1 - Stand out and make a difference

The reality is that most business cards end up being thrown on a desk or put with a stack of other business cards, waiting for the new owner to do something about them. Making your card stand out from the rest by using colour, layout, shape and materials, will help you be remembered and found easily when your services are required

2 - Look and feel

Make sure that the design of your business card is consistent with your existing branding. That way customers will know what to expect from your company and may recognise you from other marketing activities you have done.

Your logo is vital - what does it say about your business?  Do you want businesses to think you are a corporate or home business?  A good logo should be simple, memorable and give an indication as to the type of company you are. Be careful not to get hung up on unnecessary elements. Keep it concise and you are a good way towards success. Having a professional designer create your logo for you, will give you an external perspective on your company and they will also be able to offer an array of experience that you may not have.

Don’t forget that this logo will carry through to any Marketing materials that you produce, so it should be something that reflects your company properly and that you are proud of.

3 - Use the back of your card

It's important to make your business card work as hard as possible for you, so you should not waste any available space, this includes the back. When you do this the content should be very different from the front (which has your contact details on it), here you have the opportunity to promote your branding, put an advert, a notes section, product information or customer testimonials.

Business cards are small and supply us with limited space but it is important space. Don't waste it.

4 - Don’t forget the basics

It may seem obvious, but I have seen hundreds of business cards and I am always amazed at the information that is missed off.  The basic information that you should included is your name, company name/logo, phone number (office and mobile if appropriate), e-mail and website address. Other information that you can add include your business title, fax number, slogan and products/services. But be careful not to overload your card – less is often more.

5 - Website and email

Customers and prospects will want to know your website address and your email address. If you're concerned about spam, have your webmaster set up two email addresses for you - one to put on your business card and give out to potential customers, and another private email address that you only give to a few trusted business associates and friends.

Also make sure you have a professional domain name i.e. www.yourcompany.co.uk. Although the free ones (Hotmail, Yahoo, Sky) may not cost you anything, they will send a clear signal out that you are not serious about your business. If you do not have a one, why not check out our free domain name checker to find out if your company address is available. www.alkalinesolutions.co.uk/domain

6 - Call to action

If you ask a Marketeer what should be the foundation of any leaflet, website or white paper, they should say a ‘Call to action’, as this tells the user what you want them to do with it and gives you an element of control! This advice is often forgotten about when it comes to Designing a business card. It may not be as complex as on a website, but you can let them know how you want them to contact you or direct them to a specific section of your website, where they can receive your full message.

7 - Size matters

Business cards that have the reader squinting or straining to read, are more likely to be thrown away than acted upon. While your preference may be towards a particular font or fitting in every service that you offer, stick to these rules:

• Use a simple font that is easy to read like Arial or Calibri 

• Never use a font smaller than 8-10 points

• Make sure your card is no bigger than the standard size as it will not fit into card holders, scanners and may mean that it is thrown away for convenience.

8 - Printing

The weight and texture of your business card is the first thing someone notices when it is handed to them. Handing out a thin, flimsy card will signal that you put little thought and even less effort into the development of it and this will reflect upon your business. Using high-quality cards with an extra finish, such as matt lamination and spot varnish will add the extra wow factor and impress your potential client.

Also whatever you do, DO NOT print out home printed cards, as the message that they give is that you are not taking your business seriously or cannot afford to have them printed properly... Either way it is not a good message to send out to prospective customers. 

If you would like to learn more about your printing options, please feel free to give us a call on               0845 467 1074         and we can give you a few pointers.

9 - Do it properly

As with any project that your company does, your business card should have careful thought and consideration applied to it. If you do a half hearted job it will show and could lose you business.

10 - Final thought

Remember your business card is valuable and designed to make you money, so don’t hand it out willy nilly! Whenever you do hand it out make sure it has a purpose, or you will just end up being spammed or pestered by people who are only interested in selling to you.

If you think that your business card is not promoting your company how you would like it to, we offer a competitive design service that will give you a business card to be proud of. Please call us on 0845 467 1074 or contact one of our business Design and Marketing team