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Design Tips for Making Your Own Business Cards

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Choose a Clean Design

There's a limited amount of space on a business card, so you have to make the most of it. Avoid the temptation to crowd the card with everything you want clients to know. Keep it simple by including only the most important information. Your card should have the name of your company, your name and title and contact information. If you try to cram everything on the card, you may have to shrink the font.

When selecting colors, choose ones that provide enough contrast between the background and the lettering, like black letters on a light background. This makes it easy for clients to read what's on the card. Choose a readable font and make sure the letters are large enough to see, so the reader doesn't have to squint to distinguish between the letters and numbers.

It's perfectly acceptable to leave white space on a business card. This prevents clutter on the card that makes it more difficult to read. White space also helps direct the reader's attention to the most important information on the card: your contact details.

Keep a Consistent Message

Your business card is a marketing tool that sends a message to clients. As such, you need to make sure it's consistent with your company brand. At the very least, you should use the same color scheme and logo that appears on your other business promotion materials.

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The contact information you print on the card needs to give clients direct access to you. If you list an office phone number that goes straight to voicemail all the time, you send the message to clients that their calls are not important. You also should include alternative contact methods likes email or social media accounts for customers who prefer communicating that way.

Remember that a business card has two sides. You can use one side to show off your logo, company mission statement or a tagline and put your contact information on the other side. This is also a good place to print information in a different language if you do business in more than one country or work with bilingual clients.

Double Check the Details

Handing out business cards with incorrect information or misspelled words is bad for business. Not only does it look sloppy, but it also makes it difficult for clients to contact you if you list the wrong phone number or email. For this reason, you need to proofread carefully and take your time reviewing each word and number. After you check the spelling of your name and verify your contact information, ask someone you trust to look it over. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes catches an error that you glossed over.

Additionally, you should avoid putting information on the card that may change. Your customers will likely keep the card for a long period of time, so it's helpful if they see an accurate phone number or email address when they need to get in touch. If you do decide to use business cards to advertise an ad or marketing campaign, include a date so your clients know when it was valid.

Make It Stand Out

There's a good chance your business cards end up in a card holder or desk drawer mixed with cards from other businesses. This is especially true if you pass out cards at a networking event or conference where attendees collect cards from everyone they talk to. That's why you should find a way to make your card stand out from the rest.

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One option is to turn your card into something practical like a magnet or calendar. This keeps your information in front of your customers so they see it each time they use the magnet to hold an important piece of paper. You can also add details like embossed lettering or a metallic finish to give the card a boost of color. Some people opt for custom die-cut cards in shapes that reflect their businesses. Just be careful about extreme ideas. A tooth-shaped card is a great way to remind people of a dentistry practice, but it may not fit in a standard card holder.