How to design a great business card (even if you have no idea what you want)
Thinking about designing a business card for your company?
While designing a business card is a relatively simple process (especially if you utilise our free software), often it can be hard to know what you want your business card to look like.
Thankfully there are plenty of free design templates to choose from, and you certainly don’t need to be a graphic designer to create a business card that stands out. But how do you go about choosing a design or template for your business card if you have no idea what you want?
It can help to create a list of what elements you’d like to have in your business card. That way when you start browsing our business card templates you’ll have a better idea of what you’re looking for and be able to edit a business card template that perfectly matches your business needs.
To help you get to that starting point, we’ve put together a list of questions to think about before you start designing your business card.
To logo or not to logo?
The first thing to figure out before you start designing your business card is whether or not you want to include your logo in your business card. A lot of business owners already have a logo designed before they come to us to create their business card. So if you’ve already got a logo you’d like to build your business card around, that’s great!
You want to make sure that your logo is minimalist without too much detail, as business cards are pretty small and can get cluttered quickly. Trying to cram too much on one side of your business card makes for an unappealing design.
Consider your business branding
The next thing to consider before designing your business card is branding. Your business card should be consistent with other elements in your branding. So start by asking yourself, ‘Is my brand sophisticated or clean and simple? Retro chic or cheerful and fun?
If you use a particular font or font family on your website, consider using the same fonts when designing your business card. Just make sure the font is legible and easy to read!
The same goes for the colour palette you choose. If you use a lot of pink, blue and white in your branding, be sure to include these colours somewhere in your business card. Just make sure the colours contrast enough between the text and the background of your business card.
How do you plan on giving your business card out?
It’s important to consider how new people will receive your business card before you start designing it. Do you plan on only handing out your business card face to face at networking events? Or will you attach it to invoices or product purchases? Do you plan on leaving a stack or pinning it up at your local community board?
Knowing how you plan to hand out these business cards will help you to make strong choices when it comes to imagery and colour. For instance, if you only plan to hand out your business card at networking events then you can design it essentially however you like. But if you plan on leaving a stack in a public place or if your business cards end up in a pile of other business cards, you’ll need to work a little harder on your design to help it stand out. In this case, you may wish to use bolder colour and images in your business card design.
Which piece of information is the most important to include in your business card design?
When designing a business card for your business, it’s important to make sure you only convery the absolutely critical information. After all, business cards are quite small and can look crammed pretty quickly if you try to include your whole life story on them.
That’s why it’s important to decide ahead of time what information should be most prominent on your business card. A recent trend in business card design is making your name the biggest and most important piece of information on your business card. Depending on your business, that may not be relevant for you.
It’s also important not to include unnecessary information on your business card. If you don’t have a brick and mortar business or people seeing you in-person for your work, there’s no need to include an address on your business card. That valuable real estate could be better utilised with other information.
What kind of finish do you want for your business card?
Finally, the last thing to consider before designing your business card is to decide what kind of finish you want for your card. Do you want a glossy or a matt finish? What about something fancier like leathergrain or satin?
Upgrading the finish of your business card is a subtle way to let potential clients and customers know that you mean business and are someone worth taking seriously. Show prospective clients that you’re willing to go the extra mile by choosing a finish that stands out from your competitors.
Designing your business card with Avery
With Avery WePrint, you can design and print your own customised business cards in minutes directly from your home or office printer with our free and easy-to-use Design & Print Online software.
Save time and money by only printing the number of cards you need! Choose from a premium selection of professional finishes to perfectly compliment the look of your business card – from Leathergrain, Matt, Gloss and Satin.
Our unique Quick & Clean™ technology for fast separation and smooth edges gives your business a professional look and feel. To start designing, click here.