A good business card design is underpinned by eight essential principles. A business card needs to serve a purpose and be useful as a marketing tool. A business card may be the first impression many of your clients have of your business.

Continue reading below to find out the principles of good business card design.

1. Use High-Quality Card

There are so many choices of cards, that you may be tempted to opt for something cheaper to save money. Don’t fall into this trap. A business card may be one of the first impressions someone receives of your business, and a cheap business card simply won’t get you, customers.

Order card samples from New Era Print Solutions to see which one you prefer.

2. Font Size

Be aware that a business card is really small, but your font should be legible. If your font is too small, the business cards are futile.

3. Font Type 

The style and type of font you use are just as important. Some fonts look terrible in a smaller size.

The thickness of the individual letters is another point to consider. If they are too thin, the writing will not be legible. If they are too thick, the letters tend to blur together when reading them.

4. Less is More

Don’t overcrowd your business card with text and graphics. They should be very simple, easy to read and minimalist with graphic use. Make proper use of white space so that people can easily skim over the card and get all the relevant information in a few seconds.

5. Be Industry Relevant

The design of your business card will depend heavily on the type of industry you are in. For example, a legal firm should have a professional and simple design.

A baker or artist could get away with having a more creative business card. Know your target audience and design your card to fit their needs.

6. Content Hierarchy

This is very important on a business card. The order of your content should be considered, and important information should be prioritized first.

If you know your target audience is mainly on social media, then the name of your business and then your social accounts followed by your contact phone number would be an appropriate order.

If your target audience is more likely to pick up the phone, then put your phone number after the business name or logo.

7. Stay on Brand

If you already have a website and social accounts, be consistent with your branding and match your business cards to them. Your logo should be the same throughout.

8. Proof Read

This goes without saying, but we really have to say it. The last thing you want to find on 2000 business cards is a typo or spelling mistake. Proofread your business cards and get several different people to review them also.

It’s better to find a mistake before they are printed.

Create a Good Business Card Design Today

So there you have it, our top eight essentials to create a good business card design. Don’t forget to make your business card industry-focused and on-brand.

For more information on graphic design, take a look at the other articles on our blog.

Proper preparation and good design are essential in making a professional business card. A professional business card can help you gain the trust of others, and will your standing from other companies in the field.

When attending any conference, networking events, fairs, or any professional setting – it’s crucial to bring your business card with you as there’s likely to be an exchange of business cards after a conversation.

Now the question is how you can make it so that your business card represents the identity, principles, and ideals of your business properly. One key factor is preparedness. Have every information ready, and when you get to drafting your business card, you can put your vision to life.

How to Make a Professional Business Card

1. First Impression is Everything

Remember that your business card will reflect on what your company is all about. Your business card should represent the values and ideals of your company, along with the call to action to get back in touch.

If your business is all about formality, then your business card should reflect the same. And if you’re more in the creative, playful, and fun field, you can represent those traits on your business card by utilizing bright colors and catchy taglines.

2. Choosing the Ideal Size and Shape

Before you even begin the designing of your business card, you need to figure out the size and shape of your card. Those two factors can influence how much content can be put on your card, as well as reflect how you handle things, either through conventional or bold non-conformist means.

Companies and businesses often use horizontal rectangular shaped business cards, while vertical cards are rarely used. If you want to stand out, you can use specially made plastic business cards as well as ColorFill thick cards.

3. Choose a Design That Reflects Your Business

This is where knowing your business’s personality, values, and ideals are very important. Use only the colors, images, and design elements that best represent your business, as well as what services and products you provide.

If you’re in the business of dealing with luxurious items and properties, you can add a little bit of glamour to it. The materials used in creating your business card matters as well. It may not seem obvious, but your choice on paper stocks will reflect whether you’re well established in the industry, or you’re a fresh and adventurous business.

4. Consistency with Your Marketing Materials

Keeping consistent with your other promotional materials will make it easy for others to recognize your business or brand.

If you have a logo, then integrate it into the business card. If not, integrate something where people can easily recognize your business, be it your uniform, building, or staff.

5. Be Extra

Put in something that will catch the attention of your customers, in turn, they’ll be curious and will check your business card out. You can either include embossing, metallic finishes, gloss, or have a custom shaped credit card – that way, it’ll surely stand out from the rest.

6. Add another Function to Your Business Card

Usually, all information regarding a business can be found at the front of the card, oftentimes leaving the backside empty. You can use that empty space and add another function to your business cards, such as a mini-calendar, appointment reminders, or loyalty stamps.

If you do decide to go the calendar route, you can take it even a step further and mark all the important dates for them, depending on what type of service or product you provide.

7. Make Information Easy to Read and Follow

The way you layout your information to the reader is an important factor to consider. If unfamiliar with the format, here is how it goes.

• Company Name
• First name and Surname
• Title
• Contact Information

8. Double Check Your Information

Always proofread. Things such as contact details, font size, font style, and spelling need to be triple checked. Make sure that you didn’t miss any field. Include your email, website, and social media handles if you have any. The goal of a business card is to create connections, and if your customer decided to call you and can’t reach you because of a mistake, then you’re just wasting resources.

9. Consult a Professional

If you’re unsure of how to do your business card design or feel like something is missing – consult a professional. A professional designer can help you look for things that need to be fixed or improved upon. With the help of a professional designer, you’re sure that your vision gets executed properly.

Give us a call if you want a professionally made business card at a low price. Schedule an appointment consultation today with our qualified staff to help you create a company business card!