Design Your Business Card

Most business cards will have at least a name of a person or company but there are other essential and useful elements of a good business card.

1. Name of Individual Not every type of business card has to have the name of the individual but it's a nice personalized touch. In a large organization it can be beneficial to the recipient to have the name of a specific person to contact. The name of the individual or the name of the business or organization is usually the most prominent text element of a business card.

2. Name of Business or Organization A business card almost always has a business or organization name on it. The name of the individual or the name of the business or organization is usually the most prominent text element of a business card. An organization with a highly recognizable logo might de-emphasize the business name (size and/or placement) but it is usually an essential piece of information.

3. Address A physical address or a mailing address or both are typical parts of a business card. If the company does business exclusively online or by mail, a physical address might not be a key element to include. If both a physical and a mailing address are included, it may be desirable to label each one.

4. Phone Number(s) Multiple numbers are typically listed in order of voice, fax, cell but you can omit any numbers that are not the preferred method of phone contact. Don't forget the area and/or country codes and extension, if required. Using parentheses, hyphens, periods, spaces, or other characters to separate numbers in a phone number are generally a matter of preference and custom but be consistent in whatever method is chosen.

5. Email Address Including an email address is an important element for Web-based businesses but other businesses or organizations might omit this form of contact unless it is one of their preferred methods of contact.

6. Web Page Address Web addresses can be listed with or without the http:// preceding the URL. As with email addresses, it is an essential element for Web-based businesses.

7. Job Title of Individual Not a required element, some entrepreneurs or sole proprietors might include "President" or "CEO" or some other title to give the appearance of a larger organization.

8. Tagline or Description of Business A tagline or brief description can be useful when the business name is somewhat ambiguous or doesn't clearly convey what the business does. Taglines can also convey benefits and features.

9. Logo A logo used consistently on business cards and other print / electronic materials helps to establish a company's identity.

10. Graphic Image(s) (including purely decorative elements) Small companies without a logo may choose to use generic or stock images or custom illustrations that help reinforce what the company does. Small graphic embellishments or boxes might be used to separate blocks of information.

11. List of Services or Products A long list will usually clutter up a standard size business card but when using two-sided or folded business cards a bullet list of services offered or main product lines can extend the usefulness of the business card.

Question: What information should go on a business card and where?

Business cards serve many purposes but their primary purpose is to tell what you do and give the recipient a way to contact you.

Answer: At the very least a name and contact method (address or phone number) should go into a business card design. As for where to put this information, there are hundreds of possible arrangements, but there are a few commonly accepted guidelines for where to place the most essential information. When in doubt or when there is little time to experiment, follow these guidelines for creating a basic, serviceable, and effective business card.

Minimum Information for a Business Card Other information is optional but as a minimum the business card design should usually contain:

* Individual's Name and/or Business Name * Individual's Title or some other descriptive text to indicate what the person does if it's not obvious from the business name

* A way (preferrably multiple ways) to contact the person — could be phone, fax, email, web page, mailing address, street address, etc.

It is not necessary to but a complete listing of services or products on the business card. Keep it to the essentials. Use brochures and personal interviews to disclose the full range of services or products offered.

* Orientation Horizontal layouts are the most typical, most widely used format for business cards.

* Name Whether using a horizontal or vertical arrangement, the person's name or the business name are usually the most prominent text item on the card. It is usually placed in the center or upper half of the card and emphasized with a larger or bolder font.

* Contact Contact information is usually placed in the lower half of the card (left, right, or centered). The preferred method of contact (such as phone number or email) is often emphasized with a larger size, bolder font, or more prominent placement.

* Mini-Ad Layout Business card layouts frequently mimic the common and successful Ogilvy ad layout formula that places the visual (logo) at the top or upper left of the card followed by the headline (name) with the signature (contact information) in the lower right.