- Leaving Out Contact Information.
- Outdated Information.
- Misprints and Typos.
- Image Quality.
- Poor-Quality Card Stock.
- Typography Mistakes.
- Not Including Value.
- Lack of Branding.
5 Business Card Design Mistakes to Avoid | Common Business Card Mistakes
What are business card mistakes?
Mistakes on business cards prevent you from sharing information about yourself with potential customers, business partners, or new contacts you make through networking. They could be styling errors that make your cards look cluttered or difficult to read, grammatical errors that affect the presentation and dependability of your cards, or handling errors that make it difficult for other people to keep your card accessible. To increase the effectiveness of your networking efforts, it’s crucial to watch out for these errors when creating and dispersing your business cards.
14 business card mistakes to avoid
Here are some typical blunders to watch out for when creating your business cards:
1. Incorrect information
Incorrect information on your business card is perhaps one of the most obvious mistakes you can avoid. This could imply that your contact information is out-of-date or that your phone number or email contains a typo. Before printing your cards, carefully review them to make sure everything is correct. Checking email addresses is particularly crucial, especially if they have a lot of characters or double letters. Make sure you correctly entered your name, phone number, and business title. This can make it simpler for people to contact you and ensure that you maintain and make as many new contacts and business deals as you can.
2. Grammatical errors
Another mistake to avoid is grammatical errors. Verify the capitalization on your card, unless you’re excluding capital or lowercase letters for consistency, branding, or punctuation. If you decide to use unconventional formatting, capitalization, or font sizes, for instance, make sure your content is consistent throughout your card. Grammatical errors can detract from your credibility. Business cards frequently give you the first chance to introduce yourself, your work, and your personality. They can be more confident in your professionalism and legitimacy if your content is clear, error-free, and simple to read.
3. Overwhelming styling choices
Making sure your business cards are readable and aesthetically pleasing is just as important as including your personality and brand there. Numerous bright colors, graphic images, inconsistent font sizes, and lettering can be overwhelming to your recipient and make it difficult for them to read your card. Generally speaking, making your cards too simple rather than too complicated is always preferable. Keep your color scheme to two or three colors and choose complementary colors. Keep graphic images simple. Please make sure the text is readable if you decide to use it over an image.
Keep your audience in mind when styling too. Business cards are an effective advertising tool because they are frequently the first thing potential customers see. Try to create cards that are visually appealing and representative of your standard-of-work quality, for instance, if you’re a graphic designer. You can be artistic without making your cards impossible to read.
4. Too much information
Business cards allow you to communicate vital information to others, but they are not a comprehensive record of your operations. To further describe your service offerings and background, you can use your website or other promotional materials.
Include your primary contact information, such as your name, title, email address, and phone number, on your business card. If it’s pertinent, you could also choose to include the website address or physical address of your business. Think about giving the person holding your business card a brief summary of your company’s main services. Be creative when including information beyond your contact details. Instead of attempting to convey every aspect of your company or story, you could use a tagline or one-word summary of your services.
5. Not enough information
While it’s crucial to keep your business card straightforward, it’s equally crucial to include all the details a client or acquaintance might require to get in touch with you. Create a card that explains who you are, what you do, and how to contact you so that someone can pick it up on the street to combat this. A value proposition, or selling point, is a common thing missing from business cards. Make sure to explain to the people who receive your cards what you do and why it’s important for them to choose your company over others.
Make sure you have something that serves to remind card holders of the services you offer and the quality of what you produce. You can do this subtly rather than including a lengthy value proposition that someone could find on your website instead.
6. Poor font choices
Font is a very important design choice. When selecting your font, first consider readability. Some fonts, while quirky or pretty, are challenging to read. Others may not uphold the standard of professionalism you aim to offer. By selecting a straightforward font, you can make sure that your audience can quickly access your important information without having to wonder what the card actually says. Fonts that are overly cartoonish or garish can affect how others perceive your taste and credibility.
Equally important to font style is letter size. Large fonts can overwhelm your card and lessen its visual appeal, while font sizes that are too small can make them difficult to read. Typically, this means a size between eight- and 11-point font. For business cards, 10-point font is frequently a good choice because it is readable and can fit comfortably in a small area.
7. Poor color choices
The colors you choose can affect how your card looks overall. By carefully balancing your color palette, you can make your business card stand out and help others understand your brand. The most important consideration with colors is readability. When you use black letters on a dark background, it can be difficult to read your words sometimes. You can use white font with some printers, which can give your card a distinctive look. Select colors that go well together and look good together.
8. Inappropriate content
You might choose to incorporate elements of your brand or personality into your content. While some people may find a crude joke or profanity to be amusing or refreshing, most people might consider it to be rude or unprofessional. Once more, when designing your cards, keep your audience in mind. Since not everyone has the same sense of humor, it’s crucial to build a professional reputation before getting to know someone well enough to determine whether or not they find certain language or jokes appropriate.
9. Sharing your card at the wrong time
The delivery of the card is equally significant to its content and design. If you want to give someone your business card, make sure they can accept it and store it properly. Wait until you have their full attention if they are conversing with someone else, paying attention to a presentation, occupying themselves with something else, or are otherwise engaged. You can increase the effectiveness of your business cards by giving them to people who are interested and receptive.
Frequently, but purposefully, pass out your business cards, preferably following a discussion about your goods or services. You can hand someone your card at the end of a meeting or just before leaving after a brief introduction. Maintaining a personal touch can encourage people to contact you in the future by ensuring they connect your business card with a face and a meeting.
10. Not ensuring card quality
Despite the fact that you can print your own cards, having them professionally printed can guarantee that they are of a high caliber. Printers can include expert finishing touches like embossed text and premium color options. The appearance and feel of a card that was expertly printed can help you effectively represent your company and demonstrate to others how important creating high-quality products is to you.
11. Flimsy card material
The majority of people store their business cards in their wallets or, if they have many, combine them with other cards in books or holders. Even if your cards are kept in a wallet the entire time, you want them to last for years. The cards can withstand the wear and tear that comes from traveling in heavily used wallets because they are printed on thick, high-quality paper.
12. Not having enough cards
Make sure you purchase enough business cards to distribute them to everyone you intend to. It’s important to always have plenty of business cards on hand and in stock because they can represent significant time investments and branding decisions. Additionally, be sure to save all card information, including specific colors, paper types, font styles, and specifications. In this manner, if you need to make more cards, you can maintain the style of your initial batch, giving your brand continuity and consistency.
13. Forgetting to carry cards with you
You never know when you might establish a crucial networking relationship. While traveling, vacationing, or spending time with your family, you might run into someone. By carrying business cards, you can give a potential client or other crucial contacts your information in any situation. Keep several business cards in your wallet or phone case at all times to avoid missing out on opportunities, and remember to restock if you run out.
14. Failure to consider your brand
Your business cards are a reflection of who you are, and they can convey a lot about the level of quality you guarantee, the range of services you provide, and the value you attach to your brand. When designing your business cards, take into account all of your other brand content. Consider your aesthetic if you have a website or social media page. You want a customer who examines one of your products to immediately recognize it as being yours without ever seeing your company name.
Although it might take some time to achieve this level of brand recognition, use your color, font, image, and design selections with purpose and consistency to give your customers dependable experiences.
FAQ
What should not be on a business card?
- Missing obvious contact information. …
- Outdated information. …
- Typos and misprints. …
- Tiny or unreadable print. …
- No value proposition. …
- Lack of branding. …
- Too much visual clutter. …
- Harsh color schemes.
What are 10 tips to having an effective business card?
- Opt for a professional design. …
- Prioritize readability over creativity. …
- Related: 5 Signs You Need a New Logo.
- Choose the layout wisely. …
- Avoid garish colors. …
- Include multiple ways to contact you. …
- Double-check for typos. …
- Related Article: How to Design a User-Friendly Website Experience
What are the 5 important elements you should include in your business card?
- Target your audience and industry.
- Make sure it is easy to read.
- Include the most important information.
- Follow basic design guidelines.
- Be creative with color and design.
- Communicate effectively.
- Avoid mistakes by proofreading before printing.
- Hire a professional printer.
