Business Cards Dos & Don'ts for Start-ups and Veterans
April 14, 2009 | Branding, Business, Startups
If you’re in business, you need a business card.
When you launch your business there are a lot of details to juggle, and a budget that can only stretch so far. But when you neglect your calling card you are showing to others that you don’t take yourself seriously. Here are few tips to keep in mind.
Business cards for a start-up:
Do: Get cards printed. There are many low-cost options from online sources, to paper you can run through your own printer. You need a physical card to start networking. This seems so basic, but some people think they can skip cards altogether. If you aren’t bothering with cards, you probably aren’t really bothering to set up a sustainable business.
Don’t: Print too many or spend too much on the printing. It’s likely many details are still in flux—such as your address changing as you move from home office to rented space.
Do: Spend your money on branding. While the actual printing of the card can be done on the cheap, your business name and logo are here to stay. Hire a designer with expertise and don’t rush the process.
Business cards for the established business owner:
Do: Think about quality in your cards. A good, thick paper stock shows that you are beyond the start-up phase. Once you know that your contact details won’t be changing frquently you can afford to purchase a larger quantity of cards and therefore reduce your per-card costs.
Don’t: Feel you have to include all your information on your cards. For example, you may have a fax number, but it may not need to be on your card. Think about whether you really want to hand out your cell phone number to everyone.
Do: Take a good look at your card and see if there are adjustments that can be made to increase the readability of your business name or your contact information. Small adjustments to the layout and design keep a brand fresh without throwing away everything you’ve built.
Don’t: Change things too much. Consistency in branding will help you immensely in terms of recognition. If you decide to make a change, make sure there is a good reason to do so.
If you want some inspiration for look of your card, take a look at: The card observer. If you need help designing your business card, please contact us.
