Business cards will come to the rescue whenever you want to introduce your brand to potential customers, promote your business, or simply hand out your contact information. In that case, a card that represents your business should definitely have an excellent design. So here are some things to follow (and some others to avoid) when designing and printing a professional business card.  

DO: Be consistently professional

The first rule of designing a business card is being consistent, especially when your business often hands out several other printed materials like flyers, brochures, or whatnot. What you should do is opt for a consistent design that looks in harmony with other materials. The design needs to represent your brand, both personally and professionally. 

DON’T: Stick to the wrong visual images

A professional business card doesn’t need to use many visuals, particularly the wrong ones. Instead, it is more favorable to only use a few images or even none of them. When you use it, avoid taking images that randomly pop out on the internet. Make use of reliable sites, or better yet, consult with a professional designer. 

DO: Provide simple yet informational details

Simplicity is another rule to follow when designing or printing business cards. It also applies to the main spotlight of a business card: your business info. There’s no need to include all the details about your business in a small piece of a card.

Simply add your business name accompanied by the logo, if there’s any, your first and last name, the address of your office and email, as well as the phone number. That’s the right amount of information you need to share with your potential customers. 

DON’T: Choose the wrong color schemes

Keeping it simple means that your business cards should be free from any color or shade that will look too garish. Sure, for some people, a pop of color here and there can make a business card stand out in the crowd. However, if you don’t choose the color scheme carefully, you might end up with a design that distracts the main info of your card. For a high level of readability, the best decision is to use white fonts over dark shades like navy or black.

DO: Be wise with the layout and size

The standard size of a business card is 8.5 x 5 cm (3.5 x 2 inches). Any card with a size bigger than that might be unconventional to store or even hold. That being said, the choice of card size and its layout needs careful consideration. A word to the wise: both sides of the card are up to the optimal use, so you should take advantage of them.

When using both sides, you can avoid the card from looking too cramped with information. For instance, you can put your business name and logo on one side and your contact info on the other one. 

DON’T: Include any typo

Typos, misspellings, and other writing or printing mistakes will prevent you from having professional business cards. As a result, your potential customers might make a bad judgment about the quality and professionality of your brand.

It is crucial to be attentive to details by proofreading the digital draft and double-checking it before you print the card. Make sure that your business card is free from any mistakes that will influence your brand’s credibility.

DO: Use the right fonts

The right fonts for a business card are the ones that make it highly readable, even at a quick glance. Some business owners are tempted to use decorative fonts to represent their brand on a business card. However, as beautiful as they look, such fonts are usually overwhelming and make the information hard to read. In business card design, readability is the primary goal. It can be achieved by using sleek and size-appropriate fonts. 

DON’T: Print it in low quality

To look professional, your business card should be printed professionally as well. In this case, DIY printing is obviously not advisable. Business cards printed from a home computer will not look good to be handed out in a professional context. Instead, you should print the cards on a high-quality paper or card stocks through a high-quality printer. 

By following those dos and don’ts, you are ready to print your own business cards on a professional level. Considering its importance in representing your brand, a business card should always be designed carefully by paying attention to the tips you have just read.