Ideas & inspiration for creating a memorable business card: Let’s face the facts here: if your business card is bland, it could “accidentally” end up in your potential employer’s garbage bin on top of their leftover lasagna. And we all know that the lasagna wasn’t appetizing if there are still leftovers from last week.
You want your business card to stand out; even if it only has the dimensions of a standard printed card that is 3.5 X 2 inches. Allow every word, blank space, color, shape, and font to add meaning to your overall personal brand.
Your business cards should be professional and represent the quality of your work. So, don’t get caught with a business card that appears to be designed by your three-year-old niece who speaks English as a second language. That’s one way to diminish your credibility in 0.2 seconds.
*View all Vistaprint coupons here!
Here are some ideas & inspiration for designing and printing your business cards online:
Small Fonts Won’t Work on Business Cards; Be Bold!
Don’t make your business card recipients find the nearest magnifying class just to read the font. Select easy-to-read fonts. Vistaprint has templates that have preselected font types and sizes so you can preview your entire design as a proof online before ordering. Just be sure the type is clearly legible, even if tacked to a bulletin board.
If you have Photoshop skills or are a designer or photographer, consider making the entire design yourself and upload it. (why use a template if you are supposed to be creative for a living?)
Remember to export it at high-resolution, and know whether to export it at CMYK or RGB, depending on the printing service. Getting the color mode wrong might cause colors to shift unexpectedly.
Don’t Forget to Use the BACK of Your Business Card
Let’s say your business card is your personal real estate. How are you increasing your value by utilizing your space? Don’t leave the back of the business card blank; make sure that your business card makes a compelling statement no matter which side of the card viewers are looking at.
Idea: When designing business cards online, consider adding a powerful quote that ignites curiosity. Translate your cards to another language if you do business in other locations. Include a call to action. Vistaprint has folded card options that give you the space you need to increase your value in the marketplace.
Avoid Cheap-Looking, Flimsy, or “Free” Business Cards
We are always on the search for the cheapest products on the market, but the last word you want to be associated with in business is “cheap.” In fact, every day hundreds of people search for “free business cards” on Google. I have to wonder who is buying them, and for what purpose?
Trying to save money by printing your cards on inexpensive flimsy business card paper stocks may be costing you more money than you think–and diminishing the quality of your brand.
Your business cards reflect you: cheap-looking business cards cheapen your professional image, and some free business cards even have the company’s logo on the back; yikes!
The very weight of your business card paper has an impact on the way you’re perceived. If you want to leave a positive impression on potential clients, choose a solid and professional template on the top-quality paper stock to show that your business is well-grounded and prepared for success.
If you want to save money, choose “premium” business cards from printing services like Vistaprint, then use a coupon. Besides, by the time you pay for shipping on the free business cards, you’re not even saving that much money. There’s a big difference between being frugal and cheap; save the free business cards for dropping into fish-bowls to win free lunches!
*Speaking of saving money, remember that as a freelancer or independent contractor, your business cards are a tax deduction!
Tip: Include Your LinkedIn Vanity URL on Your Business Cards
Have you claimed your vanity URL name on LinkedIn? If you haven’t, your LinkedIn URL probably looks like a foreign language; a sequence of letters and numbers that have no meaning to others.
Create a unique LinkedIn URL that can be added to your business card. Just edit your LinkedIn profile and claim your URL within seconds. Most customized URLs will look like this, “www.linkedin.com/in/firstnamelastname.” Your LinkedIn profile says more about you than a five-minute interaction that you may have with strangers.
And, if people are intrigued by your business card, they will want to find other ways to connect with you. (Hmmm… Not sure about using a QR code on business cards? Maybe consider printing one on the back.)
Idea: Design Your Business Cards w/ a Vertical Orientation
A horizontal layout is conventional, and might ultimately be the best design option, but consider a vertical layout. It’s different, modern, and will get more attention. Remember, the goal here is to stand out from the competition!
Consider Adding a Professional Photo to Your Business Cards
A pleasant photo immediately catches the eye, and makes your business more personal. If you have taken professional business photos that capture the essence of your brand, add it to your business card. You’ll never have to worry about the business card users forgetting who you are five years down the line.
Do you sell a line of products, or have an online store? Consider including a product shot on your business cards.
Adding a photo to your business cards can also help establish trust, which is key in business areas like Law and Real Estate. When you order your business cards from a professional site, all you have to do is pick a design template, upload your photo, and you’re ready to go!
Make Your Business Card Design Appeal to the Eyes, & get honest feedback before printing
Don’t have a professional photo or just don’t want to include it on your business cards? Don’t worry. You have other options. Your company logo may not be the captivating visual that will turn eyes your way, but you can appeal to others with pictures of your products or things you love. Vistaprint gives you the option to upload your favorite pictures to customize onto your card.
Also, get a second and third opinion on your potential design ideas. Designs that look good to you may not go over well with others, so look for honest feedback!
Go With a Top Discount Printing Service, Like Vistaprint
There are popular sites, such as VistaPrint.com, that allow you to create high-quality business cards in less than 15 minutes. Vistaprint’s diverse selection of business card templates by industry will make yours stand out in a wallet full of other cards.
- Sample Vistaprint business card designs on pinterest.com
- 50% off business cards at vistaprint.com promotion – also available for Vistaprint canada
If you’re designing business cards online, Vistaprint has various paper styles such as metallic finish, extra-thick paper stock, raised print UV, and spot glass UV, and offers free samples for you to see and feel in-person. If you want your business cards to be the main subject of conversations at a networking event, order professional business cards using these tips that will make your business card memorable:
Consider Pinterest for Business Card Design Examples & Inspiration
Sometimes the best thing to do is just look at what business card designs are out there, and see what looks good. Because everyone has different needs and design ideas, try just scrolling through a ton of designs on Pinterest. You can often even narrow your search results by industry: