Business card designs have come a long way from the standard plain black lettering on bright white paper stock. Today, professionals are getting more and more creative and producing business cards that say something about the work that they do. They’re using plastic cards, metal cards, and they’re using design elements like Google’s search bar.

But creativity, when used incorrectly, can distract from the business card’s most important objective – growing your brand and encouraging people to remember and reach out to you. It’s not to say that a uniquely shaped business card or elaborately decorated card won’t work (because they absolutely can). There are some very inspirational business card designs that are being produced today. It’s just that creative cards aren’t as easy to get right.

In fact, your best bet is to follow some basic business card design principles:

• Readability
• Aesthetics
• Including all the relevant contact information

At Stik2It, we have years of experience of printing business cards for professionals, and we’ve learned a few things along the way. Here are a few tips for designing an effective business card:

1. Readability Is Key: The text is the most important element on a business card. Luckily, there are some simple rules to follow to maximize your card’s readability. First, make your name or your company’s stand out. Set your name in bold and use a slightly larger typeface. Also, remember to align text properly. Generally, left-aligned text works best, but you can also incorporate a few centered lines for a word or 2 that you truly want to stand out. Finally, choose a font color that stands out and is easy on the eye.

2. Minimalism Works: Minimalistic business cards have always been in style, but today, they’re becoming more sophisticated and elegant. In a minimalistic card, the reader is draw to the most pertinent information – the professional’s name and contact information, as well as the company’s logo. Minimalistic cards are extremely readable, and that’s what makes them so effective.

3. Include a Photo or Image: In the service industry, a professional headshot can be a great addition to a business card, because it adds a personal touch, which is a key in the service industry. As for images that aren’t photographs, you should also incorporate your company logo, if possible. Just remember to avoid cluttering up your business card.

4. Background and Contrast: White or off-white backgrounds are commonly used because they work. Dark lettering on light-colored backgrounds is easier to read. Today, though, you have a lot of options available to you. You might add a background design element, like geographic shapes or a strong border. Also, you don’t always have to stick to a white background; black also works, but remember to make the text readable.

5. How to Use Color: Adding color to your business card can help it stand out, but color should be used properly. First, color accents are great for adding emphasis. If you want a line of text to stand out, you should consider using a different color. Secondly, you should be consistent with your color choices. Choose colors that complement your logo. And finally, don’t overuse color; too much looks gaudy and can clutter your card.

6. Too Use a Rectangle or Not: Professionals are getting more and more creative with business card shapes. For instance, some realtors use house-shaped cards to promote their businesses, and other common shapes are leaves, lightbulbs, and yoga mats. Here’s the thing: Non-rectangular cards aren’t as easy to store. Instead, a rectangular business card is functional and looks sophisticated. Plus, you can add a touch of elegance with rounded corners. However, it is possible to make the card a different shape and still maintain that ease-of-storage, such as a realtor’s house card. If it’s short enough and the bottom half is a simple rectangle, it can work perfectly.

7. Match the Marketplace: No matter what, the key is to match your marketplace. Creative professionals can say something about their work with a non-traditional business card. For financial services agencies, on the other hand, a heavily stylized card will convey an inappropriate first impression. Use your business card to convey a message about the work that you do, but remember that it should be appropriate to your industry.

Stik2It.com has printed business cards for professionals for years. We’re a leader in business card printing, we ship them fast, and our prices are some of the best you can find. Contact us today and order your personalized business cards.