What makes a good business card?
What makes a business card effective?
Is it originality? Legibility? Simplicity?
Perhaps it’s how your card prompts the recipient into contacting you. A clean, uncluttered design shows that you care about appearance and immediately sends out a professional vibe.
First and foremost, your card must clearly show your contact details. That’s the number one priority. Even if your card is poorly designed, it must allow people to contact you. Kind of a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many cards hide the contact info away behind some over-indulged colour scheme or illegible typeface.
Size deserves a mention. If your card doesn’t fit into a holder or wallet it’s not likely to be kept close-at-hand.
Should your promotional piece have a gimmick? Here’s an original idea that doesn’t use card stock.
It belongs to Poul Nielsen, a certified personal trainer and fitness consultant in Toronto, Canada. Just reading his name is a light workout in itself! Poul seems like a top bloke, so it’s a shame his personal trainer website isn’t quite as unique.
You want your contact details to be obvious without any catch, so I’m split about Poul’s card. Sure, it’s original, and works excellently for the industry, but it doesn’t make the information apparent at first glance. What happens if the prospective client is missing a thumb, or arm? Of course he could always hand this card out personally and have a back-up for such occurences.
How much should conventions be challenged, and does it depend on the industry?
Take a funeral director for instance. I tried to think of a profession where you want to be subtle in your sales pitch. Being subtle doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice good design for a ‘plain Jane’ finish.
A funeral director wants to sell his / her most expensive headstone or coffin. Why not print the card with a subtle marble or oak-effect behind the text? Gloss laminate the substrate for a smooth finish perhaps?
Mark Boulton was recently asked, “What makes a good business card?” and he wasn’t so sure about his response. His readers make some interesting points in the comment section of that post.
One commenter, Zach Inglis, thinks your business card should be, “Clean, crisp, readable, rememberable.” He makes a good summary, even though I’m sure he meant ‘memorable’.
I came across a post about cartoons on business cards. For me, this one depends on the message of the cartoon and the industry being designed for. There were some nice examples, and I’ve shown a few below.
I’ve also written a little about the process behind my personal business card.
Terry Tolleson believes that a business card should (at the very least) contain three elements (in order of importance):
- Contact information
- Company name
- Visual identifier for the company (a logo for instance)
Regardless how flashy or clever your card is, if contact information is not readily available, or quickly processed, the card failed. What does it matter if someone remembered some neat trick the card does or how nice it looked if they find a hint of difficulty acquiring your information from it.
I agree, which is why I have reservations about Poul Nielsen’s card.
Your business cards
I’d love to see examples of your business cards. Are they online? Feel free to send me some links or photos and I’ll add them to an upcoming showcase.
For more business card inspiration, have a look at my blog category on business cards.
Related posts on this site
29 appreciated comments to “What makes a good business card?”
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“Never begin… (top right) – that’s a lot better.
Now, if only the search box was up there as well (just pulling your leg).
Thanks for dropping in.
I think it depends on the person. I like simplicity. Someone at my old job gave me their business card because I loved the simplicity and how it is just absolutely gorgeous even though its plain jane, just the colours left an impression of her good taste *she was an interior designer*
I hope I didn’t confuse ‘plain Jane’ with simplicity. For me, the best cards are simple.
This is timely. I was just thinking about making a card.
First time commenting. I really dig your blog… saw your link from LogoPond. But yea… I think business cards can be designed as complex or as simple as you want them, just make sure the contact info is readily there and easy to read. I’m actually in the process of designing a new version for my stationary so this was a good read.
PG, thanks for visiting, and for your comment. I checked out your portfolio which I think is very diverse. Some excellent work there! Similar to Beth, I’d love to see your finished identity.
David,
Here’s the link to my business card. This is for the videography company run by my wife and myself. We don’t consider ourself designers in the sense that you are, but we do design videos for people. Let me know what you think. BTW we designed the site as well.
http://www.adoraproductions.com/media/adora_card.gif
Taking a look at your card the first thing that struck me was the margin use on the contact info side. To give you an idea of how to make better use of margins I spent a minute rearranging your own contact elements.
I hope you don’t mind.
I personally like a business card you can keep with other business cards. The Poul card is “cute” and the concept fits with his profession but I can’t put it in my rolodex or a wallet. Well, I’m sure I could but it wouldn’t be quite as easy as a standard business card.
Nice work PG!
David,
Thanks! I can see the difference now that you point it out to me.
Like I said, I’m not really a designer, but I enjoy good design and I’ve started reading a lot of design blogs, such as yours, so I can learn more.
Thanks for taking the time to help!
That’s exactly what I meant David, thanks for updating me.
Interesting idea David!
Here is another interesting way to make money with your business cards that you may not have thought of!
For me, I ended turning it into a revenue stream, because I knew there had to be a way to take advantage of the millions of business cards out there. It’s a strong concept to generate leads. Here it is…worth a quick look freecard.com
Dean
It’s real good to go through your website. I am just designing a logo and business card for my college portfolio. Even I like the clean finish of the card but the most important is the contact info which should be delivered rightly and I agree with you on that.
Thanks for your comments, and good luck with your business card endeavours.
Business cards will be different for the different audiences it is intended for. Also, how much information that is on the card depends on how much your customers know about your service. I turned my business card into a compact brochure to tell people HOW useful my services could be.
Do you have an example of your card online? I’d like to have a look.
Hi David,
I’ve just been to your website and I really am amazed at how much information you have on your site because I’m just learning to do this in my class.
Any thoughts on the pros & cons of having a photo on a business card?
Glad to be of any help possible. Good luck with your class.
Sara,
Pro: People remember what you look like.
Con: People remember what you look like.
If you’re good-looking, or have a nice smile, fantastic. If you’re a minger, probably best to leave the photo off.
The business cards! A world of communication!
I think that we must have 2 type of business cards.
One for work, for business: with name company, and all data of our company and our. An elegant and sober business card,
Another business card for our free time, with name and telephon number. In this case we can make a business card original, and particular. Without limits!
For our privacy is better, so.
This is one of my business cards:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/2969175768_86fb569a04.jpg
I agree with Terry Tolleson but think that visual identity does not necessarily have to be a logo or branding but something that evokes an emotional response (such as memorability) so on that front I think the Poul Nielsen card is succesful.
anyway, a bit late to this post (seen via your tweet) but thought I would discuss how i approached my business card.
I was struggling for ideas when producing business card for my freelance web work. I’d been reading a lot about Victorian print work and it struck me that a business card carries the same issues as Victorian print in the aims to grab attention, cramming as much information in to as small a space as possible and – sometimes – working with a very limited range of colours.
With that in mind I had a go at taking this ethos to create something that was visually arresting and concisely summised what it was that the business did (who, what, where).
The result:
(not sure if HTML carries thought, if not viewable at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cole007/2629384056/)
Would appreciate your thoughts but personally am quite happy with the result – now to carry over this idea into the website itself…
Interesting artwork Cole!
I think it could be very beautiful and original also printed on frosted PVC! What do you think? This is my collection, please take a look at my photos and tell me what you think! I think it could be a touch of originality.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/biglietti_da_visita
But I have a question:
in USA is used “rolodex”: this is a recent comment “but I can’t put it in my rolodex”.
Ok, I need to know: rolodex have standard size? It’s possible that I print plastic business cards adaptable( as size and format) at rolodex? Here in Italy where I was working is not used “rolodex”, and I don’t know this thing but I want deepen it. A lot of people in USA use rolodex? Sorry for my english! Thanks!
I like it, and think your website will look great when you carry the design across. Is that happening anytime soon?
agaped,
When plastic cards are well-designed, they can really stand out. Thanks for sharing your Flickr link.
David,
You have inspired me. For a solid week I have studied your website.
I am an independent court reporter in Atlanta, Georgia. I do not work in the courts. My job is take down depositions at law firms and doctor’s offices and businesses.
The legal field is conservative. Could you take a look at my logo and make any suggestions with regard to the logo and font?
My transcript covers are a stock green, so I was thinking of sticking with a green and black combo. My intent of the logo is for my business card, a design on stationary and a 2 to 3 inch square, rectangle or round sticker to place on small packages, ie, cookies, golf balls, etc.
Oh, boy. I do not know how to attach it so you can view it.
If you have a suggestion, I would greatly appreciate your critique.
Regards and thank you for sharing your generous knowledge.
By the way, among others, Moskito is amazing.
Donna
I’m very glad you found information of use here. Feel free to email me a .jpg or .pdf showing your logo design. My address is on my contact page. Bye for now.
Hi David,
Just came across this post via some other business card tip-type posts.
I’m glad I did. It’s always nice to see other people’s cards and gain inspiration and tips for one’s own cards.
Speaking of which, I would like your opinion on my card, seeing as you’r somewhat of an authority on the subject.
http://www.matchboxmedia.co.za/matchbox%20bcard.jpg
I look forward to your comments!
Matt
I’ve shown your card in the comment thread, here:
I can see what you’re trying to achieve with the text as matches, but for me, the forced tracking is hindering legibility. At first, the white ‘match tips’ appeared as broken egg shells, until I looked at the rest of the design.
I think your services list would be more effective as a left-justified menu, without the ’sulphur’ effect. Some breathing space in the margins may also improve the layout.
All the best with it.