When designing a business card , remember that it has a job to do. A business card should introduce you so that people who don’t know you will be convinced that you can help them.
Your interlocutors have many things in mind. A few seconds are enough for them to forget your name. Some get your card from someone recommending your business or at an event without even meeting you in person.
In both of these scenarios, most prospects won’t contact you until they need your services. That’s why you need to give your potential customers a solid reason to treasure your business card.
Business cards offer you a very limited space to promote your know-how. On the other hand, they offer plenty of opportunities to make a bad impression, after which it is difficult to repair the damage. A weak business card evokes a lack of professionalism and will drive away people for whom your services could have been a perfect fit.
If you want to attract prospects, make sure you don’t make these 10 mistakes when creating your business card.
1. Missing contact information
It goes without saying that we need your details to contact you. A nice business card may bring you a few compliments, but it will end up in the trash if there is no way to contact you. Before you worry about tweaking the style, be sure to include the essential details:
Your company name
Name of contact person
Interested consumers should always be able to reach you. Communications preferences are different from person to person; Listing your contact information across multiple channels is the best way to get people to contact you.
2. Outdated Information
Would you sue someone who gave you a business card with an unassigned phone number on it? Or information corrected in pen? Consumers won’t struggle to fill the gaps when they can just knock on another company’s door.
Do yourself a favor: Resist the temptation to use outdated business cards. Business cards are a low-cost, but hugely influential investment. You will find few people willing to entrust their money to someone who does not have the professionalism to invest in business cards that display the correct information.
3. Typos and printing errors
Nothing screams “I don’t care about my business” louder than typos and grammatical errors.
Of course, everyone makes mistakes, but customers expect the utmost attention and rigor from you. So before you send your business card to the printer, be sure to proofread it, proofread it, and proofread it again. Use clear images that won’t end up blurry or pixelated.
4. Lowercase or illegible characters
People don’t carry their magnifying glass everywhere they go so they can read your business card. Tiny fonts hurt your eyes. So avoid shrinking the text size to fit more information. Using a template can help you maximize the space available on your card without sacrificing clarity.
5. No value proposition
You don’t necessarily guess a selling point from a company name or job title. Customers know very well why they need a plumber, a clothing store, or a a personal trainer. Most people need a little more persuasion to hire a social media specialist or web researcher.
When you’re taking on a more nuanced issue, it’s vital to explain how you’re providing value. A value proposition or brand promise is an opportunity to create a connection between you and your readers.
If your business is complex, a tagline or brief summary can help readers get the big picture.
6. No Branding
Playing it safe with generic visuals is guaranteed to get forgotten. Customers are much more likely to remember strong branding that sets a company apart from others.
Ditch clipart and show off your logo and brand colors.
Make sure the overall look of your business card is consistent with the visual style of your website, store, or products. Branding your cards promotes brand recognition and encourages customers to associate your business with key services.
7. Too much visual clutter
Imagine how frustrating it is to look at a business card where all the elements are squashed on top of each other. Several fonts are vying for the limelight. Five images are stacked on a 9 x 5 cm card. No negative space in sight. The words are superimposed on the images and are illegible.
In addition to being dissonant, the visual clutter will give your potential customers the impression that your business is just as chaotic. If you create too many focal points, most people will move on. Get rid of any superfluous content and design a two-sided business card to distribute the information.
8. Wrong Palette Choice
Bad color choices can ruin a good design for one or more of the following reasons:
The color scheme does not match your brand.
The color palette carries connotations that are incompatible with your industry.
