We are always ready to follow anyway to reach a larger audience online. Digital things are being hyper-focused in the business world these days. We overlook offline promotion tools in that arsenal. Even in a world full of tech-savvy a versatile business card make you stand out of the digital herd and gives a strong good impression of your enterprise. They are and always will remain the key strategy of branding. A boost to your promotional endeavors just by handing a portable card is easiest of all marketing efforts.
Some people don’t like the idea when their business gets tossed or loosed. But the fact that they are cheap and inexpensive makes them the first preference in promotional purposes. This multi tool meets all your need from brand recognition, advertisement to call to action. When designed in the right way they act as a pocket-sized billboard. Here is a simple guide to designing a business card so they will boost your business and serve the purpose of promotion.
But before getting started you need to start with a preliminary activity in which you need to figure out what you want to communicate. What you want to tell not just with words but with the design too. So if you want to dive deeper and want to know the steps that are included in designing a card then here is a shortlist.
Select A Shape
If you want a traditional rectangle business card then skip directly to the next step. However, if you want to consider a different option, then go for some out of the box strategies and ideas. With the advancement in printing techniques, there is an increased room for creativity in shapes too. Die cutting technique will help you get any shape you want for your cards. If you want a playful and standout card, then any virtual shape can work for you depending on the brand. To give a more approachable and personable feel you can really add employee picture to it. For formal industry creative yet funky shape may have an adverse effect. So focus on logistics and select a card that fits your needs.
Select Size
The card size depends mainly on the country’s standard. For example, in North America, the standard size for a business card is 3.5 × 2 in. (88.9 × 50.8 mm), in Europe, it is 3.346 × 2.165 in. (85 × 55 mm) and in Oceania, the standard size is 3.54 × 2.165 in. (90 × 55 mm). There are three areas on the card you need to know. First one is the bleed area that is most likely to be removed because it’s outer most part. The second one is the trim line which is the target or boundary line for cutting. The third one is the safety line which is for adjusting mistakes. A standard card must have all three areas to eliminate the factor of mistake.
Logo And Design
A logo is the first and foremost part of the visual element is designing a business card. And the logo must have a central part on the card.
You have two options to consider. Either exclusively add logo or showcase other details and contact information because minimalism is the main strategy while designing a card. Additional graphics other than logo will help you elaborate on your brand identity or your own personality.
Necessary Information
Different people have different requirement and information to put on the card. So it is up to you what you want to share, your name, company name, job title, phone number email address, website URL, QR code, slogan or social media link.
Choose Typography
Once you know what you want to communicate, it will be easy for you to choose typography. Size, font, color all depend on what you want to write on it. The rule for typography is legibility. If it’s not readable then all the effort will be worthless. Your card is a reflection of your brand so spend dome ample time in finalizing one.