A good business card isn't just a tool for giving your information out to prospects. It's an opportunity to connect with a new prospect on a personal level. For that reason, good business cards will never be replaced by any of the digital networking tools at our disposal. Digital tools lack the human factor of the equation.
Start with a high quality business card template, which gives you the right foundation to build from. With a good design in hand, you then need to customize it—adding key details to your card.
Here are eight business card tips you can use to transform your business cards from a scrap piece of paper that people throw in the bin as soon as they get home, to a powerful connection agent that draws prospects to your business like needles to a magnet.
1.
Remember, your business card is an extension of your brand. The first thing to include is your logo and tagline. These convey your business identity to the holder of the card.
With a logo placeholder, Business Card puts your branding front and center.Ensure your brand is instantly recognizable. Do it with the creative use of shapes, colors, and words. Each of those elements form the heart of your branding. The goal here is to ensure you're associated with (and remembered for) your brand.
2.
Seems obvious, doesn’t it? But many people get this wrong. First the name. If your name is David, but you go by Dave, put the latter on your card, not the former. A business card isn’t meant to provide your genealogical information.
Rather, it's designed to introduce you to people who may want to talk to you. Introduce yourself as you like to be called to avoid awkward re-introductions later.
What about your job title? As a freelancer, entrepreneur, or small business owner you wear many hats in your business. Which one do you note on your business cards? Use the one that describes your main function or primary role in the business.
I've received many business cards that don't say what the person giving me the card actually does. Instead, next to the name it says CEO, Founder, or President. You may think that sounds fancy, but it’s actually unhelpful.
By the time I go home, I'm not sure what the person's job was or why I should call. Looking at a card from John, the Founder of Video Masters, for example, doesn't tell me much. “Was John a videographer? A video editor? A script writer? Oh, I forgot." Trash!
If you do have position credentials on your business card, list them after your title. For example:
Video Masters
John Smith, Videographer & Co-Founder
3.
Contact information is the meat of a business card. If you want people to contact you, you've got to tell them how. But which of your contact info should you include? The key idea to keep in mind here is “direct.”
Business cards create a personal connection between you and prospects. Don't break the connection by sending callers through a phone menu, or writers to a shared email inbox.
Templates like Business Card have plenty of room for contact info.On the other end of the spectrum, you don't want to get too personal. Give your house number and your 5-year-old might answer the phone. Avoid using personal email addresses, too. Stick with your work accounts and phone lines. This keeps your cards looking professional, and helps you maintain work/life balance.
Should you include a physical street address? Only if you've got a physical location crucial to doing business. If you're a photographer, for example, you should at least include your state on the card. That lets prospective clients know where you're available to work.
But if you’re a copywriter who works remotely, there’s no point in listing an address. It’s irrelevant and takes up precious space.
4.
What’s the purpose of putting your web address on your business cards? Not only to show people you've got one. That’s almost a given these days. Keep in mind, the goal of business cards is to inspire people to launch a business relationship with you. You want prospects to be so impressed that they'll be inspired to visit your website right away. So why not send them to a page with that purpose?
Create a page with a welcome message, or record a short introductory video so people get to know you better. Put a special offer on there for them or have a little bonus they can download as a “thank you” for connecting with you. In short, build a page that deepens the connection you've already created with them in person.
Make the URL to your website something very short and easy to type. No one will go home and type out a three line web address. Keep it simple and intriguing and you've got a higher chance of luring people in. Personally, I’d be much more interested in a link to "domainname.com/magic" rather than a bland link to "domainname.com/landing-page."
One last pro tip: package your URL in a QR code. These have made a comeback in recent months, and they're ideal for business cards. Smartphone camera apps can read these codes and launch your website. No typing required! This helps drive instant visits to your page. The sooner prospects visit you, the more likely you are to build lasting connections.
5.
They know your name; they know your title. They've got your website. But at a glance, do they know what you do? If you want a business relationship, prospects need to know exactly what you can do for them.
A lot of fields have specialties. From photography to medicine, from coding to writing, we all have specific skills. In a few words, try and list these on a card. Change "photographer" to "wedding photographer" and people know your specialty. Generic titles might confuse. After all, there's a big difference between novelists and technical writers.
Need a bit of inspiration? Here's where premium business card templates from Envato Elements shine. You'll find designs for countless job titles and industries. These templates are tailor-made to help you make a winning first impression.
6.
Social media channels have become indispensable parts of both traditional and virtual businesses. If you’re not on social media, you don’t exist in the eyes of your customers.
That doesn’t mean that you should list every social media account you've got on your business card. You want to give prospects the chance to connect with you, not overwhelm them with your presence. Be strategic and list only channels where prospects can get a good taste of your work.
Also, keep your social media listings professional. Odds are, you don't need to list a personal Facebook page on your business card. Unless your account is part of your brand or work, it doesn't belong on business cards.
The Breakart Business Card has room for your favorite social channels.The personal business card template above is available on Envato Elements. You can easily pair down the number of social channels on this card. Customize it to promote only those channels you're most active in.
For example, if you’re a photographer with an active Instagram account, list that. If you’re a graphic designer with lots of content on Behance, send people there. If you’re a small business owner with a strong presence and following on Medium, promote that. List your strongest profiles, not all your social profiles.
7.
White Space
Yes, white space is so important it gets its own tip on the list. Ever seen a business card that was completely overstuffed with information? The point of business cards isn't to overwhelm prospects, but to invite them to connect with you. And clutter invites no one.
Of course, you're working in a confined space when you design a business card. To avoid clutter, you should list only essential details. Keep in mind: business cards have two sides. Don't be afraid to use the back. You'll double the available real estate.
White space doesn’t have to be the color “white” of course. It just means empty space on your card for the information to breathe. Make sure individual elements stand out. Save space by taking steps like:
removing unnecessary titles
replacing text with icons
choosing minimalist template layouts
Check out these minimalist business card designs that have all the info you need, without clutter.
8.
This final tip is the be-all end-all and the holy grail of business card designs. All the above tips fall under the category of practical advice for best results. Yet, even if you follow those to the letter, but make a dull and boring card, no one will be contacting you anytime soon no matter how many cards you give out.
You need to get creative with your card presentation in a way that expresses you!
Show people what you do through your card design rather than telling them through your job title. If you're in the music industry, you could use a business card designed like a digital turntable. This builds a fun visual connection and helps people remember you.
Corporate Business Card has funky shapes and cool graphics for 2022.If you're a photographer, you may choose a modern camera card design, or one with a classic, creative layout. The trick is to find designs that express your brand the best. A general purpose business card such as the one above would work.
Make people laugh. Intrigue them. Let them fill in the blanks. Get creative. And if you can't think of any good ideas for custom cards yourself, don't worry.
Whatever you decide to do, and for the sake of everything that's good in business, don’t be bland! Give people a reason to contact you—even to say, “I loved your business cards so much I just had to call you!” You can always deepen the connection from there.
Explore these featured creative business card templates to find the best one for you:
Now that you know what information to include on your business card, let’s take a look at how you can quickly make a business card in Photoshop with a little help from a business card template.
For this tutorial, I’ll be using the Creative Business Card template from Envato Elements.
This is a colorful template that can be used for any type of business card. It can be edited in Illustrator and Photoshop.
The first step is to add your information to the business card template. The easiest way to do this is to select the Text tool by pressing T. Then, click the text you want to edit. Select it all with CTRL+A, hit Delete and type in your name and other information.
To add your own logo, first expand the Content Folder to reveal the Your Name subfolder. Expand this subfolder and you’ll see the Logo folder within it. Expand it and then double-click the Icon layer thumbnail. In the new window that opens up, place your logo image by going to File > Place Embedded. Close the window and click Save when prompted.
To change the background color of your business card template, double-click the background layer. You’ll then be able to set your preferred color.
To change the color of the shapes used in the business card template, expand the Shapes folder. Then, click the Gradient effect. You’ll then be able to choose a different gradient from one of the built-in ones that come with Photoshop.
When you’re done customizing your business card, click on File > Save as. Choose Photoshop PDF, select where you want to save your file, and press Save. You can then send your business card to the printer’s shop.
Envato Elements offers unlimited business card template downloads at a flat rate. That means you can try as many business card designs as you want!
Need help navigating the Elements library? Let’s check out five of the best:
With a sleek dark background, this business card template is a versatile choice. Each design element is fully customizable. Drop in your details and you’ll have a beautiful card in no time.
This modern card works for any business. It’s packed with fully editable, print-ready graphics that you can edit. Work with it in Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
A business card design with a vertical layout is a quick way to make a unique card. This one even includes space for a professional headshot! Take full advantage of the two-sided design to share key details in style.
Easy to use and full of style, Formal Card is a great template for your business. Layered files make customizations a breeze. You’ll also find room for a QR code to link people to your website or social media channels.
Photographers can put their work front and center with this sleek card. Image backgrounds on both sides offset against sharp, colorful text. This is a perfect choice for anyone looking for an illustrated business card in 2022.
Are you still wondering what is on a business card? That's okay, we've got even more ideas that'll spark your inspiration.
Check out these articles that show you what business cards look like when they're designed by professionals. Best of all, download these templates and use them for yourself—changing only a few details.
Envato Elements is the perfect place to find the best business card templates. For a low monthly fee, you get unlimited downloads of business card templates, web themes, fonts, and other resources to use in your next project.
Envato Elements offers a wide range of business card templates to choose from.Envato Elements truly gives you the best bang for your buck if you're creative. Thanks to the unlimited downloads, you can try out as many creative options as you want to find resources for all your creative projects.
The best business card templates from Elements include features such as:
Plenty of customization options
Image placeholders to easily add your logo or photo
Several layout and design options to find the perfect option for you
As you can see from the examples we shared above, Elements templates deliver a modern and creative style for your business card.
Unlimited downloads makes Envato Elements an excellent offer.If you’re getting ready to design your business card, you probably have some questions about the whole process. Here, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions to give you answers and help you create a stunning and memorable business card:
Business card sizes can vary greatly between different countries. That’s why it’s important to download the right size template for your business card. We've got a detailed tutorial that covers different business card sizes by country as well as how to make your business card stand out:
Business cards have limited space for your information. But you can get around this limitation by making use of the back side of your business card. Take a look at this tutorial for some creative ideas on what to include on the back of your business cards:
There’s a lot that’s involved in business card etiquette. It can be easy to make a mistake and inadvertently offend others if you’re not careful handling their business cards. Learn more about proper business card etiquette with this tutorial:
Yes, you can and it’s easy to do if you've got the right template to use as a starting point. For more information, read this tutorial to learn how to make a business card in Photoshop with a template:
At first glance, there’s not much you can do with your business card. With such limited space, every inch and pixel is precious. Luckily, with a few simple tips shared in the tutorial, you can easily make your business card more creative without sacrificing important information:
Creating a great business card isn't easy. There’s a lot more to it than simply knowing which elements to include on your business card. Luckily, we've got plenty of tutorials to help you learn more about what a great business card looks like. Get started with these tutorials:
Now You Know "What Is on a Business Card?"
Now that you've got all the information you need to include on your business cards, what sort of cards will you create? How will they fit into your brand identity design and marketing strategy?
Have you seen any intriguing or amazing business card designs that you really liked? Why not use that as an inspiration for your own business card?
Note: This post has been updated with help from Andrew Childress and Brenda Barron.
What to put on a business card? It’s a tricky question. A business card that contains just the right information (and a stellar design) will grab attention and help you stand out. It’s the thing that makes someone else remember you, or your pitch.
Even in the digital age, a business card is a popular–and necessary networking and communication tool. Having a great business card provides legitimacy to your or your business, it’s a quick and easy way to exchange information, and can provide ways to help promote your work.
What you put on your business card says a lot to others. Here’s a guide to what to put on a business card, with plenty of creative ideas to help you get started.
No matter how you decide to create the design, every business card should include the basics.
It almost goes without saying, but there are too many beautiful cards out there with no real information to identify the source. Equate this to an awesome website that loads slowly. You will just move on to something else.
There are a few vital elements that every business card needs:
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Look for an image that’s sharp and easy to understand at a small size.
A great photo can take an average business card to the next level. Leave a visual impression with new connections by using an image that shows what you do or your work on the card itself.
This is a popular choice for photographers and artists, although it can be a little more tricky for web developers. Look for an image that’s sharp and easy to understand at a small size. (Your canvas is probably no bigger than 3.5 inches by 2 inches if you opt for a standard size.)
Other ways to use creative imagery for a business card design include using an image or illustration that shows what you do. Maybe you have a great “action” photo of yourself. Maybe you have a creative take on your job. Any stellar image can make an impression. The trick is to make sure it communicates exactly what you want to say visually.
QR codes are one of the trendiest design elements on business cards because they provide a digital way to connect. Users can scan the code to save your contact information, web address, or get a map to your address.
Think carefully about what to include in your QR code and consider this option. You may also use a QR code with tracking or a UTM-based link so that you can determine how many people are linking from your business card.
As for the design, just make sure to make the code big enough to scan with ease.
Black and white business cards can be kind of boring. Create maximum impact with high color visuals that connect to your personal (or business brand) and personality.
High color designs can work for any part of the business card design.
One of the best tricks to make sure your card stands out is to use thick paper with a color edge. Since most business cards will probably be on the thinner side (too many people do this to save a few bucks) and have a white edge.
A thick card with a color edge will be a lot more memorable, screams quality, and will be easy to find in those endless stacks of cards that get collected at professional conferences or networking events.
High color designs can work for any part of the business card design. Look for ways to incorporate a logo with a bright logo or typography on a white card or consider a color card with reverse lettering. (Just remember, the goal is to stand out professionally.)
While these effects are some of the most costly in this list, there are ways to avoid breaking the budget.
Since a business card is a physical medium, make the most of it with something that users can see and feel.
Opt for a textured effect such as letterpress or foiling. Use high-quality printing (not copying) for production so there’s a subtle raised quality to letters on the card.
You can even look for a laser cutout or curved or nontraditional edges to make the most of a tactile design. The longer a user holds on to your card to examine these features, the more likely it is that they will have a stronger memory of it – and what you do. It’s an easy way to create a longer-lasting impression.
While these effects are some of the most costly on this list, there are ways to avoid breaking the budget. Print two types of business cards – one is a more standard design at a lower price point (use these in mailing and non-contact marketing touches), then have a second card with a premium design for top clients and meetings that you hand out in person. Try to use a similar visual design for each.
There’s almost no design project where great typography isn’t a must-have element.
With something as small as a business card, typography is vital to creating a design that people can understand. A common flaw in business card design is typography that’s too small.
A good business card design has a typography hierarchy and structure just like any other project. Don’t be afraid to go big with important words such as your name or what you do.
Use clean, easy-to-read typography. This is especially important if your name is uncommon or your business name or location includes difficult words or spellings. Make it easy for the user.
Don’t cram your business card with too much stuff.
In addition to all the reasons why white space is good for the design, a bit of usable space can enhance business card usability. It allows the card recipient to make notes or write down information that they might need later.
If this is something you see happening a lot, consider a matte or flat finish so that taking notes directly on the card is easy and so that ink does not smear.
Physical elements such as business cards don’t come with the same measurable ROI or analytics that many of us are used to getting with digital products. Include a call to action or promo code for a product or service to help measure who is looking at and engaging with your card after a meeting.
It’s not a surefire way to measure results – many people never redeem promos – but it can help you give users something in exchange for their time. An enticing call to action or promo can at the very least drive some traffic to your website or generate emails or phone calls, so why not try it out?
Just because you need a business card, doesn’t mean you have to be boring. Make a great first impression with a strong business card design that lets people know who you are and what you are about. Use high-quality paper and printing techniques to solidify that impression.
And don’t be afraid to get creative. In a creative field, your business card should not just tell people who you are; it should also showcase your style.
Looking for more business card inspiration or love these ideas? You can find them all at Envato Elements.
Our business card series covers everything you need to know about crafting a beautiful card design, including the right company information, and collections of business card templates to help you get started fast!
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