Creating business cards for you company.
Your business card reflects your company and your image. It’s often the first impression a prospect or client gets about you. Of course when creating business cards you want it to look professional and represent your organization or business well.
When creating business cards using a consistent look is one of the cornerstones of building your brand. Your business card should share the same look as your other stationery, advertising and marketing materials.
If you haven’t thought about or don’t have anything established, make some decisions about your company logo, color palette and typestyles before proceeding. (See “How to Design a Business Card” for more in-depth information about making design choices.) Once you make decisions regarding your logo, colors and typestyles, use them consistently.
When creating your card make note of the actual color designations and any tint percentages you use, so that you can successfully match them in the future. Graphic artists and printers use the Pantone Matching System® or PMS numbers to specify colors. By always referring to this number, you’ll have the most consistent color replication for your various marketing pieces and office stationery.
One note: colors will look different when printed on uncoated and glossy stocks. When selecting your color(s), view it on both types of paper. Your print shop will be able to show you the differences.
Some shades don’t vary much, but others look dramatically different when printed on different stocks. Don’t expect the printed color to match what you see on your monitor. Your monitor uses the RGB color spectrum which can’t be printed.
You should also make note of the particular fonts you use when creating business cards and in what sizes you use. This is especially important if you make alterations to the letter spacing or kerning. Many large companies create “style sheets” specifying exactly how their colors and typestyles are supposed to look.
This guarantees a consistent presentation of their brands. By making a few notes (or even creating your own style sheet), you’ll save a lot of time in the future recreating your exact look. Remember: consistency is key to branding.
In addition to your company name and logo (and possibly your company’s tag line), there are other elements that should be included on your business card.
Of course, you’ll want to include your name. Whether or not you include a nickname is a matter of choice. For example: James Smith, Jim Smith or James (“Jim”) Smith. Typically, addresses have been considered required business card information.
With cyberspace changing the importance of knowing someone’s physical location that information could become optional, but it’s probably still a good idea to include it. It’s critical if a prospect needs to visit your office or ship anything to you. These days, your email address is critical contact information.
What about phone numbers? Some people can have a variety of numbers: office, cell, home, and fax. Including all of them can lead to a lot of confusion… and a crowded business card. Here’s a tip that some seasoned sales reps use.
They don’t include their cell number on the card. When they distribute it, they hand write that number saying, “I don’t give this number out to everyone, but I want you to be able to reach me anytime.”
The most basic layout when creating business cards includes the company name in the center of the card with the individual’s name, address and phone numbers set in the corners. It’s a classic design, and it still works well. Simply changing the font can create an elegant or whimsical card. You can easily add a logo in one of the corners or to the side of the company name.
If you’re still struggling with ideas for your business card design or layout, and don’t have the time or inclination to use a template (see “Business Card Templates”), hiring a graphic designer might be your best choice. You can search online or in the yellow pages. Or your local print shop may also offer design and layout as one of its services.
There can be a huge price range depending on what you want, how well you can communicate your ideas and how many revisions you insist on. You’ll usually pay extra for a logo design in addition to the business card layout. While it may seem expensive at the outset, remember that your business cards (and your logo) reflect your company and image!
