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The Dynamic Business Card
In the past ten years I've been handed all sorts of business cards. It's amazing what people will put on a business card. Your business card is the FIRST impression and potentially the LAST impression people will have of your business so it needs to be done right. If you are serious about your business and actually want to gain new customers, DON'T slap together a shotty business card. It's a sign you don't care about your business. There are simple steps you can take to create an eye catching, effective card that will help you get remembered.
1) - Don't do it yourself: Easy for me to say right? Truly though, you are too close to your business to be objective most of the time with design. Sometimes all a great business card design needs is the logo and your contact information, but sometimes I've seen that get lost along the way. Also, most "home designed" cards are just that...HOME DESIGNED, and people can tell. They have bitmapped/fuzzy graphics, or clipart that looks hokey and are usually printed on flimsy stock from a home printer, which means the slightest amount of condensation will mean the ink will run. It certainly doesn't make for a good first impression.
2) - If you don't have one, get a logo: I can't tell you the amount of businesses out there that don't BRAND themselves. Where would Nike, Target, or McDonalds be without their logos. If that means you have to backtrack to get your business off on the right foot, DO IT! How serious are you about your business if you don't have a logo? Think about those companies I just mentioned and YOU KNOW their logos immediately don't you. Well, if you do your branding appropriately that's the kind of company you could become. It's pretty simple. It NEEDS to be on your card.
3) - Don't forget your web and email address: Most people these days are going right to your website to check up on you. Make sure that address is on your card and make sure it's prominently located. 4) - Don't overkill: I was handed a business card recently with so many colors and too much design that the message was completely lost. I could barely find the contact information. KISS!!! Keep it Simple Stupid! Simplicity is sweet. Don't fill your card up with too much crap. I had a photographer hand me a card FILLED with a photo headshot. It left room for NOTHING else. He had to lay his text OVER the photo, wrecking a beautiful picture and you couldn't even read it. Leave SPACE for your information. 5) - Highlight important info: You may have something that you need the world to know. What's the thing you want that one person leaving to remember as they walk away with your card? Well, bold it!! Reverse it!! (That's a fancy way of making the text pop off the card by maybe making the background black and the text white in one particular area) Notice I said ONE particular area. DON'T do this to your whole card. Remember KISS! 6) - Remember a business card is TWO sided - Business cards are soooo under utilized. Even graphic designers don't utilize them well. PEOPLE, there is a WHOLE second side here to get your message out if you feel you need it. I don't know what your business is, so I can't say for sure if you do or don't need it, but they are inexpensive enough to produce. USE THAT SECOND SIDE and get your name out there and your message out there clearly. 7) - Dont be normal - As in number 6 there are non traditional cards that fold in half or I personally love the 3/4 fold card now. It's like a mini postcard that you can keep GOBS of good information on. Gloss - semi gloss cards - 1 color - 2 color - FULL COLOR CYMK The possibilities are endless.
Written by Maryann Little of Big Bull Creative - NH New Hampshire Graphic Design and Marketing Company - Plaistow Salem Derry Londonderry Portsmouth Manchester Massachusetts |
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