To establish a strong corporate image, it's essential to implement strategies that will keep you top of mind with consumers. That's why at Hispanos Emprendedores, we offer tips for creating effective business cards.
What is a business card?
Business cards show clients the most important information about your company with the goal of building relationships, collaborating, and becoming a supplier or customer. They establish the first point of contact.
A good business card can have one or more visual design elements to convey a message, make an impression, or be visually appealing. The combination of colors and design can influence people's decisions.
They can have up to three colors, with vertical or horizontal design, printed on both sides and on different materials. It is recommended not to exceed the information, or print them on inkjet printers because they look of poor quality.
Tips for making successful business cards
Remember that we all keep the cards. So if it is eye-catching, creative and contains the necessary information, you will surely receive a call from the person interested in your product or service. Although we are in the digital age, this form of presentation is still very useful, especially for networking and attracting new clients.
If used correctly, it's a powerful branding tool that makes people remember you quickly. That's why the business card needs to be consistent with the rest of your marketing materials. Use the same font you have on your website and other marketing elements.
Furthermore, readability should take precedence over creativity. Keep in mind that heavy, highly stylized fonts make reading difficult . Simpler fonts are best. The font size should be large enough to ensure easy readability. It should be at least 8 points, but key information such as the business name can be larger, in a different font, and in bold (12 points).
The traditional size of the card is 8 cm x 5 cm rectangular in shape, but if you want to stand out consider square, rounded corners or vertical orientation. As for the colors, it is preferable not to mix more than 3, in addition, it is necessary to find that they complement each other. Do not get carried away by your favorite colors unless they are those of your company.
Don't go for garish colors, if you're wearing one that's for a powerful reason. It is best to use one that does not take away from the logo or contact information. Black, navy blue or dark gray is best for letters.
Make sure there are no spelling mistakes, because this will damage your brand and avoid writing data by hand because this detracts from professionalism.
Others Tips to make cards de successful businesses
Choose a template that reflects your brand's personality. For example, if you walk dogs and are outgoing, use a colorful and informal card. The information on the card should be organized for a good visual flow . It's recommended to place the logo first, then the name, followed by the email address and phone numbers.
Use the back of the card for an appointment reminder or to display something from the business like a recipe for a plate if you have a restaurant. Or a tag for jewelry, clothing or crafts, if you have a service company have it stick like a magnet. So customers will paste it in a strategic place and have access to it faster.
This way, you'll also leave the necessary white space so that the data doesn't compete with each other for the reader's attention, making it more visually appealing. The fewer elements there are, the greater the impact each one will have.
Dedicate one side of the card to the logo, it is the visual representation of the business and should have a prominent place. This will capture the attention of potential customers. It is ideal to put something special, be it a design element, relief, shine. Or simply a type of paper that gives it the touch you want.
Although a call to action is not a requirement, placing it will encourage the potential customer to take the next step. The QR code is part of a call to action, it should be placed on the back.
If you prefer to design the card yourself, you can use several websites such as www.moo.com . It offers templates and online design tools. Adobe Spark is free and also has templates to make the process easier.
Canva is one of the most popular online design tools. It is easy to use and has a wide range of templates and tools to help you create beautiful business cards. You can start with a blank canvas or choose from one of Canva's many pre-made designs.
Adobe Photoshop is another great tool for creating business cards. With Photoshop, you have complete control over the look of your card, from colors to layout. If you're new to Photoshop, there are plenty of tutorials available online to help you get started.
GIMP is a free alternative to Photoshop that offers many of the same features. With GIMP, you can create custom business cards from scratch or use one of the many templates available online.
Inkscape is another great vector graphics editor that can be used to create business cards. Inkscape is free and easy to use, offering a wide range of features and tools.
Whether you're a design pro or just starting out, these business card design apps will help you create beautiful, professional-looking cards.
New trends in business cards
In the new normal, new trends have emerged in business cards, leaning towards a futuristic era. Translucent cards, similar to a spaceship key, are becoming popular. They feature opaque elements such as text and graphics, and the information is divided into sections with varying degrees of translucency. The idea is to create a visual backdrop that makes the name stand out.
Also in vogue are gradients of dazzling colors on dark backgrounds. Pearlescent tones are applied that shimmer against the background, appearing like waves of light. They create a design with a continuous look, but are not limited by rigid shapes.
Another option is the incorporation of the QR code that facilitates going to the company's website without making physical contact. While others have gone for the large text front and center. Leave few blanks.
The abstract and iconic cuts are also a trend. Some are presented with a segment cut out to make the card easier to tie to a key ring or lanyard. In other cases they introduce it in a cover with a striking and contrasting design.
Unexpected text alignment is introduced into this group. In this case it is placed everywhere within the edges. As well as the bet for the versions in striking colors, that is, alternative color versions are used on the same card. It adds to that of smart geometric designs, with precision and repetitive intricate patterns.
