Use Business Cards to Your Full Advantage

As long as you know the insider tips, designing your own business cards can be a lot of fun. This article can help you create a card that efficiently displays your information and outshines competitors. Many people overlook the marketing power of business cards, but they are proof that big things come in small packages.

Before you create a card, you need to decide what you want to accomplish with it. You might be tempted to put as much information in your card as you can to cover all your bases. However, this might not be the best idea.

As with other business marketing materials, it is important to decide what the most relevant information is and what part of it you will use. The majority of business cards are used to get contact information out there, although there are other reasons to use business cards. If your business is an ecommerce one, you will probably want to limit the contact information on your card to web-based information, including your web address, a customer-service email address, and perhaps a toll free telephone number. The best cards are often the ones that avoid overly elaborate designs.

If you choose to print your own cards, you can do small runs for particular goals. At minimum, the majority of business cards include the name of an individual and/or company. Think about these other aspects in particular.

Address - While the majority of business cards list one's address, it might not be required. If you don't have customers coming to you directly, then use that space for another opportunity.

Contact Information - This might include phone or fax numbers, cell phone information, voice mail, or e-mail. You can eliminate any of them that you do not want to use as a form of primary contact.

Web Address - For businesses that deal with the Internet, URLs and email addresses are crucial. By putting your website on your card, you can make the design a lot simpler as well as offer your client more information.

Job Title - While putting your job title on your business card is not required, it might be helpful in directing your clients when they call you, and it can also give the impression that you work for a large corporation.

Logo - It is important to use your logo on all of your marketing materials to consistently build your business identity. Some larger logos, however, might not fit on a business card. One popular design is to fade your logo so you can see it in the background or bleed it off the corner. You also could get rid of it altogether, while still using similar colors on the card.

Tagline - If the name of your company doesn't make it clear what the company does, consider a tagline. A memorable tagline can help clients remember what your business does.

Once you've figured out the information for your card, it's time to pick the stock. The type of card that you choose will be impacted by the amount of information that you will have printed on your card. This will be a factor, especially if you want a card with graphics or a custom border.

There are lots of designs for pre-printed cards available. You can choose anything from professional looking corporate designs to whimsical flowers. It is important to pick a motif that will conjure up images of your business in your customers' minds. Think of how you want to portray your company: whimsical or serious. Most of the time, you should try to keep the text clear and concise.

Regardless of their small size, business cards remain one of the best ways to market your business. Design the perfect card for your business and use it to your full advantage.

About the Author

If you need help designing your business cards, John Oberhauser is the one to see. John manages The Image Shop, which has a large selection of Holiday Stationery, letterhead stationery, business letterhead, Religious Christmas letterhead, and certificate paper. Each paper has a purpose, and John can help you choose the right paper to fit your needs.