Digital communication and business cards may seem old-fashioned remain an integral part of in-person networking and making memorable first impressions. When you meet potential clients, partners, or employers, presenting a unique, high-quality card helps you stand out from the competition. However, with so many card printing services and design options available, creating a card that represents your brand and grabs attention is easier said than done.
Choose the right printing service
The first step in making standout cards is partnering with the right online printing service.
- High-quality printing methods like raised ink and foil stamping
- A wide variety of paper types and finishing options
- Customizable templates and easy-to-use design tools
- Affordable prices, especially for bulk orders
- Quick turnaround times
Services like Vistaprint, MOO, and GotPrint offer all of these features. Investing a bit more for premium printing will pay dividends in cards that impress at first glance.
Focus on the essentials
The fundamental elements of your card design should focus on cleanliness, clarity, and adequate white space. Your name, business name, phone number, email address, and website should feature prominently. Any supplemental information like your address, position, branding slogans, or social media handles should not distract from these core details Name card printing on printthatnow.com. An easy way to check that your cards include the basics is to pretend you’re a new contact meeting you for the first time. If any essential information is hard to find or read at a glance, reconsider the layout.
Showcase your personality
Once you’ve nailed the fundamentals, you infuse more creativity into your cards. Think about the image you want to project, whether it’s sophisticated, innovative, approachable, or dependable. Then, incorporate visual elements that communicate your brand identity. For example, an environmental non-profit could use earthy colors and recycled paper, while a tech start up may prefer a bold, modern font on a clean white background. If your company has an established color scheme and logo, feature them. But don’t be afraid to stand out from corporate uniformity either.
Go beyond paper
Standard paper cards are the norm. So opting for alternative materials and printing techniques is an easy way to make your cards pop. Consider:
- Metal- Brushed aluminium or gold cards will make people do a double-take
- Wood- Eco-friendly wooden cards complement natural product brands
- Frosted Plastic:- Translucent cards with frosted ink feel modern and sleek
- Spot UV-Glossy, raised UV coating draws attention to your logo
- Rounded Corners-Subtly smooth corners add a soft touch
If your brand identity calls for it, using specialty printing processes can provide a serious wow factor. Just be conscious of costs with upgraded options.
Avoid common pitfalls
When striving for standout card design, it’s also crucial to dodge these common pitfalls:
- Trying too hard: Excessive ornamentation with wild colors, fonts, and graphics looks messy rather than impressive. Follow the principle “less is more.”
- Clichés: Recycled clip art, overused inspirational quotes, or pixelated logos will make you fade into the background rather than stand out.
- Hidden contact info: Failing at clear communication makes memorable networking pointless. Don’t hide your email in a cryptic mention of your website or omit key details altogether.
- Hard to read fonts: Elegant scripts, thin lettering, super condensed type – these fancy fonts might suit other branding uses, but avoid them on your cards. Legibility matters most here.
