How To Design Your Own Business Cards

24 comments

Updated: September 29, 2020

A business card is an essential tool for any professional and entrepreneur. Aside from providing contact information, it can also serve as a mini portfolio to showcase your work and products.

Moreover, business cards also function as a marketing tool that helps create brand awareness.

For these reasons, one should never take for granted the design of one’s business card.

It may be tempting to simply use business card templates that are available online or use the sample layouts provided in business card making softwares. But be aware that by doing so, you are undermining the real power of an effective business card design.

So how do you come up with a memorable business card design?

One that sends out an impression strong enough that it creates interest and consequently converts into return calls and inquiries. One that doesn’t get lost but kept and remembered when your product or service is needed.

Here are some points to consider when designing business cards:

First, decide the information you want to give

What details are you planning to put on your business card?

Typically, these would be the business name, company logo and address, your name and work title, contact numbers, email address, and website or online portfolio.

Additionally, you may include your business tagline, list of prominent clients and an enumeration of your products and services.

Drafting the layout

The standard business card is 2 inches tall by 3.5 inches wide. I believe that this is the best choice for size because it will fit perfectly in business card holders and can be neatly stored and kept by the receiver.

Before working on your computer software, sketch first on a piece of paper the layout of your desired business card. Be sure to include all the information you want to give including the basic designs that you plan to implement.

Using both sides can be helpful

If you have lots of information that you want included on the card, consider utilizing both sides.

The other side is usually a great place to list your products and services, a testimonial from pleased customers or something useful such as a calendar or a conversation table.

Taglines, slogans and calls to action

Putting something about you or your business can help make a positive impression.

You can put your business slogan, special features of your products and service or whatever is the unique selling proposition of your business. Emphasize the value that you offer and the benefits of doing business with you.

The title and company position

As a freelance professional or an entrepreneur, you are at liberty to decide what title to give yourself on your business card. Don’t be afraid to put something more creative yet still appropriate.

For example, as a business owner, try not to use simple titles such as “Sole Proprietor” or “President” and put something like “Big Boss” or a more formal but interesting “Chief Executive”.

Putting your photo

A good way to be remembered is putting your picture on your business card. This is very helpful if your business relies on personal relationships with your clients.

Examples of professions that will benefit from this are real estate brokers, direct selling marketers, and freelance models.

Make all information clear and easy to find

Don’t clutter information. Use a pleasant layout for your text, photos and graphics. Don’t use fonts that are hard to read.

If you plant to use several fonts, use those that belong to the same typeface family so it will look good.

Also, don’t be ambiguous and state clearly the nature of your business and the products and service that you offer.

Colors, alignment and proximity

When deciding on the basic colors of your business card, it’s best to use those that are already in your business logo.

Moreover, you may use color psychology to complement your business nature.

Use different alignments to create a visual balance to the graphic and text elements of the business card. Moreover, try to keep everything inside. Best practice is to stay at least 3mm from the edge.

Language translations

Do you conduct business internationally? Then you might consider using the back of the card to print a translated version of your business card in your client’s language.

It adds a classy touch and more often than not, your customers will appreciate it.

Print a sample and proofread all details

Never rely on the monitor. Always print an actual sample to see if the colors are correct and the text are clear and readable.

More importantly, check the spelling and grammar and double check the contact information before printing the bulk.

Take inspiration from others

I’m sure you’ve received business cards from others. Try to browse through them and take out the ones that you like or those that you find interesting and memorable.

Use them to give you an idea how you can design your own business card.

Outsourcing the work

If you have the budget, allow your business card to be designed by a professional. Just remember to take an active part in the design process.

Moreover, although printing your business card through a desktop printer is acceptable, taking it to a professional printer will ensure quality print outs, accurate cutting and a more proficient look.

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24 comments

  1. here’s a different take on business cards, just thought i’d share it:

    my business requires me to give out at least 30, at the most 75 business cards a day – I have a shop and i encourage walk-in customers to take my card because aside from the shop, i have a mirror website where i upload pics of my latest wares (of which i have at least 3x a week). that meant at one point that i was spending upwards of P2,500 a month on business cards alone because so many people wanted to get them. Ouch.

    One day, i just typed out my name, my pertinent contact numbers, my shop’s name & address, its pertinent business numbers, the websites i updated daily, and my email addresses in a 8.5″x11″ Word Document. I made the data fit into a 2.5 inch x 2.75 inch bordered “card”, copy-pasted it several times over til i had 16 or so such cards in 1 page. I printed it once (best copy, lotsa ink, black & white), then had my girl Hanzel have a whole bond paper ream’s worth photocopied over at the U.P. Shopping Center (cost: P250). We then proceeded to manually cut the “cards” ourselves.

    That’s around 8,000 “cards” that i don’t mind giving away to anyone, to everyone, because it cost me a total of around P300 (including round trip fare to U.P.). Because it’s so “throw-away, the people who get the cards more often than not file the info immediately into their cellphones, or write it down themselves in their journals, diaries etc., or, upon visiting my multiply.com website, add me as a contact, and then i can be found again.

    I don’t recommend this to everyone, of course – when i can afford it, i’m going to have made a few hundred laminated, metalized, supra-engraved business cards with a greco-romanized border. now THAT would be reaallly cool.

    keep on writing, Fitz! i’m definitely going to keep on reading.

  2. Great article. business cards are a great way to use simple and inexpensive printing to promote your business. do a search online for the best deals on business card printing. try printedproof.com for special coupons on business cards. also, try the great free business cards from many different retailers.

  4. @sandy
    Thank you so much for sharing. It was really informative. I also have those “patapon” business cards which I usually give out if people just wanted to get my contact details. Good business cards can be quite expensive that’s why I give the “cool ones” only to important people. 😀

    @christian
    Thanks for the comment. 😉

    @Jehz
    Sure, hintayin ko ang pingback ha. Hehe. 😀

  9. while digital signatures and e-cards are now popular, hindi pa rin pwedeng alisin ang hard copy nito. sadly some people do not have the sense of aesthetics and tend to flood their business cards with lousy information, which make it sometimes over-killed. great tips Fitz!

  10. You should also include the feng-shui on business or calling cards. Just got this idea from a Fil-Chinese friend and a some talk show host last year before the chinese lunar new year.

  12. @dimaks
    Thanks!

    @Ben
    That’s quite interesting. I’ll do some research and will try to come up with a post regarding that one. Thanks for suggesting.

  20. i love to make business cards at home, you can make a nice one by just using an inkjet printer**-

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