Business cards, should you have nice business cards? Is it still cool to have an individual or company business card?
Business cards are exchanged all the time, but nowadays technology has changed the way we share business card information:
We regularly capture it digitally from incoming calls and e-mails.
However, one thing remains constant: the business card.
Business cards continue to prevail, despite our use of cell phones and PDAs.
It’s much easier and a lot more stylish to hand someone your business card during a meeting than it is to recite your information while your colleague attempts to enter it into his or her hand-held devise.
What’s more, in that scenario, only your phone number is being captured… not the essence of your company as it can be presented on your business card.
A business card conveys a great deal more than simply your phone number and other basic information. In addition to being a convenient and expected way to provide your company name and details, your company card is often the first impression a prospect gets about your business.
It is a very prolific and useful form of business advertising. Be sure that your card projects the image you want to portray. The impression your cards make can be lasting, so you’ll want a business card that you’re proud to distribute.
How many of us do a poor job remembering the name of the person to whom we were just introduced at a business meeting?
Business cards exchanged during introductions create convenient memory aids. Additionally, the appearance of your card (for example, incorporating a specific logo, color or unusual shape) can help a prospect remember you long after the meeting ends. So it is good to have some creative business card ideas when you are putting a card together for your company.
The standard business card size in the United States and Canada is 3.5 by 2 inches. Although the size varies from country to country, nearly all business cards are about that size, give or take a few millimeters.
For example, in Japan and Hong Kong, business cards are only a fraction wider and taller than their North American counterparts. Most European cards are taller but not as wide.
| Business Card Sizes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Country | Size (mm) | Size (inches) |
| U.S.A., Canada | 88.9 × 50.8 | 3.5 x 2 |
| Japan | 91 x 55 | 3.582 × 2.165 |
| Hong Kong | 90 x 54 | 3.543 × 2.125 |
| Italy, United Kingdom, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland |
85 x 55 | 3.346 × 2.165 |
| Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden | 90 x 55 | 3.54 × 2.165 |
| Argentina, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Mexico | 90 x 50 | 3.543 × 1.968 |
Typically, business cards are printed on a heavy-weight stock although there have been many other creative substrates used.
Imagine a business card design for a lumber mill printed on thinly sliced sheets of wood or those of a plastics company printed on vinyl… memorable, but expensive to produce.
Although you may not choose to go to those extremes for your contact information, you have countless substrate choices.
Selecting an uncoated cover stock is most typical, and there is wide range of surface finishes and colors. While a bright fluorescent card will certainly be memorable, keep in mind that it may be difficult to read, especially if you include a lot of information in very small type.
The best weight for business card stock is 80# cover. You may opt for the heavier 100#, but avoid using 65#. It’s a bit too flimsy for business cards.
If you want a coated stock, you can choose between a gloss or matte finish, and again, use 80# or 100# weights. “Cast-coated” is the phrase used for paper with the highest gloss. Select a 10 pt. or 12 pt. weight if you opt for this type of paper.
Business cards can be printed in one-, two-, three- or even full color. Your color selections should reflect your company, and for most consistent results, always use (or refer to) the Pantone Matching System® numeric designation for your color.
This number is the most fool-proof way to communicate the exact color you want. All print shops understand the PMS system. Printing technology has evolved, and now full-color printing is more affordable than ever, so you may want to consider using a photo or color image on your business card.
No matter what paper or inks you choose to use, what’s most important to remember is that your business card is an advertisement for your company. Take pride in it and be ready to hand your new card out!
