Yes, the two typos we included in the first line of this paragraph were deliberate. This goes without saying, but a speeling mistake sets the wrong toen for any piece of content, and when it’s in a condensed business card format then the problems are magnified. So you end up having to get the printer to design it for you, and you’ve wasted dozens of hours of time that should have been spent developing your business or finding new customers. This could include problems like document format, pixelated images, or other layout issues, including the lack of bleed and crop marks. Or, worse again, you spend several days designing your own business card only to find that it’s not suitable for printing. Yes, you could invest in Adobe Photoshop or InDesign, and design your card yourself, but you’ll have invested a lot of time and money, and probably still not get the results you wanted. Graphic design is part art, part science and a whole lot of knowing what does and doesn’t work in the real world. We understand that clipart is used at times to make the design of a card appear more whimsical or humorous, but that’s rarely a good idea. And with images costing as little as €1 each there’s no reason for you not to use them.
High-quality stock photographs and images are readily available online from a number of sources. There’s no excuse for using clipart when designing a business card, well not unless you’re running a business that actually sells clipart.
There was a time when using free clipart on business cards might have looked okay, but that was back in 1992. What information should be on a business card? Your business name, your name, what you do, and a way to contact you. Outside that you’re literally wasting your time trying to cram anything else onto that tiny surface area.
Remember, the goal of your business card is to serve as a reminder of who you are, what you do and how to contact you. So you get their business name, their own name, email address, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc, etc. Some entrepreneurs look like they’re trying to fit their entire resumé onto it. Less is most definitely more when designing business cards. So, let’s take a look at the key mistakes you absolutely must avoid with your business cards. What was your internal reaction the last time somebody handed you a business card they’d obviously designed and printed themselves. That’s enough of a challenge in your personal life, but there’s even more pressure when it comes to setting the right tone for your business when interacting with potential clients.īadly designed business cards are the quickest way to undo all the hard work you did in building a relationship with them. My favourite is, “You don’t get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression.” Everything from your body language, handshake and the first words you utter, can directly impact how people perceive you from that point onwards. They say first impressions last, and it’s true.