What is it that makes business cards stand out from the crowd? When you come back from a networking event and sort through the sheaf of new cards gathered, which ones end up in the trash and which do you keep? You want to make sure that your own business cards are in the ‘keep’ category, so let’s have a look at the basics that determine whether or not a card is doomed to the trash pile.
1. Paper quality. Business cards that are printed on quality paper stock that feels substantial make a better impression. Flimsy paper that bends and crumples is first in line for the trash.
2. Ink fastness. Business cards often hang around on desks and in wallets for ages before being acted on. If the ink runs with the first drop of coffee or water, they will end up trashed. Make sure your card is professionally printed.
3. Size. However creative you want to be with your business cards, try to stick with the traditional standard size. Cards that are larger won’t fit in wallets or card holders, making them more likely to be dumped early on. Very small cards, however cute, will get swamped by the rest and overlooked.
4. Font size. There is a temptation to use a smaller font size to cram in as much information as possible. Resist. If people have to squint to read your message, or need a magnifying glass to puzzle out your contact number, they aren’t going to be likely to hang on to your card.
5. Message. Tell people what you do. Just your company name and title may not be enough to remind people of what you do, several months after your first contact when your card pops up again. Make sure your card carries a meaningful message that conveys the benefits of your service. Without this memory jogger your card could still end up in the trash even though it’s survived all this time.
6. Colour. Do use colour on your business cards to help them stand out – make sure it ties into your business branding. But avoid going overboard with colour – more than three colours detracts rather than adds to a professional image.
7. Image. Your business card should reflect your business image and branding to do its job properly. Make sure it matches the image you want to put across – creative if your business is creative etc.
8. White space. Make sure there is some white space on your business card – this allows your message and design to stand out better and also gives your new contact space to jot down a note to jog their memory later.
9. Contact information. This is the primary function of a business card but you’d be surprised at how many cards fail this test. In these days of multiple communication methods just one phone number isn’t enough. Make sure you also include your email address and website at the very least. Generally it’s a good idea to include both a land line and a cellphone number to cover client preferences.
10. QR codes. Some businesses might want to add additional info such as Facebook pages, extra web pages and Twitter details too, but at this stage beware of trying to cram in too much information. If you really have a lot of contact options to include, consider using a QR code to contain it all without looking messy, so that new contacts can easily scan in all the info with their smartphones.
If your business cards tick all these boxes, they have a good chance of staying out of the trash long enough to do their job and make sure that potential clients remember you and contact you when the time is right.