Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, long-time business owner, or part of a larger company, you need your own business cards. Not only do business cards present your most important information to potential customers, they also serve to legitimize you as a professional.
The difference between a bland, poorly designed business card and one with obvious thought and high-quality design is tremendous. That means the choices you make when designing and printing your business cards are crucial for your future success. Let’s take a look at the five most important elements of custom business card design for all forward-thinking professionals.
1. The Typography
The choices you make regarding the actual lettering on your cards are perhaps the most important step in ensuring a quality overall presentation. Typography, the science of lettering, determines how readers engage with lettering on a given document. Since your card will likely be covered in words and numbers, it’s important to choose a font that conveys your intentions as best as possible.
Depending on your industry, you may want to convey a conservative, “business-y” vibe or a whacky, zany one. Where one professional may choose something classic like Times New Roman, another might want Helvetica or something even more modern and hip.
2. Graphic Design
If you already have a logo for your business, great! The majority of the work has been handled already when it comes to the graphic design elements of your business card. However, many professionals choose unique graphic design options. Since printing services usually offer a huge variety of options for styles and templates, the options are virtually limitless.
Just remember – your business card design should reflect the branding of your business and your style as a professional. In other words, don’t go overboard on ink and splashy design elements if your potential customers expect you to be a calm, serious professional.
3. Paper Quality
Business card printing can vary wildly in the subtlest of ways. While some people might not recognize a card printed on superb quality paper, others will immediately focus on the exceptional thickness and texture of your business cards and recognize them. You can also include watermarks and beveled edges, thick paper, glossy finishes, and much more.
The more attention you pay to the paper of your business card, the more you’ll demonstrate to potential customers your keen eye for detail.
4. Imaginative Layout
Since business cards are pretty tiny as printed documents go, you have a pretty small area for creativity. Making the most of that space is critical – and wasting a whole area of your card by including nothing but boring white space can be a big difference-maker.
As a result of modern printing equipment and digital design software, you can place your important information over images, full-color backgrounds, and more. Just make sure whatever you choose compliments the overall design of your custom printed cards.
5. The Message
Ultimately, your business cards have one job to perform: providing anyone who receives one with the information they need to get in touch with you and take the next step. You should never obscure your contact information or other important business details in the design. As long as you successfully convey the message that you are a professional and ready to get started working with them as soon as they need your products or services, you’ve managed to create the perfect custom printed business card.
For more information on online business card printing services, reach out to the team at Linemark today.