Recently we’ve seen a lot of business cards that probably aren’t quite doing what they set out to do as well as they could. Badly laid out business cards. Business cards that don’t get across what the business actually does. And in what might be the worst cases, business cards with incorrect contact details.
Although, on the surface, it’s probably a pretty simple task, designing a business card involves several key steps, including determining the purpose and style of the card, selecting the appropriate content and layout, and choosing the right printing and finishing options. Here are some general steps to follow when designing a business card:
- Determine the purpose and style of the card: Before you begin designing your business card, consider what message you want to convey and who your target audience is. Think about the style and tone of your business and choose a design that reflects that. Do you want something traditional and professional or modern and edgy?
- Choose the content and layout: Your business card should include your name, job title, company name and logo, and contact information such as phone number, email address, and website. Choose a layout that is easy to read and visually appealing and consider using both sides of the card to make the most of the space available.
- Select the right printing and finishing options: There are a variety of printing and finishing options available, including different paper stocks, coatings, and finishes such as matte or gloss. Choose an option that is appropriate for your brand and budget.
- Use appropriate fonts and colours: Choose a font that is easy to read and matches the tone of your business. What font/fonts have you used elsewhere? Think about your brand. Stick to a limited colour palette that reflects your brand and is visually appealing.
- Get feedback and make revisions: Once you have a design, get feedback from friends and colleagues and make any necessary revisions. Review the card for spelling and grammatical errors and carefully check your contact details before sending it to print.
- Print and distribute: Once you have finalized your design, print your cards and hand them out to potential clients or customers. Consider leaving a stack of cards at local shops, pinning them to noticeboards or other relevant locations for people to pick up. Think about where your potential customers and clients are and what they do. You might even want to put them through letterboxes.
If you follow the six steps laid out above, you can’t really go wrong and you should end up with a business card that you can be proud of!
At Bristol PRINT Services, we specialise in design that works by talking directly to your target audience as well as high-quality print at affordable prices. Get in touch for more information or a chat about your design/print requirements.