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You can find plenty of tips online about what to do when you design a business card. This article takes does the opposite and tells you what not to do when you design a business card, which will help you avoid the worst mistakes people make when they create their best marketing tool.
Unprofessional Contact Information
There are several variations of this mistake. The classic case is using a cutesy or otherwise unprofessional email address on your business card. It undermines the business case you’re trying to make.
The ideal solution is setting up a professional domain and using an email address tied to that domain. It shows that you are a serious professional.
Another variation of this mistake is using personal information as part of your business contact information. While you may run a business out of your home, it’s better to direct all letters to a business mail box.
Alternately, you could leave off your business address, emphasizing your website, phone number and social media profiles instead.
Mixing and Matching Creative Fonts
Let’s be honest – crazy fonts kill your reputation with potential clients when they’re front and center on a business card. Competing fonts undermine the card’s readability, and the longer it takes people to read it, the less likely they are to do so. Mismatched fonts also imply that you either didn’t care to guarantee readability or didn’t take the time to ensure they actually work well together.
Instead, use a single font for all of your contact information. You gain points for consistency when you use the same font for your business name and tagline. You can use a different font for your logo or tag line, but that’s the only point where you can deviate. It’s better if the distinguishing visual on your business card is your logo.
Be very careful about using a variety of font colors even though you’re using the same font. Don’t end up creating unreadable text because the font color is too close to the background. Don’t use bold red or black fonts for less important information than what your potential clients consider paramount.
Unusual colors for the background of your business card can be a turn-off, too. You might pick up a yard contractor’s lime green business card, but that color could be a strike against a lawyer.
Cluttering the Business Card
There are several ways you can make the mistake of cluttering your business card. One way is by putting too many product images on your business card, potentially crowding out your contact information or making your logo invisible. Another is putting too much text on the business card. For example, five social media profiles on the business card could leave people wondering where your website URL is.
Instead, try to have a maximum of three images on the business card, one of which is your logo. A branded logo and picture of yourself or branded logo plus a related image are generally more than enough. And always design your business card so your name or business name, phone number, email, and business URL are first and foremost.
