The Optimal Guide To Making Them Count!

Your opportunity to make a great first impression and effectively relay your information in a pocket size ad.

Business cards fulfill a multiple of professional needs if done right, such as, advertising, call-to-action, and contact information. Also, you can create a stylish and savvy look as you portray your brand recognition that will leave a lasting impression, creating long-term customers.

Before you begin…

Business Card and Logo by Creative Mate Design for Pan And Piper

Let’s discuss what you need before you get your cards started. Whether you are creating the card yourself or sending it to a designer there are important elements you will need to make you have beforehand.

Logo

The logo and color scheme are your most important choices to begin your card design. This will set the tone for your banding and identity.

Color Scheme

For your color scheme. You can look this this website to find inspirational color pellets.

Your Information

What you want to communicate and what is the purpose of the cards? What is your brand and what does your design say about you or your company? Take some time to think about this and write down some words to describe your company. This will help design process run more smoothly.

Let the designing begin

Now that you have your logo, color scheme, branding, and information in mind you are ready to start.

Business Card and Logo by Creative Mate Design for Tru U Medical

Business Card Shape

The most common shape of a business card is rectangle. There are also other alternatives like special die-cuts and square business cards. While the rectangle shape is the most cost effective more advance techniques are still very affordable.

Here are a few options.

Business Cards With Rounded Corners
Rounded corners are an easy way to make your cards stand out and give them a softer appearance with a small price increase.

Square Business Cards
Square not only leave a strong impression with a more unconventional format. They easily fit in smaller places like wallets and pockets.

Special Die-Cut Business Cards
Special die-cut really makes a statement about your company and can virtually do any shape that is original to your company.

Business Card Sizes And Position
Now that you have decided on the shape it’s time to determine the size and position you want your card to be in. If you are going with a rectangle or special die-cut, you will want to determine whether you will be positioning you card horizontal or vertical.

The standard business card size is:

• 3.5 × 2 in. (88.9 × 50.8 mm) horizontal
• 2 x 3.5 in. (50.8 × 88.9 mm) vertical

The square business card size is:

• 2 x 2 in. (50.8 X 50.8 mm)

Special die-cut is obviously the size and shape you choose.

Business Card and Logo by Creative Mate Design for Naza Nails

No matter the size, you always want to consider the following when designing:

• Bleed area: the outermost part of the card likely to be removed.
• Trim line: the target line for cutting cards.
• Safety line: anything outside this line is subject to cutting mistakes. Don’t let essential elements like text or logos fall outside this line.

Here are business cards templates you can use with the correct bleed, trim and safety lines in Illustrator EPS, ACROBAT PDF and Photoshop PSD for the following sizes:

• 3.5” x 2” rectangle
• 3.5” x 2” rectangle-rounded corners
• 2.5″ x 2.5″ square
• 2.5″ x 2.5″ square-rounded corners

Business Card Logo and Design Elements

Business Card and Logo by Creative Mate Design for SPARRA

Add your logo and other design elements such as graphics and photos to start creating your look and feel for your business card design. Your logo should be the main focus and usually the largest focal graphic. When offering your business card want them to remember your company and what it does.

You also might want to use a photograph or/and other elements like logo or branding for background design. Like they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” so by adding a great photograph to your business card, it will not only increase that card’s value but will also make it that much easier for the individual to link you with your business card. Additional graphics work well for showing off your brand identity. Without explicitly saying it, you can communicate your or your brand’s personality through visuals, including colors.

Be careful your graphics do not to overpower your information. You will also want to make sure there is enough white space for easy reading, especially if you are going for a minimalist look.

You have two sides of your business cards. One strategy is to dedicate one side of the business card exclusively to the logo and URL, while the other side showcases the contact information. However, it’s also good to have the logo on both sides, often you will see a smaller, out-of-the-way logo on the side with contact information.

Another strategy is to have your logo, again exclusively on one side and then contact information on one side with some type of value to customers, like stamps for free service. Experiment and see what suits you best. There are several options to choose from.

Business Card and Logo by Creative Mate Design for Vibz

Add necessary information

What your business card says depends on what you or your company does.
Freelancers may have no need for a postal address, while professional companies will want to add that for face-to-face business. Other times it’s a strategic choice, such as drawing attention to your social media. The point is, different people and companies have different needs for what information need to be on their business cards.

Business Card by Creative Mate Design for NUUK Coffee

Now let’s decide what to put on your business card. Here a list of some common choices, so you can decide which to include and exclude.

Name – Most people will use their name but sometimes this can be left out if you are small company and want to leave it broad.

Company Name – Except for personal brands, in which case your personal name is your company name.

Job Title – This will help remind the holder of who you are, what you do, and even how your met.

Phone number – Even if phone is not your preferred method of communication, it is to some people. Especially for texting. If you can receive text messages, you should add that to your card. EXAMPLE Phone/Text: (702) 706-3968

Email – A business card staple is email which allows for longer communication and sending documents as attachments.

Website URL – Including your site URL will show your customers that you’re fully invested in your brand, and it will highlight just how professional your company is. It is a non-aggressive invitation for visits.

Social Media – If social media is relevant to your field, or you just want to show a bit of your personality, include social media links.

Address – Necessary for customers who you want to visit your office or store location.

QR Code – A QR code is still a viable shortcut to transferring whatever data you desire like your website, social media, payment options and more.

Slogan – Completely optional, a slogan helps with brand identity and adds a little personality. It can also remind the person what your company is about.

QR Code Business Card and Logo by Creative Mate Design for Reuben Gonzales

Added Value Options

While these options are the basics, remember you can also add more value to your business cards that help your business as an additional tool. Here are a few possible options.

Stamp Option – If your customer does routine business, you might want to do a stamp offering one free service after they have done four or more.

Appointment Reminders – When you meet a potential customer or client, you can set a time and date immediately. Then they have it as a reminder. Be sure to add your calendar link (if you have one) on it as well, so people have the option to reschedule.

QR Codes For Payment – Adding QR codes like Venmo or CashApp are a great way to get paid or sent tips easily. This also is a super, helpful choice especially if you get paid in tips. Fewer of us carry cash anymore and it gives people an alternative option to send you money.
Your business cards aren’t just about giving information but also retaining it and using it to assist with your business.

Your Typography

Business Card and Logo by Creative Mate Design for Neon Sean Bodywork

Now that you know what information you want on your business card, you can choose how that looks.

Typography has three main categories:

Size – Although there is a lot to put on your business cards you will want to maintain readability. The minimum your text should be is 8 points. However, you want most important elements like your name or title to stand out, so feel free to vary the text sizes. Also consider empty space—you don’t want to clutter your card. This will make it hard to read and identify things. So make sure you leave enough space for breathing room around each element so that it is completely legible.

Fonts – Your fonts will influence your brand identity. Remember to choose a font that represents the personality you’re going for. Often, I will use the same fonts incorporated in the logo. You will always be safe using a clean serif font like Times New Roman or san serif font like Open Sans.

Color – Here’s where a choosing your brand color scheme comes in handy. Choose text colors that work well with the background color of your card. It should also be a brand color. Similar colors may look nice together but can be hard to read, so experiment with contrasts for legibility.

For best practice, typography legibility should be prioritized over all else. It doesn’t matter how unique your font is if no one can read what it says.

Finishing Options

Now that you are towards the end you need to start considering your printing options. Here are some different types of finishes you can consider besides the basic matte or glossy business cards.

Business Card and Logo by Creative Mate Design for Opulence Construction

Soft Touch or Suede Finish – Suede business cards, also known as “soft touch business cards” feature a durable matte laminate film. The laminate adds thickness, water resistance, fingerprint resistance, and a luxurious velvety feel.

Foil Stamping – If you want something shiny and reflective foil stamping is for you. Foil stamping is a process in which the foil is stamped to the paper with heat. There are a variety of vibrant and classy foil colors to choose from so that your product can stand out.

Embossing – Embossed business card use a process where the images or texts are pushed from the other side of the business card creating a raised surface on the front.

Letterpressing – Rather than raising the paper, letterpress printing pushes the paper down while inking it. It is a traditional craft technique that uses a printing press to create relief patterns on paper. Basically, a letterpress makes an inked imprint on paper. The ink isn’t just printed, it’s pressed firmly into the paper, hence, letterpress. So you end up with a product that has both texture and the inked artwork or text.

Business Card and Logo by Creative Mate Design for Sin City Custom Suits

Pick a designer

If you really want an amazing business card, it’s a good idea to find a professional designer who can create the perfect card that fits you. You can look for a local freelance designer or we are here to help at Creative Mate Design. We make sure that we capture your branding and style, while creating a personal experience through the process.

Now that you’ve found the right graphic designer, try to communicate clearly what your business is all about and what style and vibe you are looking for. It makes it easier for your designer’s to turn your vision into reality.

Final Thoughts on Business Card Design

Your card is more than just your contact information—it’s a representation of you and your brand. While business cards are just small pieces of card stock or plastic (similar in size to a credit card), they effectively represent you, your personality, and the presentation of your business brand.

It may be okay to break some of these business card rules depending on your line of work and what you wish to say but don’t cut corners with designing your business card. It’s important to keep your print quality professional and don’t print your own. The key to a successful business card is making it professional, relevant, and appropriate for your industry.

Spend time coming up with your design and find a skilled designer that will turn your business card design into the reality you envisioned.

Call Creative Mate Design at 702-706-3968 for printing and to let us help make your business cards stand out from the rest. Make that lasting first impression you deserve.