do you want it to be more lively and spontaneous? As long as your design strategy fits with your type of business, then the sky is the limit. Just do not put colorful clowns and balloons on your card if you run a funeral home or anything like that.
4. Look around, and rethink
You now have a complete design for your business card, but you are not done. The worst thing you can do is take this design straight to the business card printing company you have chosen and have it done up. You might not like the results. First, look around at some sample cards or at the cards of your competitors. You want to make sure that your cards are unique. At the same time, you want to make sure that your cards are not so “out there” that they will distract the customer.
So evaluate your design for a few days before you commit to it. You will be happy you did.
5. Get ‘em done!
If you have taken some time to think over your design, you have most likely made a few changes to it. That is good; that means you are even happier with your card now. So now, if you are comfortable, get your business cards printed! In addition, start enjoying the increased revenue!
Related Reading:
Elements of Business Stationery
Double-side it! Optimize the Potential of your Business Card
Also check out Business Stationery Design.
Kaye Z. Marks is an avid writer and follower of developments in business card printing and color business cards printing industry and how these improvements can benefit small to medium-scale business.
Bookmark this article:
1. Determine the goal of your business card
Are you simply trying to introduce yourself and your business? Are you trying to gain an advantage in a competitive market? Are you re-establishing yourself after a tough period or an embarrassing moment? Whatever your goal is to make your new business card, always remember to stick with it. Business cards do not have to be just your name and contact information anymore. Be bold when you are thinking of your goals.
2. Decide what your business card will say
Once you know your overall strategy, now you will have to be a bit more specific. Decide exactly what content you will include on your business card. Remember that you can include more than your name and number. Write your slogan on the card. If you are offering incentives to new customers, put the incentive right there on your business card! You can even put special offers or coupons on them. It is really up to you, but has a clear plan in mind at this point.
3. Decide how your business card will look
Let me give you a hint right away: you do not want the same old, black and white business card that you have seen thousands of times. You will want to go with color business cards, which are significantly more effective. Moreover, do not worry about the extra cost. Business card printing is not that expensive anymore, even for color business cards, and the increased profits you will see make it well worth the expense.
So now that you know what you are going to say on your business card, and you know you want to have color on your business card, decide how you want to put it all together. Do you want it to look formal and professional? On the other hand, do you want it to be more lively and spontaneous? As long as your design strategy fits with your type of business, then the sky is the limit. Just do not put colorful clowns and balloons on your card if you run a funeral home or anything like that.
4. Look around, and rethink
You now have a complete design for your business card, but you are not done. The worst thing you can do is take this design straight to the business card printing company you have chosen and have it done up. You might not like the results. First, look around at some sample cards or at the cards of your competitors. You want to make sure that your cards are unique. At the same time, you want to make sure that your cards are not so “out there” that they will distract the customer.
So evaluate your design for a few days before you commit to it. You will be happy you did.
5. Get ‘em done!
If you have taken some time to think over your design, you have most likely made a few changes to it. That is good; that means you are even happier with your card now. So now, if you are comfortable, get your business cards printed! In addition, start enjoying the increased revenue!
Related Reading:
Elements of Business Stationery
Double-side it! Optimize the Potential of your Business Card
Also check out Business Stationery Design.
Kaye Z. Marks is an avid writer and follower of developments in business card printing and color business cards printing industry and how these improvements can benefit small to medium-scale business.
Bookmark this article:
Related articles
- Graphic Design –A Tool For Business Success
The application of graphic design does not imply as an extravagant means of advertising but rather it is only a way of making your materials a responsive one. It is indeed a simplest way of creating a good identity in the market. With the countless benefits given, graphic design is a service that you can depend on. - Basic Ad Creation Know-How
An effective ad such as your business card printing piece for example, has two basic elements – an attractive design and a compelling message. Without one or the other, you might as well forget that you’re going have many leads to increase your return of investment. - Modern Trends In Logo Design
To keep up with the latest trends of designing. Let us now look at the four hottest trends in logo design in today's market. - Use of Colors in Graphic Design
Color is everywhere and conveys a message even if we don't realize it. While this message can vary by culture it pays to know what colors "say" in your own corner of the universe, and even what color means to your target market. - Graphic Design vs. Interactive Design
Can a graphic designer design a website? Of course! But there are risks involved when someone who thinks in terms of paper and inches starts creating designs for screens and pixels. In this article, we’ll look at what makes web design so different, and we’ll talk about what to look for in a site designer. - The Impact of Empty Spaces in Graphic Design
This is really one of the simplest, but easiest to mess up, factors of your print design. Have you ever listened to a song like the Who‘s “Wont Get Fooled Again” or similar songs that build up to a crescendo then suddenly have a break in the music before kicking the guitars back into overdrive? That empty space in the music is powerful. - Shattering the Branding Myths!
If you've been online long, you're sure to have seen many branding 'gurus' give their ideas about branding. However, much of what you read simply isn't true. Over the years, many myths about branding have taken hold in the online world and spread like wildfire. The fact is: They are doing you more harm than good.
Advertisement(s)
Latest Articles
- Tips on Choosing Good Icons
- Skills Required to Become a Graphic Designer
- Some Useful Ideas for Your Web Design Project
- 3 Rules to Follow in Your Logo Design
- Usability - The Secret Behind A Successful Website
- The Basics of Web Design
- Is your Website an Asset or a Liability?
- 10 Things to Include on your Business Card
- Four Essential Brochure Design Tips
- Types of Brochures
Highest Rated Articles
- Logo Design: Create A Sizzling Brand For Your Business
- How To Do Your Own Interior Design
- Concept Of Positive And Negative Spaces In Interior Design
- Skills Required to Become a Graphic Designer
- Career In Graphic Design
- Dos and Donts Guide to Great Web Design
- 3 Rules to Follow in Your Logo Design
- Logo Design: Facilitating The Creation of a Powerful Brand
- History of Graphic Design
- Some 'Golden Rules' of logo design
Disclaimer: The information presented and
opinions expressed on this site are of the authors
and may or may not represent
the views of Design News Next and/or its editors.
The Point Network »
Copyright 2008 Design News Next. All Rights Reserved.
Design News and Articles