Common Business Card Design Mistakes to Avoid

A business card is often the first point of contact for potential clients. It can say a lot about you, as well as the type of business you run. Your business card has the ability to convince strangers that you can help them. The best way to help your business card do its job is to avoid common mistakes people unwittingly make  business cards that you do not want to make. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:​​

Missing contact information – Always have somewhere to send potential customers. At the very least, the contact information on your business card should include your business name, your name, title, address, phone number, website and email address.
 
Long email address – Long email addresses such as [email protected] are difficult for customers to remember. A professional email address is like a handshake to clients. You should also have a professional email address ([email protected]) on your card to be taken seriously, but just having an email address of any kind is essential.

Mystery Business Card – People should be able to tell immediately what your business does (I.e., Joe's Limo Service.) Otherwise, you're not likely to get many calls or referrals. Be sure to include your logo, and tagline. Potential clients should be able to identify your brand and instantly recognize it wherever they may see it in the future as well. Your business card’s color scheme, fonts, and graphics should match the tone of your website and other company assets. Your brand’s aesthetics should be reflected throughout your printed materials.

No Unique Selling Proposition – Your card should state why a customer should do business with you; i.e., "complete automotive repairs" and "all work fully guaranteed," lets people know that the auto mechanic center handles all types of repairs, and builds trust by mentioning the guarantee.

Typos and misprints – You want to double check spelling and grammar. If you want potential customers to think you don’t care about your business or them? Be sure your business card contains typos and grammatical errors.

Poor paper quality – I know a lot of people use free business cards, but personally I think this is a huge mistake. Your card says a lot about you and you don’t want to come off as being generic, flimsy and cheap. Professionally printed business cards are not as expense as one might think, and an unprofessional-looking business card will cost you more. A poor-quality card implies a business that will have poor quality products and services. You want good stock paper, print that doesn't bleed from a drop of water, an attractive logo, and the card should feel substantial and pleasing to the touch.
14 pt. Gloss Cover: This long-lasting, heavy paper is our most popular stocks for business cards and postcards. The UV gloss coating has high color saturation for exquisite contrast and range, plus provides protection against stains and damage.
16 pt. Premium Matte Cover: Choose this uncoated paper stock if would like to hand write appointment reminders or personal notes on the back of your cards, or if you would like your business cards to have a softer, vintage-inspired appearance.
 
Oversized Card – The standard business card size is 3.5 by 2-inches because it is convenient and fits in wallets or most business card holders.  You can always utilize the back of the cards to add more information. Printing on both sides of the card is a small upgrade that pays off in multiple ways. Use the back of your business card for appointment reminders, social media handles, mission statements, or anything that will give your card – and your business – a competitive advantage.
 
Text Too Small or Hard to Read – Potential customers should not need a magnifying glass to be read your card. Although it will vary depending on the typeface, a good rule of thumb is to use a type size no smaller than 7-8 point. Your name point can be a little larger; i.e., 9 point, and the company name usually looks good at about 12-15 point. We also recommend avoiding light colored text and making sure the text and the background are contrasting shades. You don’t want to use a dark font on a dark background!

Cards That Don't Get Distributed – So now that you have these beautifully designed cards, what good are they if they're just sitting there collecting dust? Always have a supply of your cards wherever you go. Give them out when appropriate, and while you're at it, don't hesitate to give out more than one. Invite people to pass the extras along to others who might need your service. You might be surprised at how often this can result in a referral.

Finally, you can include your photo, address or social media information if you want to, but people simply want to know who you are, what you do and how to get hold of you. They also need to have the impression that you’re a professional who delivers quality work and a business card can go a long way in creating that impression.
WDP offers some great deals on business cards. For any more information email us at [email protected]