Depending on what type of business you have and who your clients are, a business card may not have much use for you in the 21st century. However, a well designed business card still makes a good impression on people in the physical world, therefore here are 10 key principles for designing a business card that will make a lasting impression.
#1: Not too much information!
If you look at the business card at the top, one thing you will notice is that it actually does not have that much text.
Where there’s space, the temptation very often is to cram it full of text, that is a temptation you must resist at all times, #1 because the design will be unbalanced (thus not making a good impression) and #2, because business cards, in addition to being used for contact info, is also often used by the holder of the card to write info on. Ask yourself what the most essential info are that your client will need in order to contact you. This generally includes:
- Logo
- name & profession (identifying info)
- Website
- Physical Address
- Mobile number
If you want to, you could also allocate some space for social media links but that is an absolute extra, social links can easily added to your website and besides, if you do your branding consistently, your clients should be able to find you easily there by use of a simple search. Payment instructions can be added in your website and invoice.
#2: KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid)
What applies to contact info also applies very much to the design of the business card, it needs to be ridiculously simple!
You want your business card to make an impression on your client and not only an impression, but also a memorable impression, i.e., that impression won’t leave the moment your client puts that card in his/her pocket. Not only does a complicated design make it hard to add necessary info, it also adds to printing costs as more ink will now be necessary to print it. Moreover, it displays a lack thought and planning which will make you look unprofessional. As demonstrated in the cover photo at the top, a well-designed business card will have as few elements as possible with a lot of space between them.
#3: Make Use of the Shape of the Card to Create a Strong and Lasting Impression
The most memorable part of a business card with the most potential to create a strong impression is its shape. Being one of the more expensive options, this is definitely a great investment for you if you have a little more money set aside, a business card with a creative flare to it will definitely stand out above the more common plain square cards, once again, keep it balanced, as a too outlandish business card could create a pretty bad impression.
Conclusion
while the primary purpose of a business card is to provide the client with basic contact info, a well designed business card can also leave your prospect with a lasting impression that could elevate your brand, thereby creating trust and even increase your potential of gaining new customers. In order to achieve those outcomes, your card needs to be simple, containing only the necessary info. Additionally, the shape of your business cart can also be a wonderful asset for increasing memorability, without increasing the complexity of your design. If you design following these three key principles, your business card should do well impressing your target market. Otherwise, if you prefer leaving the job to a designer, feel free to email me at mathystaljaard@regno-concepts.com or call me at +27 60-602-2220.
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