They are the staple of many a business, from small local enterprise to large multi-national company - but what actually makes a great business card design?

As Nuneaton business card providers, we thought we woulld put together this article to give you some pointers on how to make that BIG first impression on what is the SMALLEST piece of marketing material!

1. Use of the company logo

You would probably think it goes without saying, however often we see examples of business cards where the emphasis on included elements is wrong! Your company logo represents your company and is something that you should be recognisable by. Ensuring that it appears clearly and at a reasonable size on your business card will make it obvious that it is yours - handy when it resides in a collection of other cards in someone's desk drawer. Your card needs to stand out!

TOP TIP

Ensure that the logo used on the card is of print quality resolution. This means 300dpi and in CMYK to be optimal for printing. No logo at all is better than a pixelated or blurred emblem - this makes your company look less than professional immediately!

2. Do not over cram the business card design - use both sides!

OK - so there may be alot of information you wish to get on your business card design, however it is very important that this information is of a legible size! The best way to achieve this is to have a double sided business card design. This way information can be split across two sides and be nicely presented. Production costs for a double sided business card compared to a single sided one are by no means double the cost as you may think!

TOP TIP

A great way to use the reverse area of a business card is to promote some of your companies' key services or maybe a promotional offer. You can even make it more visual by having an image of interest.

3. Make sure the essentials are covered

There are certain bits of information that are imperative to include on any business card that is going to serve its intended purpose, so ensure you don't forget any! They are:

• Your name
• Title
• Company name
• Address
• Phone and fax numbers
• Email and website addresses

TOP TIP

Out of these key pieces of information, decide which are most important for you to communicate and give them prominence accordingly - everything can't and shouldn't be the same size!

4. Choose an easily legible typeface

It can be very tempting to go out all guns blazing and choose a really fancy typeface for your business card. However, it is best to hold back here and use a simple and legible typeface that people will be able to read at a glance. There will always be appropriate times for you to use those fancier options!

TOP TIP

We recommend using a sans serif typeface for your busines card design!

5. Make your business card design stand out from the rest

This is why it is often best to use a professional business card design provider as they can offer a wealth of knowledge on just how to make your business card look 'the bees knees'. There are many ways that this can be achieved, often by the material and finishes used. Some great suggestions are:

Lamination - matt or glossy styles can add durability and luxury to your cards

Spot UV finishing - this process enables certain areas of the design to be 'brought to life' by way of a shiny, glossy finish

Die cutting - why not have your business cards cut out to a non-standard shape to represent your services?

Textured papers - there are many different business card boards and materials available that can make your card stand out in a pile!

TOP TIP

Whatever you do, DO NOT skimp on the quality of material that your business cards are printed on. The best business card design in the world will look awful if printed at home on thin card and cut out by hand! It really is worth investing in a high quality finish for your business cards.

We offer Nuneaton business card design services as well as business card design for the whole of the UK. Please enquire here if this could be useful for your business.