5 Tips for Designing Stunning and Effective Business Cards

Is success in the cards for you? It could be, but only if you’ve got a great looking designed business card to back you up. Even in today’s world of online networking and Linkedin recommendations, a good old-fashioned business card is still one of the best networking tools out there.

Whether you’re marketing yourself or your company, your business card should be a reflection of your brand – a pocket-sized piece of personality, if you will.  Your cards are an opportunity to show prospects and your clients how unique and awesome your brand and company is! Like any other piece of promotional material, graphic designing a great business card requires creativity and careful planning.

In order to create a cool business card, you need to think past the paper and beyond the border. Simple and generically designed business cards are easily tossed in the trash and quickly forgotten. However, if you can successfully create a mini artifact of your company – something that people will want to hold on to – that’s when you know you’ve built an effective business card.

It’s About a Memorable Experience

The best business cards don’t just offer up contact information – they provide a unique and memorable experience. With that being said, balancing information with inspiration can be tough on such a small marketing piece.

What information should you include on your business card? 

First and foremost, your logo! A well-designed logo will leave a lasting impression and become a symbol of your brand. Logos increase recognition and helps build brand loyalty.

The other important information you need to include are your full name, title and contact details. Since the main purpose of your business card is to help people remember you and to be able to contact you when needed, make sure to include your phone number, mailing, email and web address.

The following are 5 tips from our branding experts that outline the basics of an unforgettable business card design so you can stand out from your competitors and leave a lasting impression:

Keep is Simple. Less is More

When it comes to business card design, our team of branding experts all agree: you need to keep things clean. A card that’s packed with information or overwhelmed by different fonts and graphics will come across as cluttered. What’s more, it will hide your message and overshadow the meaning of your brand. Avoid an overpowering layout by opting for readable text and clean lines.  Make sure your company name stands out so people will remember your business and hopefully check out your website or contact you!

Of course, “clean” doesn’t have to mean “plain”. In fact, a clean graphic layout can actually be quite innovative. Experiment with shape, texture and unique design elements in order to come up with a unique representation of your company.  Don’t forget to carry the design to the back of the business card too.

You know a business card is doing its job when other people want to share it. The trick to creating something that’s shareable? Crafting a memorable design. Remember when we said your business card should be an experience? The best business cards make you want to share that experience with others. What’s more, when people remember your business card, they have a much better chance of remembering your business…and you.

Make your Card Valuable

Connecting with people is easier than ever these days. A quick Google search is all that really stands between you and another person’s contact information. So why not reserve your business cards for important contacts only – the folks who really strike a cord and connect with you on a deeper level? This approach will make your business card all the more valuable. A memorable card isn’t just about design, after all; it’s also about delivery.

Use Quality Materials

A poor quality business card can undermine even the most engaging conversation. So don’t be cheap! Make sure that your business card looks polished and professional – whether it’s printed on paper, metal or fabric! Experiment with different patterns, textures, and colors in order to create a more tactile experience.

Emboss or embellish – the options are endless! Just remember to keep the look and feel inline with your industry. Doing something wild and crazy might sound like fun, however it could cheapen your brand if the finished product isn’t aligned with what your customers have come to expect from someone in your line of work.

Own Your Business Card

At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter if you have a wildly cool and creative business card. What matters is that you own it and are proud to distribute it.

Great graphic designed business cards can go a long way when it comes to making a good first impression, but so too can confidence. You know your company rocks, so what are you waiting for? We can create a memorable and unique business card that will help you conquer the world – one contact at a time!

Design Your Card

Need inspiration? Checkout some very cool and unique business card ideas by visiting our Pinterest page. If you want to work with a local agency, let ZOO Media Group help you build an stunning and effective business card. Contact our London, Ontario office today to schedule a FREE branding consultation.