Business professionals have hundreds of them all kept in binders or in card holders. When sitting down in a meeting with new clients or customers, they are shuffled around the table before the meeting begins. They are business cards.
Business cards have been around for ages and are used by almost every type of profession. Business cards have been and even in today’s digital age remain the mainstay marketing piece to let people know who you are and what you do.
Business Cards Pyschology
Retaining a business card is the easiest way to remember a person and their company and position. GreatFX Business Cards writes that there is psychology of business cards that involves thinking about why other people retain business cards.
Their research found several reasons someone would keep a business card including: As a potential link to a customer, a link to a supplier, for referring business, to update information, just in case, something likeable about the card or person behind the card or for social, non-business reasons.
The layout, design and type of paper used for a business card also have an effect on those receiving the card. If a business card is printed on paper that is too thin, printed on perforated paper run through an office printer or if the design is too small to read, not the right color or has the wrong message, it tells the receiver that your company is too small to spend the money on quality materials and designs or that the person handing out the cards may be an amateur.
Value Added Business Cards
The business card should be considered one of the main branding efforts of all companies. If the company’s business cards brand their employees as unprofessional, it is a deal breaker and will lose sales because the customer won’t call the number or email or retain the card for future business.
Effective business card design tips offered by professional designers include:
- Create a focal point to draw the reader’s eye.
- Use white space effectively.
- Use a clear and strong logo that looks good when reduced in size to fit a business card.
- Limit type fonts to two.
- Choose appropriate fonts for type of business. Avoid trendy or hard to read fonts.
- Avoid using busy or outdated clipart.
- Use a card stock of 80# or more.
To add more value to a business card, get a slogan or tagline printed on the card. If there is not enough room on the front of the card, print the information on the back. Slogans or taglines might include phrases such as “Credit cards and competitors' coupons accepted,” “Walk-ins welcome. No appointment required” or “Pharmacists on duty 24/7.”
Additional Marketing Uses for Business Cards
The business card may be the most underrated printed marketing piece in use today. Business cards can be used as appointment cards. The company name, address, phone and contact is printed on one side with the appointment date and time printed or written on the back.
Business cards can be distributed with a customer feedback tool on the back such as an evaluation or a survey. Offer a free gift if the card is sent back to the company. Send a new business card with the free gift.
Use a business card as a greeting card with a hand-written message on the back and then attach to a gift basket or free gift.
Business Cards Make an Impression
When designing the company’s business card, make sure they are delivering the message and the impression desired. Remember business cards make the first and a lasting impression.
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