Everything you create that advertises your business should reflect the inner workings of your company. From online digital advertising to traditional print, your branding is one of the essential keys to your success as a business owner.
When it comes to business cards, it pays to think and plan before you order.
Why plan out your business card?
True, the purpose of a business card is to convey information. But if people obtain this information from a flat, dull, white or beige piece of paper, how are they going to respond to your brand? What do your logo and your business card say about who you are as a business owner? What does it do for your image?
The truth is, for many people in the “real world” that you give your business card to if your business card is your company. In other words, they may not be online looking at your site, even if you put your website on the cards. So, to some potential clients and customers, your business card is it.
Try to imagine for a minute the impression they would get if your business card is all they ever see of your business. What if all they know about your business looks like this. This article states in the title that “there is no excuse for ugly business cards,” and they’re right!
Creating an attractive, nice-looking business card shows the level of pride you have in your business and creates a sense of confidence (or lack of) in your brand.
If your business cards resemble something like a reject from a Kindergarten art class, you need to ask yourself if you’re committed to your business or not.
The Tomorrow Syndrome
I like entrepreneurs. They understand the importance of doing things today. They plan for tomorrow, but they don’t live in it. They look back to the past for inspiration, but they don’t dwell on it. They move forward, ever forward.
But for some others, they’d rather put off until tomorrow what they don’t want to do today! If you are working on your branding, there’s no sadder story you could tell.
If you wait until the perfect opportunity, you will never do anything that counts. Perhaps I am preaching to the choir. Maybe you have a plan for your business cards and other projects related to your branding. Great! But if not, what is your reason for putting off one of the most important aspects of your branding in the real world?
Should you do it yourself or outsource it?
When it comes to how to get your business cards done, you can opt to do it yourself, outsource it to someone you know or to an online outsourcing agency, or you can hire a professional. Think about your business. Is it worth spending the money to invest is great-looking business cards? How much are you willing to spend to get your message out in style?
What about your logo?
Your logo should represent your brand in the best light possible. This should be a big part of your business cards as well. What does your logo look like? Does it make you want to look at it more or is it in need of a makeover? These questions should be answered long before you start planning for the design and printing of your business cards.
It’s All About ROI
When it comes down to it, it’s all about ROI (return on investment). How much do you think you will get back from your business cards? It should be a lot. But you may not be able to predict the amount of ROI until you get your best business card out there. If you have not had the best results and received calls and emails from your card in the past, maybe there’s something that you should change.
How do you design the perfect business card?
What information should you include?
There are varying opinions on what makes a good business card. Designs, colors, types of paper, and other factors always come into play when planning a business card.
But what are some of the most important considerations?
Here are a few tips we came up with by checking around the internet plus thinking up a few of our own.
1. Consider the purpose of the business cards. Are you advertising some new product or service? If the product is something that you think could increase your sales significantly, you may want to have a picture of the product on your cards. Are you someone looking for a job or doing some prospecting for hiring new employees? Make this the focus of your card. Think about what you want your business cards to communicate and make that the primary purpose of the cards.
2. Include accurate up-to-date information. One mistake people make is that they forget to update the information on their business cards. This results in information being passed out that is not relevant or obsolete. If you want to promote your brand, make sure that the information is correct, at the very least.
3. Include many types of contact information. Today’s world is mobile, online, and collaborative. You need to include as many types of ways of contacting and interacting with you that you need to promote yourself. If you are a business promoting your website, make your website the main link you include on the cards. But also include a professional-looking email address, your name, and location if you are a business with a physical address.
4.Remember that business cards are a type of communication. Just like any media or information that you put out, you should double-check to make sure it includes all of the important information that you want to include. Only include multiple email addresses if you want all of them to be points of contact and include the branding and graphics that is associated with your business. Your logo should be prominent on your business cards as this is one of the most important parts of your branding.
5. Make an impact. Just like your logo, your business card should reflect your brand’s purpose, goals, and activities. Look at your logo and think about how it could be better. Compare your logo to others in your industry to get ideas, but always focus on making your brand’s logo as unique and different as your company itself.
If you are in need of a logo or need to redesign your logo, call on the professionals at LogoDesignTeam.com. If you have a business that you are proud of and want to tell people about, are you going to trust just anyone with this task?
Or worse.. create something as fast as possible just to get it into the hands of as many people as possible? What is your website looked like this? You would leave people wondering what on earth you were thinking. Being sloppy with your business cards, your email sales letters, business cards, or any other part of your advertising begs the question: “Are you just playing at a business or are you serious?”
Thinking ahead in terms of trends and time. We aim to create designs which will remain unique and iconic, in other words – timeless designs. You want it, we’ll give it to you. Give us a buzz here!
