3 Must-Know Secrets To Creating A Great Business Card

In the business world, the key to making a good first impression is having an eye-catching business card. Although it may seem trivial, this small piece of cardboard can make or break a connection with a potential client or financier. It’s a powerful marketing tool – one that’s vital to your networking success.

As a result, here are three secret tips to help you create a set of business cards your clients won’t be able to ignore.        

1 Tell A Story

A business card is often the first point of contact between your business and the public. For this reason, it should do so much more than simply provide your contact details: it should tell a story about your brand.  

From the thickness of the cardboard to the choice of the colour scheme, every aspect of your business card needs to say something about you. If you own an organic market stall committed to environmental sustainability, then printing your cards on rough, recyclable paper will help reflect those core values. On the other hand, if your business is marketed towards wealthy professionals, then it would be better to use a glossy, more luxurious paper.  

Try to come up with a story worth telling. Then, infuse that story in the design of your business cards. By ensuring that each aspect of the card’s design speaks to who you are, you’ll be able to better capture the essence of your brand and, through this, better attract your target market.

2 Evoke Curiosity  

Think of your business card as a call to action. It should evoke curiosity, encouraging people to get in contact, connect online or find out more about you and your brand.

One way to do this is to give your card a few unique touches. Think outside the box –or, in this case, the rectangle– and create a business card with an intriguing design. Whether that means making your card shine with some gold foil or embellishing it with a bold pattern, your main goal should be to make an impact!

Straying from convention, even just a little bit, will definitely pay off. You want people to take more than a cursory look at your card. And, with a unique and memorable design, you can be sure to stand out from your competitors.  

3

Use Ingenuity To Pass The Trash Test

The harsh reality is that most business cards end up in the bin. In fact, according to a study conducted by Adobe, a staggering 88% of cards get thrown away within the first week of their exchange. With a little ingenuity, though, yours doesn’t have to be one of them.    

Make sure your card passes the trash test by giving it a useful design. For example, you could create a card that doubles as a loyalty card, sticker or pocket-sized art print – something that potential clients can easily tuck into their wallets and use again later.

Or, you could turn your business card into a coupon. This is exactly what our parent company, Cleaning Mate, did. The carpet cleaning service used its business cards to offer $10 off to all potential clients. Not only did this encourage customers to hold onto Cleaning Mate’s contact details, but it also led to a surge in business!    

At the end of the day, potential clients won’t dare throw your business card away if you give it a unique purpose, evoke a bit of curiosity and use the small piece of cardboard to tell a story about your brand.