The business card is a small piece of paper that says everything there is to know about you in just a few short lines. It's like an "elevator speech"—only the time to make an impression is even shorter. For anyone who has handed them out or worked in the real world for a few years, you've probably seen your fair share of good and bad business cards.
Well-designed cards grab your attention and are adeptly laid out with sharp colors, proper spacing and a unique business logo adorn the playing card-sized area. Poorly designed cards typically get shoved into pockets rather quickly and often consist of dull printing, tight or large spacing and lack of a business logo.
You know the fish bowls at restaurants, asking you to drop in your business card to win a free lunch? You've probably stood there before (peeking in to see if yours was near the top) and admired other cards. Why? Because they had good design—they stood out! A well-designed card is a card to remember; it's a card that says email or call today.
How do you avoid having an ugly card—one that doesn't get lost in the fishbowl? Integrate the following strategies to design a standout business card:
After you've designed your business card, it's time to put it to use! A strategic logo will drive business better than any other marketing strategy because it identifies and sells your business among myriad other competitors. Now is the time to take your logo and start networking. Introduce consumers and business partners to your product and let them know why you're the best. By having a logo that identifies your branding, you'll establish a holding in the marketplace as a trusted and reliable brand. People will remember your image and recall it for years to come.
While old-fashioned person-to-person networking is always smart, don't forget about using your logo for social networking purposes. Make your logo a prominent fixture on your website. People should also see your logo when they receive an email from you with a clickable link that sends them to your website. It's all about driving business through instant recognition of your brand.