What You Should And Shouldn't Have on Your Business Card
A business card has to be done right, however, in order to be most effective. There are certain things you will want to be sure of when designing your cards and here are the top qualities you should look at:
Size: You should have a uniform, standard size, which is, 3.5" by 2". By conforming the size of your card, it will fit in most peoples' wallets.
Color: How much color should you use? Unless you are in the visual arts industry you will want to make sure your card only has a maximum of three colors displayed on it.
Ink: If the ink runs (try dropping some water on your card to check this), you should look into printing your cards somewhere else.
Image and message design: Make sure both your image and your message coincide on your card. A conflicting image and message are confusing and ineffective.
Contact information: Where is your contact information displayed? Your card should have your contact info printed right on the front and should include all the means of reaching you; e-mail, phone, fax and physical address.
Font size: Don't cram your card with information; make sure you leave plenty of white space. If your card has a large font face, it will look cheesy and cheap. Print smaller fonts and make sure there is white space for easy reading.
Front and back: If possible, take advantage of the space on the back of the card.
Why is it important to follow these suggestions when you design and print your business card? You only get one chance to make a first impression.
If you do not have a background in graphic design, it's wise to outsource your business card design to someone else. There are plenty of talented people with a gift for creating a well-communicated message and design.
Business Card Templates:
Using a template drastically reduces design time and gives you a lot of ideas to find which design works best for you. On the other hand, using a template creates a potential look-alike business card.
Business Card Templates - by Microsoft. You can download, edit and print them using MS Word.
48 Hour Print - Offers templates you can download to your computer and edit with Photoshop, Illustrator, QuarkXpress, Publisher, as well as other popular software packages.
Free Business Cards:
Free business cards are great for testing your card. Some free business cards come with a message on them that reads, "Get your free business cards at VisitaPrint."
However, free cards tell the recipients you wouldn't pay $10 or $20 bucks for your business cards. I think they're okay for testing or if you need some personal cards made. For business I would recommend cheap business cards before going with free business cards that come with an ad for the company printing them.
If you're looking for free business cards, then this site will allow you to choose a template, fill in your information, and click to order your cards. You can also get premium business cards for a very low cost.
Cheap Business Cards:
Cheap Business Cards Some printing companies make cheap business cards by having you choose a template fill in your information and submit it for printing.
Cheap business cards do pose a downfall in my opinion because if you have to choose from a template then you could run into having a similar card with someone else. The best way is to look for a printer that will design your cards or allow you to design them and print them. That way you'll have a unique design and logo and won't have to worry about someone with a similar card.
Online Business Cards:
If you're looking to order business cards online then these site have a wide selection plus many options. See what sites are best for you.
Great FX Business Card: This site offers magnets, coated, backside, razed lettering. as well as the regular options for business cards.
Vista Print: Offers free, low cost, and premium business cards. The also have promotions from time to time. Check out there site to see what they have.
PsPrint: Is a full blown printing company that offer a wide range of options at a reasonable price.
Business Card Tools And Accessories:
See Also:
Business Card : How to Make Yours A Silent Salesman
Free Business cards and Where to get them
Business Card History and Standards
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