3 Design Tips For Business Cards in the Digital Age

Are business cards a dying tradition? Every so often an article proclaims that printed cards are being replaced by digital versions, that the little rectangles of card are old-fashioned and doomed to die out. This may be the case in certain demographics but for most of us, business cards are still an essential part of our business strategy.

What is changing is the way we use and perceive our business cards. They have become far more than just a mode of passing on contact details. The communicating of phone numbers and email address can be done just as efficiently by digital methods. Where the printed card retains its advantage over digital is in the communicating of your brand.

Nowadays the power of a business card is all in its design. It can be funky, traditional, slick, avant-garde, minimalist, elaborate. It can be decorative, contain useful technical information, make you smile, make you think. Its aim is to differentiate you and your business, so that you are remembered by your new contact. Even better if your card is one to keep, to tuck onto a pin board, or lean against a computer, just because its design is so inspiring. This is something that a digital exchange of plain contact information would never achieve.

All this puts a lot of emphasis on excellent design. No longer is it enough to arrange your contact information neatly, slap on your logo and print off your cards. Here are three pointers to designing business cards that work for you in a digital age:

1. It’s all about branding – if you haven’t already worked on your business brand, use the opportunity of designing business cards to get started. Work with a designer who is experienced in brand building and come up with a concept that really expresses who you are, your business ethos and philosophy.

2. Dare to be different – There are all sorts of rules about business cards, what size they should be, what font size to use, what contact information should be included etc. If your business is a conventional one with conventional clients, probably you do need to go by the book. However many individual businesses don’t need to conform and can differentiate themselves in all sorts of ways. Print your cards on unconventional materials, print them on objects, design cut out shapes or whatever takes your fancy. Remember one thing when you chuck out the rule book, though: your contact information must be easy to read.

3. Combine print and digital – there’s no reason why you can’t have the best of both worlds. Design a printed business card and include a QR code that allows smartphone users to scan in your contact details in an instant. In this way, your physical card complements your digital profile and makes it easy for your tech-savvy clients to add you into their contact lists.

So while a few people are abandoning printed cards, more are using them to build their business identity. Business cards are becoming more versatile, more creative and just as useful as ever.

Source by Jo Connelly

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