Why is it so important to have a business card?
The business card is your/your company’s face for the client, the way that they will (or not) remember you. Besides its main function (provide contact info) the business card should be a quick representation of what you do in a memorable and creative way. It can add status and value to your work, making your service be noticed for its quality. Give a good card and people will be impressed, keep it, and remember you when they need your services. Always take your business cards with you, we never know when we’re going to meet a potential client.
Important communication aspects
As its main function is giving your contact info, they should be up to date. May seem simple, but be sure that people will find you with those informations. It’s also important to have a web site to show your services/products if it’s possible, like an online portfolio. Do not forget to say exactly what you do, people must see your profession and services, because they may not remember you but they have the card to tell them.
Important design aspects
Here are some important tips when making a business card. Of course, we’re talking in a general way, each project have its particularities.
- First of all, keep it as clean as you can, without too many information or images.
- When using images, don’t just apply them as a background, it may make the card looks dirty and noisy.
- The texts should be much smaller than usual, because you have a small space. A 10pt font will seem huge, while a 7pt will look good.
- Contrast/alignment/proximity: keep these design principles in mind. Contrast between colors and fonts (do not use more than two, and they should be pretty different); alignment of texts and shapes; proximity for information groups (groups like name, contact info, services, address).
- If it’s possible to work with different materials, sizes and formats, go ahead. But be sure that it will make sense, being adequate to the concept. Also, check the viability of the project. If you are making a business card for someone else be sure that the person can afford these different materials or formats.
More Tips
- Signatureworx – 12 Steps to a Remarkable Business Card
- Pirillo – Top Ten Tips for An Effective BUSINESS Card
- WordPressrocket – Business Cards – Tips To Designing
- Suite101 – Business Card Wording and Design
- Somearticle – 50 Surefire Business Card Tips
- Whatsthebigidea – I don’t need no stinkin’ business cards
Tutorials
Psdtuts – Making a print ready business card using only Photoshop
Abduzeedo – Creating new business card
PS Hero – Cardboard and torn paper business card
Luxa – Making a grunge business card
Spoongraphics- Business Card Design Project Walkthrough
Inspiration
For your inspiration, we’ve selected some great designs from the amazing FaveUp gallery. Take a look at It even has a watermark and Business Cards at Flicker.
More Inspiration:
- Abduzeedo – Inspiration: Business Card Designs
- Toxel – 40 Creative Business Card Designs
- Francescomugnai – The best 65 business cards of the year. The final collection.
- Keanhui – 99 Cool Business Card Designs
- Uprinting – 25 Captivating and Cool Business Cards
- Area1 – Top 15 Business Cards Designs
- Thedesigncubicle – 26 Business Cards of Graphic & Web Designers on Twitter
- 2expertsdesign – 35 Transparent Hot Business Cards Designs
- Diggingimages – 40 Unique Business Cards
Since I am in the process of getting new business cards, this post is perfect for some fresh inspiration. I really like the concept behind the InterFuel card. Thanks!
Great article, Estefany! I love seeing photos of different business cards produced by other companies. Since the concept of business cards is literally hundreds of years old, I’m amazed at the innovation that has taken place in the industry only in the last decade or so.
Too bad you missed grabbing some photos from our site for your collection here. We’ve taken business cards to a whole new level by making them look like realist US Currency! We create customized business cards that look like $1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollar bills that are not only great for business cards, but are fantastic coupons also!
I hope you’ll stop by and check out our product. We’ve also started giving away a free set each month to anyone who registers to win at our site.
Again, kudos on the article and pulling all those images together!
Best Regards,
John
http://www.DollarCardMarketing.com
This business card are fantastic!
Wow. Really nice list of cards. I am working on my own, and this list is really inspiring. Thanks!
Great article, lots of inspiration. I would have liked to have seen some recommendations on where to go to get them printed, what kind of material to use, that sort of thing. Some of the inspirational cards can’t be done at some random business card print company hitting to the top of the google search.
Great business cards.
Thank you for this post.
@Dan Hi! Thanks for comment! I’d suggest you to give a special attention for “real” printing companies and not ONLY online printing. They possibly have more options on materials, shapes, etc. The best part is that you can make a visit, talk about your project and they can show you what they have to offer. 😉
I’m having a hard time finding a printer that will print rounded corner cards. Any suggestions anyone?
I have just done some business cards for my company! I would have loved to have seen these designs before I did mine. I feel so inferior! Great Post though!
Anybody knows where can I order unique business cards (like the transparent ones under ‘Inspiration’ above)?
maybe you can help me…. I once came across a site that showed a really cool business card and I can’t find it now. The card looked like a normal flat card but when you squeezed 2 corners it turned into a 3D box and it is exactly what i’m looking for. The site actually explained how to do it and I would love to make a prototype for new cards that I would like to make. Have you ever come across this? Any idea?
Nice collection of cards! Thank you for this. Don: GreatFX can do rounded corners. Shoot me an email to support at greatfxbusinesscards.com
Hey!
The clear celebrity tattoo is actually a card we printed! Thats great it made your list, I am happy to see it getting out there.
For some more inspiration and ideas check out
creativeplasticcards.com
I started my web site at the end of May, it is oriented towards Associates and Affilliates, such as Amazon, Tiger Direct, and many others. It appears on Goggle and Yhaoo.com.
Unfortunately, I did not get one cent of income yet.
That’s why I want to try a business card. I am from Toronto Ontario
I am a bit puzzle about the wording I shoud have. I do not like to have my name on the Card.
@Paul I have a piece of advice about being an web entrepreneur: Never, Never Give up. And learn from the best, are a member of the digital point forum for example? it is a valuable source of information and many big names in affiliate marketing are there and take the time to answers your questions. About your name on card, well why don´t you try the name of your business?
realy im surprised by your samples, thank you for your beautiful presentation.best continuation
Great post. Useful, informative and it’s great that you added pictures of awesome business cards with it.
As someone who makes business cards, I agree that it should be kept it as clean as you can without too many information or images.
If you need more cool business cards, i have a collection of them on my blog.
@Business Card Design Idea Great blog you have your self nice idea a blog dedicated solely to business cards
Great ideas, conceptualization, inspiring, stuff & ideas. All great
what a cards yaar great idea’s yaaaaaaar real like that
great great cards yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar
Love the fortune cookie idea. Would you consider adding adbills to the list? Thanks much
Well written article with excellent designs..
Thanks for the sharing..
Cheers!!!
ive found that the best one is the fleshlight
F*ckin’ awesome things here. I am very glad to see your post. Thanks so much and i’m taking a look forward to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a mail? – Arch Design Window & Door Co, 108 May Drive, Harrison, Ohio, zip: 45030-2083, Phone: (513) 367-0737
I need a little help… I am 14 years old and just past a babysitting course which makes me qualifyed to look after other peoples children and so I want to do it. But nobody knows about me so I have been trying to think of designs for some business cards but they dont look right and my dad isn’t to supportive of my decision so he refuses to help
@michaela How can I help you?
Brialliancy card looks great. Also other looks impressive. But I didn’t understand that idea with cookie. In what situation it can be used?