A Comprehensive Guide to Printing Business Cards

You might’ve seen or gotten hold of a business card before. It could’ve been in your local bank after setting up an account. Or at a networking event. Or during a conversation with people at a bar. Business cards are exactly what the name indicates: to introduce one’s business, profession services or company to somebody else, in order for them to potentially do business later on. Within the confines of something that’s almost the same size as your driver’s license, you want your card to showcase a professional image and give a positive impression about you or your business. 

In this age when everybody’s constantly connected online, you may wonder: is it worth the effort and cost to print business cards? The answer is yes! The fact that so much is going on in the digital world means that by going offline, you bypass that chaos. You do something different from competitors. You create a tangible asset with a business card and by adding things like colours, embellishments and striking visual elements, it will make you more memorable. 

With a well-made business card, you give all those conversations with people at events a better chance of success – converting them to clients or customers – by handing them a physical reminder of who you are and why they should contact you. And in terms of brand recognition, a quality business card can work wonders compared to a Twitter or Instagram page where such platforms have limits in design.
 

One element about a business card to first consider is the type. Your choice here has an impact on the way words, colours and images will come out when your card is finally printed. It partially influences the impression about you or your company. So it’s good to understand the main types of business cards listed below.

There are several other business card designs and styles to check out, and each has its own texture and distinct personality overall.

Designing a Business Card

You probably know all the must-have details in your business card: name, job title, company name, logo and contact details including website, email address and phone number. If applicable, you also want to include a tagline or short description of your business, an office address and perhaps links to social media accounts (for certain industries). But beyond that, designing this card is about more than what you show. It matters how you show it.

The way your card looks from top to bottom, left to right should reflect the qualities of your brand, your business or services. If the work you do is typically serious, analytical or numbers based, then a more muted colour selection and font style would show that. If you offer web design services, then the card has to serve as the first piece of proof that you’ve got real creativity and an eye for detail. However, there are no actual rules at the end of the day. The only thing worth setting as a rule? Stay in the other person’s shoes and ask “Does this make me want to know more about this person/company/brand?”

Still, even before you dive into the whole designing process, step back and ask if you really think you can pull off designing your own business card. Remember that you can outsource this. You can rely on an expert with a proven track record of effective and strategic designs, someone who’s been around long enough to know what colour scheme works for a personal trainer’s card versus a wealth manager’s card. Someone who knows which font type best captures an IT company’s credibility. If you are willing to invest, seek a professional to help you come across better as a professional – through your next business card.
 

It’s all about excellent first impressions when you promote yourself or your company. That’s why the need for top-notch quality, printed business cards exists now, and it won’t go away anytime soon. We at The Print Company can help you with this essential marketing tool. Click here to find out how we can print the ideal business card for you.