Attributes of an Ideal Business Card

There are many designs, layouts and formats in which an ideal business card can be designed. An ideal marketing card should have the following four properties:
Prominence

There are millions of companies in the world and these million companies have billions of business cards. The point is that your card should stand out in the crowd. Similarly, at a business meeting where everyone is handing out their personal cards, the client is usually left with a stack of business cards at the end of the day. So it is important to make your card catchy and ideal. Also, a card that stands out from the rest makes the business competition healthy.
Legibility

Legibility means that your business card should be easy to read. Basically, a business card is small by nature so printing large fonts is virtually impossible. That means that the type of font you use should be easy to be read in a small size.

Your business card should be neat and unique as well as every alphabetical letter needs to be clear and easy to read. Also remember that too many details complicate the understanding of your message, so try something which should be subliminal.

Quality

Quality matters the most when it comes to business promotion. The material of your card should be of high quality. It may happen that your potential customers will doubt your ability to provide them with high-quality goods if they see your contact information printed on cheap, low-quality material. The sensation of the card should be unique.

When touching your card, prospects will associate any unusual concrete feel with you. For instance, you may use velvet for gentler information or rough surface or even sharp ends for business association.
Elements of an Ideal Business Card

Following are some important and unavoidable elements of a business card which an ideal one should contain:

Name

Your name is very important to be written on your business card. It lends a touch of personalization to your card. In all large and small organization it is important for the recipient of the card to have the name of a specific contact person. The name of the individual is usually the most outstanding text element of a business card.
Business Name

Like mentioned earlier, an ideal business card should always have your business or organization’s name on it. This is yet another prominent text element of an ideal business card that should standout. An organization with a highly recognizable logo might de-emphasize the business name; however, it should be treated as an essential piece of information.

Job Title

This is not a very important element of the business card, however, it looks professional to mention your position in the company. For instance, some entrepreneurs or sole proprietors might include “President” or “CEO” etc. to give the appearance of a larger organization.

Address

Physical address or a mailing address or both are typical parts of a business card. However, in case the company’s business is exclusively online, a physical address might not be important to include.
Phone Number

Phone number or contact number is also very important to be mentioned in your business card. Usually multiple numbers are listed in order of voice, fax, cell. However, you can omit any numbers that are not the preferred. Don’t forget the area and/or country codes and extension, if required.
Email Address

Like all other addresses, including an email address is an important element for a businesses card. As nowadays, companies are becoming more and more IT savvy and an email address is very important.
Website Address

Almost every company has a website. So website addresses can be listed too. However, do keep in mind that it should be without the http:// preceding the URL.
Logo

After all the written elements, a logo is perhaps the most important visual element of a business card. It is important for instant recognition of the company. It is used consistently on business cards and other print / electronic materials and help to establish a company’s identity.
Color

Colors are a great way to express certain feelings or identity. So, it is in your best interests to study different messages that each color sends (color psychology) and incorporate the most suitable one in your business card, which will be instrumental in creating beautiful business cards with the proper message.

You can also experiment with colors and always check with others before settling on a design – a set of fresh eyes can always cast an objective light on your business card designs. However, most companies use their corporate color in their business card in order to keep consistency in all communication material of that organization.
Business Card Material

Apart from common business cards made of paper or card material, there are also special business cards made from many other interesting materials.

These materials may include plastic (PVC), especially frosted translucent plastic, crystal clear plastic, white or metallic plastic. Other extraordinary materials are metal, rubberized cards, rubber, magnets, poker chips, thin wood and even real wood.

For the most part these special material business cards are of standard format, preferably with rounded corners. These new materials are popular among companies that wish a unique and eye-catching look and will leave a long-lasting impact on the receiver of your business card.

In today’s Information Age, people are constantly seeking information that will help them achieve success in their personal and business life, including information about their industry, competition, and new products and services. Newsletter marketing is a great way to create front of mind awareness, communicate news and information about new products and services, and stay in touch with your customers and prospects on a regular basis. Here are a few tips on how to create a successful newsletter:

• Create a consistent, well-designed template with a nameplate that is easily recognized issue after issue.
• Include articles to inform and educate, including helpful tips about your products and services. Readers who enjoy your tips are more likely to read for more information and contact you directly for help or to buy from you.
• Keep it short and sweet. Use short stories, bulleted information, lists, and other forms of concise information. If necessary, include a link to additional information in case the reader is interested to learn more.
• Include relevant graphics, such as charts, cartoons, illustrations, and sidebars, as well as your photo to personalize and create name recognition.
• Ask subscribers what type of information they would like to see, and ask readers to submit any industry questions they may have. Are they looking for new product information? How-to tips? Expert advice? Asking for input will not only help your business provide information by demand, but will also show them you care.
• Mail newsletters as a direct mail piece, hand them out at trade shows or at sales calls, provide them at your front counter for prospects and customers, include them in informational and media kits, and post current and archived issues on your web site, with a link to subscribe.
• Plan in advance. Create a spreadsheet of article ideas and a schedule for writing deadlines.  Not only will this help you save time, it will ensure your newsletters are delivered on a timely basis.
• Take a break when necessary, but be sure to let your readers know in advance if you plan on skipping an issue around the holidays or another time.
• Always include a call to action to request more information, place an order, or stop by to redeem a coupon or learn more about a product offer.
• Tell readers you value their feedback in any form. Consider creating a link to a short survey for customer ease.
• Invite readers to timely special events such as speakers, trade shows, and open houses. Focus on events that educate your customers on new products and services.
• Give away a prize in each issue and spotlight each winner. Not only does this encourage readers to look forward to your next issue, but it gives them an insight on your reader base.
• Use pull-quotes to draw attention and create interest in your articles.
• Commit to a regular newsletter schedule. Repetition is necessary to get people thinking about a company’s products or services, so regular readers are far more likely to become regular customers.

If you’d like additional tips on where to start when creating a newsletter, or ideas on how to update your existing newsletter, stop by today! Our creative team will help you develop a winning newsletter that your customers and prospects will look forward to receiving.