Business Card Design Tips Thatll Keep It Out of the Trash and Inside the Wallet Business Card Design Tips Thatll Keep It Out of the Trash and Inside the Wallet

Business Card Design Tips Thatll Keep It Out of the Trash and Inside the Wallet Business Card Design Tips Thatll Keep It Out of the Trash and Inside the Wallet Did you know 88% of business cards get thrown in the trash within a week? Take a look at these business card design tips thatll keep it out of the bin. Did you know that 10 billion business cards are printed yearly? And out of those millions of cards printed, 8 billion will be thrown in the trash within a week! Yes, people live in the moment. If they dont need the service right now, theyll throw your business card away without a second thought. But, if you get the design right, these pocket-sized billboards can elevate your business above your competitors. What can you do? How can you make this lasting impression? Read on to find out the essential business card design tips that youve probably been getting wrong all these years. Business Card Design Tips With Microsoft Word, some clip art images, and a home printer, you can design business cards and a lot of cool stuff. However, a professional business card needs more than the basics. Bright Beginnings Before you begin planning your business card, there are two crucial design components you need to finalize first: Color scheme Completed logo These two components are vital when it comes to your branding. From your website layout to your formal office stationary, the colors and designs will influence literally everything you design from now on. So choose wisely. Once youve got your branding finalized, you will have a color scheme and theme to work from for your business cards design. A Way with Words Although each business has different needs, there is some very specific information that should be printed onto your business card: A catchy slogan Business name Logo Your name Contact info (email address, telephone number, website or mailing address depending on the business) Links to social media pages (only relevant ones, as no one wants to see your selfies) A catchy slogan is a great way to grab attention. Think about some of the most memorable catchphrases in advertising and get some inspiration. The name of your business should feature quite prominently in the business cards design, even if the logo is there. This is because your branding may not be recognized yet. Only massive cooperations can get away with just using their logo (for instance, Nike or McDonalds). If the business card is for clients to contact YOU directly, make sure to have your name on the card. And dont forget any contact information. Your business will determine what form of contact you should decide on. Adding at least one social media profile is vital. Your social media accounts are indispensable tools for advertising purposes, so make sure your potential customers know about them. They are more likely to add you on Instagram than they are to email you directly. However, dont overload your business cards design. Simplicity is key, so keep it snappy. You can always use a double-sided card or folded business card if you really need more space. Triple Check Whether your business card has many words or not, always double, no, TRIPLE check your work! Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation are crucial to looking professional. If you make just a teeny tiny mistake, itll stick out like a sore thumb. You also need to check that your contact details are 100% correct. Theres nothing worse than receiving your printed cards and realizing there is a typo in the contact phone number. Cue the forehead slap. Size Matters The size of the card will mostly depend on the basic standard of the country youre working from. Even if you plan to do something out of the box, youve first got to see what everyone else is doing first. So do some research. For instance: European: 3.346 x 2.165 inches North American: 3.5 x 2 inches Oceania: 3.54 x 2.165 inches When choosing your sizing, you should take into consideration the bleed area, which will be removed; the trim line, which is the target line for cutting; and the safety line, which is there for safety measures. Keeping your text and imagery at least 3-5mm from the trim edge is a good standard to keep. Mix It Up Instead of the traditional horizontal business card layout, try something different. For instance, go portrait instead. Or double the width of the card to make it feel thicker. Another idea is instead of having square corners, to round them off. Or you could cut shapes in the center using a die-cutter. You could even use scented inks. Just a few simple adjustments can make your business card stand out from the rest and modernize your companies look instantly. Things to Avoid Avoid using a straight border around the edges of the card. If there is even a slight misalignment in the trim, the edges of the border will show up and make your perfectly designed card look unprofessional. Choose your typeface wisely. Theres nothing worse than a professional business card design being ruined by tacky fonts. Comic Sans, Curlz, and Papyrus should not even be considered. Another essential thing to avoid is a lack of imagination! Yes, boring old business cards that are designed without an ounce of vision are just asking to be thrown in the trash. Keep reading for some AMAZING business card tips and ideas thatll blow your socks off. Business Cards Design Ideas How to design a business card that wont be chucked away? The key is to get creative, make them laugh, get them intrigued, and make it functional! Check out these clever ideas to make your card stand out from the crowd. Special Finishes A quick way to instantly add a touch of class to your card is by using special finishes. They may be more pricey, but they can create a visually impressive design that wont be forgotten easily. For instance, emboss your card or use Letterpressing to make areas and words pop out. Or use foil stamping to accent text or your logo in shiny reflective materials. Spot UV coating is another sleek idea for your business cards design. The UV coating can be applied to specific areas, such as the text or logo. This looks really trendy when the card is in a matte material and the main text is glossy. Unique to Your Purpose Use what youre selling to inspire your business card. For instance, if youre a dance or fitness instructor, use the skill to define your card. Have a photo of a person, cut out two leg holes, stick your fingers through, and instantly the card becomes a comical dancing puppet. Another example is if youre a gardening company, put your business details on a packet of seeds for growing. Or if youre a Divorce Lawyer, design a business card that tears in half with your contact details on both sides. For photography, try a transparent business card which doubles as a viewfinder. When your clients are looking for spots for their wedding photo session, they can use their viewfinder to visualize the final result. Make It Useful There are two different kinds of people in this world: the hoarders and the throwers. Some hold onto every piece of paper they receive, whereas others ruthlessly recycle anything they can. To avoid your card becoming the next recyclable material, make it functional. For instance, one cheese company designed a two-fold business card. It not only has all the info needed, but it also doubles as a cheese grater. Now thats a grate idea! Another cool concept is having a business card that converts into a holder for hair clips or can be folded into a miniature armchair for your smartphone. A Variety of Materials Most business cards are printed on regular cardstock, as its the most cost-effective option. However, there are all kinds of different materials that you can print on, including transparent plastics, rubber, wood, slate, or even metal. Metal designs give a really neat modern vibe and they can also come with a dual purpose. For instance, some metal business cards are also bottle openers nobody in their right mind will throw that in the trash anytime soon. Forget the Card Maybe instead of an actual business card, you could use something completely different. For example, a lego person with your all the needed details printed on the figurine. You could have them dressed in your companies uniform, or even make them look like you. Whatever whimsical design you choose, keep in mind that although you want your business card to stand out from the crowd, it still needs to be portable. If its not easy to file away in a briefcase or pocket, itll be thrown away anyway. There are several more essential reasons why your business cards should be portable and kept with you at all times. Read more now about a few of those reasons. Business Card Tips and More As you can see, designing a business card takes more than Microsoft Word, a generic clip art image, and a home printer. To be successful, you really need to put time, effort and a lot of IMAGINATION into it! Of course, these business card design tips wont work if youre business is stuck in a rut. If you need a helping hand to get your business back on track or to start something new and exciting, youve come to the right place. To find out the secret strategies behind a successful business, click here!