Business cards are big business these days and it’s easy to see why. These handy little products are a great tool for advertising, networking and spreading the word about who you are and what you do. Read on for our 6 steps to designing a business card that you’ll be proud to hand out.
- Shape
The first thing to consider when it comes to designing a business card is the shape. Once upon a time customers were limited to the humble rectangle, however nowadays there’s a few more options on the table. Choose to have the corners rounded or go for a custom design that incorporates just about any shape that you can think of. The advent of die-cutting means that printing companies can now cut business cards in any shape while still printing in bulk.
- Size
Next up we have size, which is a pretty important factor. Key to this decision is knowing the basic dimensions that are common throughout the world. For instance, the North American standard is 88.9 x 50.8 mm while the Oceania standard is 90 x 55 mm and the European standard is 85 x 55 mm. Confused about all these numbers? Don’t be. Just use them as a rough guide and then go with something that works for you.
Three key factors to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a size for your business card are the bleed area, safety line and trim line. Your professional printer will know all about these.
- Graphics and logo
A key part of any business card is the logo, so you want to ensure that this is positioned in a prominent place. Think about the hierarchy of your visual elements and work with the white space around each image, character and symbol. Incorporate strong brand colours to further emphasise your messaging and you’ll be looking pretty on card in no time.
- Key text
Once the flashy stuff is out of the way, you’ll need to think about the key information. This includes things such as your name, place of business, job title, contact details and more. Don’t forget that nowadays you’ll want to have your website and social media accounts listed so people can contact you online.
- Typography
Making your text look impressive is really important to designing an effective business card. You’ll want to go with a font that matches your brand and messaging but also has some visual appeal. Remember that readability is key and that you are working with limited space, so less is always more.
- Special finishes
Add some final touches to really make your product look amazing. Printing companies can do embossing, letterpressing, foil stamping, spot UV coating and more which are all unique in their own right and will help you to leave a lasting impression with your business card. It all comes down to personal preference and there’s no wrong answer.
Business cards are our specialty
If you need business cards printed that look amazing, then get in touch with the team at Print on Collins. Our Melbourne CBD printing company can help with all of your needs and always deliver exceptional products. Get in touch for a free quote today.
