Your business cards are miniature billboards, advertising your business--those receiving them will get their first impression of your business based on their "look". The image that your card presents must convince them that you're the one to do business with.
In order to define your own business image, take a few minutes now to consider the following questions:
Take your time when considering these issues. Whenever you use marketing materials such as your business cards, letterhead, envelopes, and tri-folds, you build customer recognition. Later on, if you decide you're not comfortable with this image and you need to change the design, you'll lose any cumulative advertising effect you may have gained.
The most effective image for your business may not always be obvious--and your success can depend on it. In recent years, even those in traditionally conservative fields such as banking or medicine have responded to changing market conditions with more contemporary-looking logos and advertising materials.
Business Card Uses
You're investing your time and energy into creating business cards that will be a powerful marketing tool for your business--why not maximize the impact? Business cards can serve many functions beyond simply displaying your name and address. You can enhance your business's image and build customer recognition by printing directions to your business, a mini-list of your products or services, a photo of you or of your business, and much more.
Choosing a Logo
You may opt for type alone on your business card, but consider using a logo for more visual impact. Infact, from a marketing stadpoint it's best to develop a logo and use it all of your printed materials. It's an incredibly effective way to build public recognition for your business.
Think of some of the best-known logos--they're instantly recognizable and have a meaningful connection to the company's name, products, or services. Let your company's image guide you when you're deciding how plain or sophisticated your logo must be.
Using Your Company Name as Your Logo
A logo is usually a special type treatment of your company name or initials. If you're using a computer, this type of logo is not difficult to design yourself. Most word processing and publishing programs include type style choices that range from traditional to stylized and contemporary (see "Choosing a Type Style" for more on type styles). Try viewing your company name or initials in several different type styles before choosing the look you want. If you're using color for your business card, thry several different colors as well.
Using a Graphic Design Element as Your Logo
You may choose to accompany your business name with some kind of graphic design element. Check your word processing or publishing program's clip art for a suitable image. If you don't find what you need in your current software, there are clip art software packages available in computer of office supply stores and catalogs. If you have the use of a scanner or digital camera, you can import artwork that you or someone else has created. You may also be able to purchase clip art images for scanning at your local print shop, art store, or office supply store.
On note of caution: if ckip art images are readily available to you, they are also available to other businesses. You risk customer confusion or maybe worse if you choose a logo another business is already using. You may want to have your attorney chekc your logo for availability, and register it for your own use when you get the okay.
Choosing a Business Card Type Style
While it's critical that your logo is appealing and communicates your business image, it's also important to choose an attractive, compatible type style for the rest of your business card information. Obviously, you should include your address and phone number. You may also want to incorporate your fax number, web site and email address.
Here are examples of some type styles and the images they present.
Times represents traditional
Helvetica, Arial represents Straightforward, No nonsense
Castle represents Antique
Impact represents High Tech
Burlington represents UpScale, High end
Comic represents Fun, contemporary
Choosing a Business Card Format
Once you've chosen a logo and type style for your business card, then you can decide how you would like it positioned on the page. There are three basic heading formats:
Centered
Flush Left
Flush Right
Printing Your Business Cards
It's easy to get professional-looking results using your own computer and inkjet or laser printer. And with today's low-cost printers, you can include graphic elements and color in your design. Here are some general tips on how to format your business cards in most word processing or publishing programs. Due to the richness of this heavyweight stock, we recommend hand feeding through your printer.
Using Word Processing Software with Templates
Many word processing programs include templates that will automatically format the page for you. If your software includes templates:
- Access the Envelopes and Labels templates.
- If necessary, specify the Labels templates.
- In some cases, you have to set the labels' left margin to .075".
- Within the list of Label products you'll see a Business Card template.
- Follow the program's cues to print your Southworth Business Cards.
Note: These programs bay require adjustment to fit the templates provided.
Using Word Processing Software with Tables
Some word processing programs let you create a table within the document. If yours does, use the following measurements to format the table:
- Number of Columns: 2
- Number of Rows: 5
- Column Width: 3.5"
- Row or Cell Height: 2"
- Text Margin or Indentation, All Sides (within each table cell)
You may also have to set the margins for printing:
- Top: .5"
- Bottom: .25"
- Both Sides: .75"
After you've got the Table formatted, design your Business Card in the top left cell. Use tabs for positioning your information inside the cell, as necessary. Then copy your format to all the other table cells and print.
Manual Formatting
If you're using software that doesn't include templates or tables, or you'd prefer to set up the page manually, use the following to set your margins for printing:
- Top: .5"
- Bottom: .25"
- Both Sides: .75"
Use your tabs to format the business card information into two columns. Your business cards will measure 2" high x 3.5" wide when detached--space your information accordingly.
