Business Card Best Practices for Entrepreneurs

Some people find business cards old-fashioned, but they can still be an effective marketing tool. Business cards are relatively inexpensive and are easy to pass out at networking events or your local coffee shop. Here are eight business card best practices for entrepreneurs.

[Read more: How to Network to Grow Your Small Business]

Keep it simple

You want to look for ways to be creative when designing a business card, but if you aren’t careful, it can end up looking cluttered. It’s important to choose a simple design that allows for plenty of blank space.

It’s also a good idea to choose a simple font design that’s easy to read, like a sans serif font. And make sure the text size is large enough so that people can easily read it.

Use a photo

Depending on your business, you may want to include a headshot on your business card. For example, if you run a service-based business where you work one-on-one with clients, including a photo makes sense.

Real estate agents, photographers, or freelancers may want to include their headshots. However, consider how soon you plan to update your headshot before including it on your business card.

Consider your target audience

How you design your business card depends largely on your target audience and what they want to see. For example, you probably want to pick a more neutral color palette if you're an attorney. But if you’re an event planner or marketing professional, you may want to use colors that are more bright in the design of your card.

If you're looking for ways to save money, using a service like Canva and designing the business card yourself is a good option.

Add a QR code

Including a QR code is a great way to modernize your business card. When someone uses their phone to scan the QR code, it could automatically open a link to your website or portfolio. However, a QR code only makes sense if you have a strong online presence.

Choose high-quality materials

If you’re looking for ways to save money, using a service like Canva and designing the business card yourself is a good option. But areas where you shouldn’t try to save money are with the materials used and the printing.

If your business card looks cheap , it reflects poorly on your company. Use a quality printer that has experience printing business cards. A reputable printer will use streak-free inks to ensure the card looks professional. And they can help you choose the appropriate card stock or material that will help your business card stand out.

Proofread your business card

To avoid wasting money or embarrassing yourself in front of a prospect, proofread your business cards before printing them. Double-check that all the information is accurate and that there are no typos.

It’s also essential to ensure that your contact information is included, like your email address, website, and social media handles. If you run a brick-and-mortar business, you may also want to have your address listed.

[Read more: How Brick-and-Mortar Businesses Can Add E-Commerce]

Add a little something extra

Anytime you attend a trade show or networking event, you’ll likely receive and pass out dozens of business cards. If you don’t want your business card to end up in the trash, adding something extra can help it stand out.

For example, you can include a testimonial from a client or use scented ink. You can also use alternative materials, like rubber or metal. You could also change the shape of your business card to a circle or square.

Include a call to action

Finally, your business card should include a prominent call to action (CTA). What do you want someone to do when they receive your business card? Do you want them to email you or request a free demo of your service? Make sure the CTA is clearly spelled out on your business card so people know what the next step is.

[Read more: What Social Media Metrics Really Matter to Your Business?]

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Published July 18, 2023

It used to be the case that a business card was a simple affair: a piece of white card with the pertinent details printed in simple typography. They were functional, rather than intrinsically beautiful–although some of the letterpress effects are highly sought after to this day; check out our section on letterpress business cards below! Mostly, it didn’t matter whether you were an accountant or a gardener–your business card would look the same.

Fast forward to the modern era and we’re in an entirely different place. With a whole world of paper stock choices, print finish options, coatings and dies available, it can be totally overwhelming trying to find the right kind of card that will represent your business to customers, and convey the impression you’d like them to take away.

Don’t worry, as there’s a good way to approach choosing the right card for your business. Check out our list below where we’ve gathered together five different types of cards and finish types to illustrate how different approaches suit different types of businesses.

Brown Kraft Business Cards

• Characteristics:

  Recycled paper stock appearance, with a dull, matt finish. 15-18pt thickness

• Cost range:

  $

• Ideal for:

  Small businesses, arts + crafts, students

Kraft business cards are rustic and feel like an ecologically sound choice in the hand. They convey a sense of respect for the environment, and while low-cost, they don’t feel cheap thanks to their generous thickness. They’re not a premium choice, but for small businesses that have an artisanal focus, gardeners, students and arts + crafts based artists, they’re a lovely choice that will add an air of authenticity and dependability. One of the core characteristics of the Kraft business card is that it only works really well with black ink, but this restriction can help focus the design and ensure the core details are conveyed.

Premium Black Business Cards

• Characteristics:

  From uncoated, to a smooth, suede-like rich feel. 16-28pt thickness

• Cost range:

  $$$

• Ideal for:

  Larger businesses, sophisticated individuals and consultants, high-end designers and luxury brands

Premium black business cards are akin to a premium sports car: you know instantly that when you hold one, you’ve got a high-quality, thick-and-sturdy, high-end product. As a result, you’ll find them popular with higher-end designers and luxury brands, but they also work equally well for bespoke businesses, sophisticated consultants (think in terms of your favorite personal shopper), art dealers or consultant. They also work well for larger businesses that have a luxury brand, especially as these cards are the best choice for foil printing.

Letterpress Business Cards

• Characteristics:

  Soft and thick, wonderfully tactile with visible impressions that catch light and cast shadows. 20-40pt thickness

• Cost range:

  $$$

• Ideal for:

  Boutique stores, artists and graphic designers

Letterpress business cards have come right back into vogue in the past ten years or so. Why? Because letterpress produces such a tactile result that feels gorgeous in the hand, bringing an element of three-dimensionality to the print that you can’t easily achieve in other ways. The key to a good letterpress card is the choice of card stock. Generally, a nice thick card will produce the best results. Because it has an element of arts + crafts feel about it, these kind of cards are perfect for businesses that provide a more personal, individual service that’s bespoke. Think in terms of boutique stores, artists and graphic designers. In fact, designers love letterpress cards because they open up such a range of creative options – they’re an especially good choice for foil printing, and Pantone spot color work.

Silk Matte Business Cards

• Characteristics:

  Strong, sturdy with a silky smooth finish reminiscent of Apple’s packaging. 16pt thickness

• Cost range:

  $$

• Ideal for:

  Designers, small and large businesses, students

Silk matte business cards are the modern equivalent of the catch-all standard card. A great all-purpose card, you can’t go far wrong by opting for these sturdy cards that have a silky smooth finish. Because they’re so versatile, you’ll find them in use across almost every kind of business, whether large or small, boutique or mass-market. As the workhorse of the business card world, silk cards are a good choice for both special effects such as foil printing, and regular process full color print. It’s worth saying that just because silk matte business cards are standard cards, that doesn’t mean creativity is limited. It’s perfectly possible to make a memorable impression while basing your design around this standard.

Duplex Business Cards

• Characteristics:

  Extremely rigid, formed from two pieces of stock bonded together. 28-38pt thickness

• Cost range:

  $$$$

• Ideal for:

  Creative industries, artists, investment firms, high-end technology-based businesses

Extremely popular in Europe, duplex business cards convey the ultimate in high-end luxury as they’re built up from two pieces of card stock bonded together. This creates a card that can be almost 40pt thick, and has instant gravitas. Hand out some of these and your customers will know you mean business! A wonderful characteristic of duplex cards is that the two faces don’t have to be the same color, allowing the designer to exercise some serious creative muscle in producing two distinct sides. Equally at home in high-worth investment firms and across the creative industries, if you’ve got a business that wants to portray quality, sturdiness and reliability, this is a fantastic choice!

Choosing the right business card

Business cards come in all shapes, sizes, and materials, so it’s important to choose the card that best conveys your company’s message and image. If you're a brand that prides itself on eco-friendliness, for example, a card made from sustainable materials could be a perfect choice. Or if you’re looking to make a big impact, why not opt for striking metallic foil?

It’s also worth considering the card’s size and shape. If you want to stand out from the crowd, an alternative size or shape could be just the ticket. However, if you’re aiming for a more classic business look, go for something timeless like a square or rectangular design.

Whatever you choose, make sure it resonates with your brand's mission, values and identity. With a well-crafted business card, you’ll be able to communicate your message with impact and leave a lasting impression on potential customers or partners.

Use our business card design tool to create professionally designed business cards in minutes.