How businesses reach their client base is constantly shifting, especially considering that most, if not all companies, have some sort of social media presence. Despite this, however, business cards are still an important aspect of marketing for all types of professionals. They are one of the few relics that have survived through the digital age, due in part to their efficiency and convenience.

Business cards often give your potential clients the first impression of your brand, so they need to be well designed in order to maximize their efficacy. But what makes the business card such a powerful tool – its size – is exactly why they can be tricky to design. So here are some tips for creating amazing business cards:

1 – RESEARCH OTHER BUSINESS CARD DESIGNS

A great way to understand what works and what doesn’t in business card design is to research what others have done. Notice what attracts you to certain designs, and what repels you from others. Determine how you are going to express your brand, and yourself, in a way that engages your potential clients.

2 – YOUR LOGO SHOULD DICTATE THE DESIGN CHOICES YOU MAKE

We use logos for good reason – humans process visual information faster, meaning the logo of your company is much more likely to be remembered than your name or email address. Take advantage of this by making your company’s logo the biggest image on the card. And take cues about font, colour, and spacing from your logo since it is a carefully considered representation of your brand.

3 – AVOID OVERLOADING THE CARD WITH TOO MUCH INFO

A business card crammed with too much information, regardless of how useful that information may be, is inefficient and most likely unreadable. Just like any other graphic design project, white space can be your friend! Also remember to keep font and color changes to a minimum (2-3 respectively).

4 – TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BOTH SIDES OF THE CARD

Business cards offer a unique opportunity if you use both sides of the card. A great way to do this is to create contrast between the two sides. This can be done by putting your credentials and contact information on one side, while marking the other side with a pattern, photo, or graphic that further expresses your brand visually. Vector images from StockUnlimited.com are a great way to add contrast and appeal to your business cards because they are high quality and exclusive designs. Here is two different ways of using the back of the card to portray your brand or remain memorable.

5 – MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION

The information your client needs to know is dependent on your line of work, but there are some obvious bits you must include: name, position, phone number, email address, and web address. Social media handles are also often thought of as important, as well as physical addresses. Whatever you choose to include on your card, remember to create a clear hierarchy with that information – this will avoid any confusion from the client, and is another form of brand expression.

6 – ENSURE A PROFESSIONAL FINISHED PRODUCT

Choose good quality card stock for your business cards. Also remember the bleed and trim lines in your design process. The bleed – where the background color is extended a few mm beyond the edge of the card – protects you from any printing blips. Also, make sure that all critical information is within a safe margin – or trim line – from the edge of the card, so that any printing problems do not result in lost information. And although you want your business cards to stand out, it’s best to keep them the standard size of 3.5” x 2” to avoid not fitting in designated stands or holders.

7 – MAKE YOUR BUSINESS CARD MEMORABLE

We are constantly bombarded with information, so the only way to make sure that your information is retained by your clients is to surprise and delight them with your card design. Making a business card memorable can include embossing, clever use of cut-outs, or other surprising touches. Whatever you decide to design, make sure to have fun with it and be creative!

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to make professional, informative, and attractive business card designs. Just follow these tips and you’ll be effectively marketing your brand in no time!