You put WHAT on your Business Card?!?

We all know the basic details to include on your business card.

• Name, Title
• Company Name
• Best Phone
• Fax or E-Fax
• Email
• Website
• Company Logo
• Address (if you need to)

Yeah, yeah, yeah…That’s not what this post is about.  I want to help make your business cards a little more memorable and useful to those who receive it.  After all, your business card is probably the most important form of print material there is.

First, lets outline some key design features.  Take all the business cards you have compiled over the last couple years, lay them on the table, look at them all at once for 30 seconds, then note which ones your remembered.  Some key differences between the ones you remembered and the ones you didn’t might be:

• Pop of color:  Those cards that had a lot of white space with a pop of a bright red, blue, or whatever color usually get remembered.
• Background color:  Most business cards have a white background.  If you use a darker, solid color like black with text that pops and is still easy to read, your card will be more memorable than most.
• Orientation: Although personally I’m not a big fan, cards that are vertically oriented tend to get remembered more than those with the standard horizontal orientation.
• Text Orientation: Everyone uses horizontal text.  If you, or a graphic designer you work with can integrate angled text onto your business card while still keeping it pleasing to the eye, go for it!
• Double Sided:  Why keep the backside of your card blank?  It doesn’t cost much more to print on both sides (at least with TC), so I say, do it!  You don’t want to jam too much information onto a one sided card, so if you need more room, go to the back.
• Your Brand: No matter what else you choose, be sure to remain cohesive with your companies brand.
• Creative Design Elements:  I’ve seen some really creative cards (like these) that are sure to be remembered by all.  My only hesitation with some of these cards is their ease of storage.  If they can still co-mingle will your standard business card storage, all the better.  If some of the design elements make them hard to hold onto, I worry they will get lost once the hype is gone.

Now that we have some of the creative design techniques covered, how about we delve into some more useful content for your business card.

• Social Media:  If you use social media well, you most certainly need to get that information on your card.  Such a valuable marketing medium needs to be exposed to potential new ‘likes’ or ‘followers’ whenever possible.
• QR Codes:  This is a fantastic way to use QR Codes.  I hate when people put them on websites, it’s silly.  They are made for print marketing.  Place one on the back of your business card so that when it’s scanned it takes people to a specific landing page on your website.  Very, very beneficial.
• Testimonials: People love to see businesses that come with testimonials.  It makes them feel ‘safer’ when deciding to work with you.
• Coupons/Referrals:  No matter what your business, coupons are loved by all!  Not only do they love saving money, but you bet they are going to hold onto the card.  You can also promote any kind of referral rewards program that your company offers.
• Services:  If your business can get general sounding in nature, it doesn’t hurt to be specific about some of your services.  You don’t want people to call someone else over you because they didn’t realize you could help them.
• Directions: When you have a physical location that customers need to visit, making sure they can find it is always a plus.  Even consider GPS coordinates since most people use navigation systems today.
• Tagline: Great taglines need to be promoted.  If they are memorable, then they need to be on your business card.

Keep in mind, while all these ideas are great, don’t go trying to do every last one of them on your next card.  Too much information is just as bad as not enough.  You don’t want to frustrate potential clients.  Pick the most important elements and use them.  You could even print a couple difference versions and see which ones get the best response.

Hope this helps bring some creativity to your business cards!