Everyone knows at least one person who hands out business cards
like snowflakes. At work, home, church, company picnics, family
reunions, and even movie theaters, these are the people who "work a
crowd" and try to drum up business in places most people wouldn't think
of. Their entrepreneurial spirit is obviously alive and well, but does
this actually work? The honest answer is both yes and no. A
well-designed, clearly printed business card can be a great way to
advertise a business or a complete flop when it comes to attracting
clientele. Here are common misconceptions about business cards that can
help you make wise decisions when you get your next batch!
1) Less is more.
A
business card serves only one intended function: To provide your
customers and clients with contact and company information. This doesn't
mean your company motto should take up fifteen lines of eight-point
print. This font is too small to be read properly and can result in
misdials, incorrectly input Web addresses, and frustration for your
clientele. A good business card design gives the basic information and a
line or two of text, or "blurb," about your business. "Serving Northern
California Since 1997" is a good, if plain, blurb. "Northern
California's Source For RV Rentals, Jet Skis, and Luxury Sport Craft" is
not because it's wordy and tries to convey too much. You need to be
able to pack a lot of information onto your card, so how you arrange the
information makes a big difference. If you're in doubt, remember Oscar
Wilde's maxim that "Brevity is the soul of wit!"
2) Pick a font that stands out!
While
this is true to some degree, if you choose a font like German Gothic
Script, your cards may come out appearing muddled and hard to read. Most
printers and copy shops offer these fonts as monograms, such as the
letter "J." Monogramming is an excellent visual shorthand, but for the
primary and all-important contact information, you should stick with
fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Book Antiqua. All of these fonts
are relatively easy to read, minimizing confusion and allowing your
customers to reach you more quickly.
3) Go Big Or Go Home!
There
are certain practical aspects to this, but size really does matter. Too
little and too big are just as bad. Sure, your number is easy to read
if you put it in 20pt type, but this usually won't leave much, if any,
room for the other crucial information your business card is going to
need to distinguish it from the other four hundred fifty seven in your
customer's Rolodex. Of course, if you're trying to fit the entire
collected works of Charles Dickens onto one side of one business card,
the print is going to be much too small to be practical either. A good
balance is 10pt to 14pt, depending on whether you have a logo or other
information on your card.
4) A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words
This
is another one of those myths with a certain basis in fact. A visually
attractive business card can stand out from your competition and draw
your customer's interest and attention. The tradeoff with incorporating
an image onto a business card is that you really don't want to add text
over the top of the image. This can make your contact information
difficult to read. Many print shops also charge extra to include
pictures on your run of cards, an important consideration when you're
paying out of pocket for your cards.
5) Heavy Hitters Use Heavy Stock!
We
all know the kind of showoff who shows up at the convention, trade
show, or exposition with laminated business cards printed on imported
Egyptian papyrus or Lebanese parchment. While heavier card stock is
generally more durable, the heavier you go, the more expensive your
order is going to be. Besides, this is the kind of conspicuous display
that causes gossip about leased luxury vehicles and people who work at
the country club to help offset their membership dues. Basic card stock
is perfectly serviceable, retains ink and color well, and doesn't
subconsciously insult your target audience.