It’s strange how a tiny piece of paper measuring 3.5 x 2 inches is often your first chance at making a lasting impression.  When networking, your main goal is to find likeminded individuals who can benefit from your product or service, or knows someone else who might. If you’re just starting your business, or looking to redesign your cards, consider these following tips:

1. Stick to the basics. It may seem obvious, but make sure you include the basics on your card—that is any contact information that you feel is vital for recipients to know. Your name, title, logo, email address, website URL and phone number is a great place to start. Unless individuals regularly visit your business, it may not be necessary to include your physical address.
2. Get social! Social media is the way of the future…so why not include links to your social media platforms? If you’re extremely tight for space, simply using the icons may prompt recipients to search for your accounts. Social media is a great way for others to learn about your product or service, so direct them to your networks!
3. Visual content. It’s important to make your logo stand out. Oftentimes I am left searching for what company the individual works for. Recipients should be able to sift through a stack of cards and find yours by your company name with ease. Additionally, it may be best to skip out on adding a personal photo of yourself to your card in order to maximize white space.
4. Keep your colours in mind. It’s never a bad idea to add colour to your design to make it pop, but remember to be tasteful about it. Try to incorporate the colours from your logo or website into your card to create an appealing and consistent theme. On the other hand, simply using black and white can also create a stunning design. Just experiment to see what looks best!
5. How does it feel? Business cards have pretty standard dimensions. Make your card stand out in your recipient’s hands by using thicker stock, different paper finishes, or special options—such as embossing or foiling. Business cards are a great investment, so spending a few more dollars for higher quality cards with a great feel is something you really should consider.
6. Change the shape! If you really want to think outside of the box, ditch the typical business card size. Opt for something more unique, like square business cards, or regular sized cards with rounded corners.
7. Keep readability in mind. Many individuals use apps on their smartphones to add business cards to create their own virtual “Rolodex”. Ensure that your business cards can be picked up by such systems and not just thrown into a business card cemetery in someone’s desk. Things you should consider: font type and size, spacing, white space, etc.

There you have it! Keep the above points in mind when designing or redesigning your business card, and have fun with it! This doesn’t need to be a daunting task. There are plenty of great design sites with easy-to-use templates to help you with the process…just conduct a quick internet search to get started! Good luck!