Perhaps like you, I never know when I might meet my next big customer. When I do, I need to be armed and ready with a business card that captures the current business card etiquette and will make them fall in love with me and my brand.

Business cards have long been an important way to help professionals spread the word about what they do and drum up new business to help their companies grow. These small pieces of paper are often times overlooked for their importance. However, aside from your glowing personality, your business card in many occasions serves as the first impression of who you are and what it is you do.

Now, with do-it-yourself online business card design tools, as well as your trusted neighborhood graphic designer, you have the ability make your own for very little money. As you get ready to design your next business card, here are five tips to help you do so in a way that will attract more customers and make you and your business look professional.

Use your network

In your own business network, you undoubtedly have a number of colleagues and other professionals who have also given you their business card. Go through the cards you have received and consider what made one work better over the other. You may also want to talk to any design professionals in your network that can help you with their opinion and guidance on how your card should be designed.

Keep it straightforward

Some of the best designs are some of the most simple. When you keep your business card straightforward and clear, you make it easy for your customer to know exactly what you offer and how to get in touch with you. A simple design also lends itself to serving a deeper message which is the ease of working with you and your company.

Be cautious about going too far outside the box

Unless your business is one that focuses on design, art or any other out of the box product, it is a good idea to limit your business cards to the traditional size and design of 3.5 inches by 2 inches. This way, your business card will fit more snugly into the card holders many professionals carry and making it easier to find again when they are ready to contact you.

Carefully consider what information to put on the card

While you do not want to give too much information and make your business card look and feel overwhelming, you also do not want to give too little. Carefully consider the most important information you need to put on your cards so that people can easily contact you in a number of ways, see what you do, and find your name and position quickly.

Leave blank space for notes

Many professionals like to write down their own personal notes about you and your company somewhere on the business card when they receive it. This is best done in a blank space. Therefore, proper business card etiquette includes leaving some blank space somewhere on the card. While most people leave a blank space on the back, you can put yours anywhere you wish. By providing a blank area for notes you will give your recipient an easy way to track you and your business.

As you get started creating your own do-it-yourself business cards, use these tips to create ones that will be well received by the person you are networking with. This will help you to earn more customers and create longer lasting relationships, regardless of where you are or what you are doing.

About the Author: Patrick Del Rosario is a blogger from Mayple Marketing Blog. Mayple matches businesses to digital marketing professionals that meet their unique needs, and ensures they are performing optimally, at all time. When not working, Patrick  loves to do event photography. He also runs an event and photography business in the Philippines. He loves to travel around the world with his wife and son.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also want to check out these others:

55 Business Card Designs for Your Creative Inspiration (With Tutorials)
45 Fun and Creative Examples of Print Advertising
35 Amazing Ads Created in Photoshop
25 Websites with Stunning Big Background Photos

This article is published by Will Sherwood | The Sherwood Group |Website Design | Graphic Design | Marketing Communications: The Sherwood Group has over 30 years of experience working with all sorts of companies, small and large. Our clients range from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 firms, in nearly every business sector, from across the street to around the world (and yes, even Europe, China, and South America). Our goal is to create advertising,  graphic design, website design, and marketing communication that still looks fresh and relevant 10-15 years later. Our mission is to stir your imagination and leave your competition shaken and wondering,  Now what do we do?”  We are located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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