Your business card is an important part of your marketing kit. Make sure your card represents you and your company. Here are some tips about using your business card to create relationships in your business.
Did you know the estimated reading time of a business card is 4 minutes? Prepare your design carefully, and your business card will make you look professional, build trust and set your company apart from others in your field.
When attending conferences, fairs or networking events, exchanging business cards at the end of a conversation is crucial for following up afterward.
So how do you ensure that your card represents you and your business in the best possible way?·
Remember, first impressions count·
Choose the most appropriate size and shape for your needs·
Choose a design that represents your products and services·
Be consistent with your website and other promotional materials·
Add a special touch to stand out·
Give your business card additional uses·
Make your business cards magnetic·
Ensure your contact details are easy to follow·
Make sure your details are correct·
If in doubt, talk to a designer
Remember, first impressions count
Your business card says a lot about you and your company. Your design should communicate your values, distinguish your business from the competition and encourage people to get back in touch. If your style of working is straightforward and formal, your business card should reflect those qualities. Or, if your products or services are playful and creative, try to capture those traits by using bold colors and a catchy tagline.
CHOOSE A DESIGN THAT FITS YOU
Select colors and design elements that are associated with your business industry to make your card easy to recognize and representative of the products or services you provide. If you sell luxury products like jewelry or evening wear, you might represent this with a foil detail. Or if you specialize in a style of stone masonry or carpentry, you may include a photo of your work to showcase your area of expertise. The choice of finish and paper stock can let your customers know whether your company is the most affordable solution around – or that you offer upscale services. Your choice of paper stock can also suggest whether you’re a fresh and fun new venture or a well-established business that’s been around for decades.
BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR WEBSITE AND OTHER PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
This way, it will be easier for your customers to remember and recognize you. If you don’t have a website or other marketing materials, but your business has an established logo or is well known for something in particular (be it your sign, the building, the uniforms of your staff, etc.), try to integrate that into your business card design.
GIVE YOUR BUSINESS CARD ADDITIONAL USES
Use the reverse side on your card for appointment reminders, loyalty stamps or even a handy calendar. Think creatively, don’t just use a basic calendar template, try to mark important dates for your customers, depending on what your business is offering them.
For a landscaping company, it might be useful to mark the best moments of the year to trim or fertilize plants on your calendar – while a beautician might mark the days when their business offers a cheaper rate or free samples. If you run a food-related business, write short recipes on the back of your card; or use your card as a tag if you sell art or handmade gifts like jewelry.
Ensure your contact details are easy to follow
The way your information is laid out is an important consideration. If in doubt about how to organize your contact details, the classic arrangement of text fields follows this order:
Company name — First name and surname — Job title — Contact info (email, phone number, social media handles, etc.)