For The Best Cards, Follow These Business Card Basics
 When it comes to having the best business card in town, it’s not always about flashiness or being different. More often than not, keeping it as professional as possible is the way to go, and there are several key things to keep in mind to help accomplish that. Here are the key aspects of creating an outstanding business card.
Professionally Printed Business Cards
We’ve all seen them before… the print at home business card. And let’s face it – these do it yourself business cards might be able to save you a dime or two, but the message they put forth is nothing but amateur. I know when I’ve been handed self-printed business cards in the past, I immediately tend to dismiss them as being non-professional. You’re probably able to relate to this experience as well.
When having business cards printed, don’t skimp on the cardstock paper weight or the quality of ink used. A heavy business card will not only feel more professional when you hand it over to a potential customer or client, but it will also hold up better as it goes through the rigors of the common rolodex. The same goes for quality ink – the last thing you want is for your contact information to become smudged. When it comes down to business, it’s just worth spending a couple of extra bucks to go with quality.
Clear, Professional Design
It’s not unusual for professionals in the creative industries to come up with some really innovative, catchy design or another for their calling cards. This is okay in some cases, but it is important to remember that having a clear and totally professional business card design is successful in almost every possible scenario. When in doubt, it’s probably best to stick with the tried and true professional business card design standards – clear and concise.
Standard Size
While the standard sizes for business cards do vary from country to country, in the United States, the norm is a precise 3.5 by 2 inches. In some cases, it’s acceptable to deviate from this long-observed norm. Most professionals do choose to stick with the standard business card size – cards of the standard size fit neatly in a wallet or billfold, plus they are very compatible with all of the different business card filing systems that are used. So, unless you have a specific reason to use a non-conforming business card size, it’s just most professional to stick with the standard size.
There’s no reason not to have a little bit of fun when designing your new business cards, but do remember that professional cards are almost always the way to go.
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