Times are changing, and we are moving towards a paperless environment. Still, a professional business card design remains a mainstay of promoting businesses. Without a business card to hand to your clients or collaborators, you are missing out on a world of marketing opportunities.
History and overview
Business cards existed in Japan as early as the 15th century and are still a tradition today. For centuries, business cards have been a tradition for networking and bringing your business closer to potential customers and partners: They tell the story of their sender – who this person is, what they do and what is behind their company. Even in the 21st century, amid the digital era of smartphones and sophisticated technology, business cards hold the position as a predominant means of introducing oneself and exchanging information. Despite repeated attempts, digital business cards and apps could not replace that.
The exchange of business cards is a ceremony that is deeply rooted in tradition and values. At the same time, the meeting of two strangers is celebrated and the potential for new companies, business connections and creations is symbolized. Since the 15th century, cards with written information in various formats have been given for official announcements or as formal messages. In Japan, so-called Meishi were used to inform the local population about upcoming royal visits. The industrial card was created in the 17th century in London, which was growing industrially. As the forerunner of today’s business card, it was distributed to clients and potential customers of local businesses and was sometimes used as advertising material, signposts, bills or even for obituaries.
Many of these unique values and regional traditions still exist today. In Asia it is traditional to accept a card with both hands and a bow and study it carefully. And while it is common in some countries to take notes on business cards, in others it is frowned upon. Global markets require compatible formats and designs in order to meet different cultural demands. Despite the cultural subtleties, one thing remains the same: the emotional investment involved in exchanging cards is irreplaceable: a weighty reason why digital options have not succeeded in replacing physical cards.
How to Come Up With a Great Business Card Design
While most businesses own a business card, they fail to come up with a design that resonates with their product or service. Yes! Your business card needs to be an extension of what you offer rather than the image of your business. The idea of portraying your business or brand image is long gone. Customers are now interested in your offerings more than what your business stands for. With that said, let’s explore how you can come up with a business card design that resonates with your product/service.
Whether you believe it or not, your business card leaves an impression. So make sure your product identity is conveyed easily through any ideas for business card design.
1. Colours That Match Your Business Offerings
Colour psychology plays an integral part in designing your business card. This is because consumers associate different companies with particular colours. For example, the first beverage company that comes to mind when we picture the colour “red” is coke. So make sure your business cards follow your brand colours.
2. State Your Product Offering In One Line
Sharing your professional details on a business card is too mainstream. Your clients don’t care about your contact details, because they can look for your business online easily. So make sure your business cards clearly state what you offer. For example, if you are into the construction business, your business card can say, “We can build your dream house.” This is a creative way to promote your business and communicate your brand’s tagline.
3. Keep it Simple on the Front and Creative at the Back
A business card can say a lot about your product/service, but you want to go minimalistic on the front of your card for convenience. For instance, if the front of your business card is too cluttered, your clients will have a hard time finding what they are looking for. Instead, you can go all out on the back of your business card to show your ingenuity and creativity. This works exceptionally well for digital agencies, graphic design companies and even software houses!
Conclusion
A business card is a small, printed, credit card-sized paper that holds tremendous value for your business. You can design and print one yourself or print business cards online. If you want to show your creativity, we recommend hiring a professional business card designer for better results.
