My first business card came from a little print shop between my house and my grandparents house. On weekends, my grandpa took me to a flea market and we setup a table to sell odds and ends. I was maybe 8 years old. My father was a small business owner, and I always wanted business cards. But what does an 8 year old need with business cards? Nothing. Except when his grandpa got involved.
Business card tips apply to all businesses
I’ve had dozens of business cards since. I, too, have earned most of my career as a small business owner. Over the past few decades, I’ve learned the hard way what makes good business cards, and I’ve distilled the TOP 5 TIPS here.
Use these tips to get rich from your business cars:
1. Keep it simple stupid
If you want a brochure, make a brochure. Business card should be limited to the most basic information possible. Business name, address, phone, and your name. If this information doesn’t describe what you do, add a line for business description.
2. Use large fonts, contracting colors
Forget the tiny fonts. Make sure everything on your business card is at least 9pt, preferably 10 or 11. Larger the better. Colors should be contrasting and not similar.
3. Non-standard bigger card size
Standard American business card size is 2″ x 3.5″. European business card size is about 2.17″ x 3.35″. In America, always use European size business cards. This means you’ll obviously stick out from the stack of business cards and be easier to find. Plus you get almost 1/3 Sq In additional space on the European business card.
4. Enough room to write
Keep space to write a note, name, phone number, brand name, or other information on the card. This means if you’re doing glossy or other coating, you leave the back matte or some texture which can be easily written on.
5. Make it personal
Leave something important off your business card, like your email, or phone number. Then when handing the card out, use that writing room to handwrite the information as you’re giving the card out. People who get something handwritten naturally think it’s more important or valuable information.
