Helpful Tips for Your Next Business Card Design

Even in this (mostly) digital age, business cards have stood the test of time as a tangible communication tool. Often, people will give out their business card as a physical reminder of a promising interaction that will likely lead to doing business in the future. When a potential customer or client sees your business card, it leaves a lasting impression. Like the old saying goes, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” If you want the best chance to lock in future business, you’ll want to make sure that your business card leaves a good, polished first impression on all who receive it. You want the design to convey the image and level of professionalism you work so hard to achieve. Here are some helpful business card tips from the experts and leaders of the professional pack at Rite Graphics, the brainchild of two printing professionals who grew weary of the less-than-stellar practices and products in their industry.

Create a Custom Card

Think about the most important message or vibe that you want your card to create for the viewer when designing and printing your business card. When it comes to custom business card printing, try to be creative but clean—that is, feel free to express your company or business’s uniqueness, but don’t let the message get lost in too many extra details. Choose one or two elements that you really want to stand out—like the logo or name. Perhaps a certain color or color scheme is tied to your brand. You may want to make that the focal standpoint of the design. If you have too much going on at once, it may send the message to potential clients that you’re scattered and unorganized. On the other hand, something too dull, with no standout features, may cause the viewer of the card to become disinterested or lose it among the many others they likely have. Stand out, but stand out in a clear, distinctive, streamlined way. For commercial printing purposes, you want your business card to be distinctive for all of the right reasons.

Remember Basic Design Principles

While you want to express your individuality, or the individuality of your company, through your business card design, you also want to remember to make the pertinent information on the card clear and easy to read. Company or brand name, contact information, and logo are all high on the priority list when arranging the placement of text on the card. If the contact information for your company is too difficult to locate, people may not seek it out on their own via another format. Confusing, hard to read or decipher text may also turn off possible clientele. Avoid having text or graphics too close to or running off of the edge of the card. As a general rule of design thumb, have all text print at least 5mm from the edge of the card. Find a font size that’s not too small to read without a magnifying glass, but also not so large that it’s overwhelming to read or doesn’t leave enough space for the remainder of the words or graphics.

Keep the Competition in Mind

Unless you’re in a niche market, chances are, you have at least a few companies in direct competition with your own business. Objectively observe the design of their business cards and/or other promotional materials, and learn from them! See what works and what doesn’t, while using the information to your benefit. Make sure your card doesn’t appear too similar to keep customers from confusing your separate entities (or upsetting your fellow company’s legal department!). Use their designs as a learning tool to launch your own ideas from.

Consider the Size and Border

While you may not have to adhere to one rigid size standard when designing your business card, it is best to make sure the size isn’t too large to fit into the standard wallet or billfold. If it is too large, it’s more likely to get tossed aside (and eventually into the trash) in order to make room for items that are less bulky. The same can be said for choosing a card size that is too small to keep up with that can easily get lost in the mix.

If you’re a fan of borders to “frame” your information perfectly, you may want to reconsider this design element. Unless your cards are perfectly cut, a border may point out any mismeasurements or misalignments with the trim. This may seem like a minimal factor to most, but perfectionists may notice the imperfection right away.

Go with the Pros

Your best bet is to put your company’s next business card design in the hands of those who know the business best. Rite Graphics, in business since 1994, is your one-stop shop for all of your business printing and designing needs—including developing that perfect business card you’ve been dreaming of. Rite Graphics can take your list of must-haves and non-negotiables and blend them together on this tiny canvas that reflects your dedication and commitment to excellence in your respective field. Have your card be the talk of the town when you use Rite Graphics, and see why they have earned their unmatched reputation as the cream of the crop when it comes to delivering the highest quality printed products, whether the scale is small or large. From envelopes and business cards to brochures, postcards, pocket folders, and more, they can put just about anything you can envision into reality. Visit https://ritegraphics.com/ to view all of the services available to you today, or reach out to a member of their knowledgeable customer service team for answers to all of your printing-related business questions and needs.