Elements of a Business Card

Designing a business card isn’t rocket science but it can be a hard task for people who have never had to design one from scratch. Whether or not you decide to create your own or have someone else put a business card together for you, here is a list that can help you decided what to put on a business card.

Name and Business Name: The business name is always necessary, even if the employer does not chose to include his or her real name. Including a business name gives consumers a way to identify you and your services. This information should be the largest on the business card.

Contact Information: This is the most important element to include on a business card and is the primary purpose of a business card. Otherwise, how will customers know how to get in touch with you? Here are the elements used on business cards for contacting purposes and the use of these can vary depending on the individual or the business.

• Address -This is normally the company address. If you are a sole-proprietor and don’t offer in-house services, be sure to label this as your mailing address only. For online businesses, this field may not be necessary.

• Email - In today’s modern age, listing an email address on your business card is just as important as the phone number. If including an email address be sure to check your email often as potential customers will assume since you have included it on your business card, then it must be the best way to contact you.

• Phone/Fax - Phone numbers are the most used method of contact listed on business cards. Phone numbers connect your customers directly to you. When listing all contact information numbers, remember to include the area code. If you have a fax number, feel free to list this as well. There isn’t a required format for listing phone numbers but be sure all numbers are consistent.

Business Description: Not everyone will know what services you offer just from a business card. When in a rush and passing out your business cards, more than likely there will be no extra time for giving out a detailed explanation of your business. For example, Joe’s doesn’t provide a potential customer with all the business information needed. So, by adding something like Computer Repair and Maintenance beneath the business name is far more informative.

Logo: Although a logo is optional when deciding what to put on a business card, it does help potential consumers and clients to recognize a company’s brand. Therefore, by including a brand logo people are more likely to remember what products or services the company offers by sight.

Job Title: Adding a job title is helpful for those who may work in a large company where there are many different positions. This field is optional for entrepreneurs and sole-proprietors.

Services and Products: Listing business services can give the card holder a better idea of the specific services or products offered by a business. This can be a bulleted list or displayed in a table format.

Website Address: Including a website field is beneficial for the entrepreneur or company with a website. This is a must for web based companies with a strong online presence.

Backside: The back side of a business card can also be used to display information. Don’t attempt to cram everything onto the front, as it can be overwhelming to a potential client.

Overall, designing a business card isn’t hard work but deciding what to put on a business card can be. With minimal space, it’s important to include and arrange the essential elements of information so your business card can have a positive effect on all potential customers.