How to create an effective business card
An effective business card will be instrumental in helping raise awareness of your company and will make it easier to network with other professionals in your industry. Despite today’s modern world shifting us towards digital marketing, the trusty business card continues to be essential for anyone who wants to raise the profile of their company.
However, unlike a website or app, business cards only have a small amount of space to fill, so it’s crucial to consider what information you really need to include. A “less is more” approach is typically the best way forward and you may also find it helpful to use a design template to ensure you achieve a professional finish.
Here, we outline some things to consider when creating an effective business card.
Logo
It’s important to include the logo of your company on your business cards as well as the company name, as this carries the company’s identity. Ensure the logo is large enough and clear enough to be visible immediately – if the reader has to squint to be able to make out what it is, your company will appear unpolished and even unprofessional.
Tagline
A tagline is a phrase that draws attention to a company’s overall brand. It may be helpful to include your company’s tagline if the purpose of the business is not obvious from the title. For example, an artisan chocolate company’s name might be more obvious than the brand name of a legal firm.
Name and job title
The majority of business cards will be tailored to each individual’s job title, although occasionally some companies may opt for a generic design that all staff can use. Very small companies tend to customise their business cards to each individual employee, however, larger businesses often choose to include job titles on their business cards, as well as the individual’s name.
Your website
One of the benefits of using business cards is they allow you to provide all of your contact details and information on how the person can communicate with you, all at once. This means if your company has a professional, functional website, you should include it on your cards so potential customers can research your company and decide if they want to approach you.
A QR code
Whether you’re hoping to increase your social media following or share your work with potential customers, adding a QR code to your business card can help people easily access your website and see what you have to offer, simply by scanning the code with their smartphone.
Contact details
The specific contact details you should provide on your business card will depend on your business and how it operates. For example, a phone number for your company is essential, but the address may not be needed if clients aren’t going to visit your office.
*This is a collaborative post.
