6 DIY Tips to Create the Best Business Card for Your Creative Business

 

Editor’s Note:

I fell in love with Vistaprint this spring when we partnered with them for our printed materials (signs, programs and unique items like door hangers, hangtags, etc.) for our Craftcation Conference 2019. Between Craftcation Conference and our other event Patchwork Show as well as my freelance illustration/design business I order over 60,000 postcards and 10,000 posters a year (not to mention other marketing materials like all the branded packaging to create an on-brand unboxing experience for our new products).  So, I’m pretty experienced when it comes to ordering printed materials online. I use various printers for various situations ie: I have one printer who is super close and I save a ton on shipping for my very large (and heavy) orders because I can pick them up instead of have them shipped. I use another printer because one of my clients has a relationship with them. Over the years, I’ve tested out a dozen or so printers and out of all of them, Vistaprint’s platform is the most user-friendly (especially for visual people like me). Not only is the ordering process easy but with their realistic preview feature, there are no surprises when your items arrive. Aside from the fact that they use responsibly sourced paper and have a HUGE variety of products you can customize with your brand elements or plug your info into one of their ready-to-go designs, I love that if you’re not 100% satisfied they’ll make it right—either by reprinting your order or refunding you! -Nicole S.

AND…

To help you get started with your new business cards and other on brand marketing materials, Vistaprint is offering you 33% OFF YOUR ORDER!

Just use the code HANDMADE33 at checkout on Vistaprint.com.

Maximum $200 savings. This coupon is not combinable with other offers, promotions and Pro Advantage.

We’re also giving away a $100 Vistaprint credit!

To enter:

Leave a comment on letting us know what you’d order with your $100 credit if you win. Contest ends on 5.15.19. A single winner will be notified by 5.22.19 via Instagram DM so be sure to include your Instagram handle in your comment.

6 DIY Tips to Create the Best Business Card for Your Creative Business

By: Meighan O’Toole

It may feel like business cards are old hat, dated, or are no longer needed with all the technology we have at our fingertips, but that’s simply not the case. As with most things these days, you have a few seconds to grab someone’s attention – and if you wait too long you’ve lost them. Having beautifully designed and branded business cards are still one of the best ways to network. And they shouldn’t be overlooked.

Today we’re going to talk about six things every business owner should consider when designing their cards. And if you stick around until the end our partners at Vistaprint are offering one lucky reader a $100 gift certificate!

Business Cards Make People Accessible

Have you ever been standing at a crowded show booth or in a frenetic conference environment trying to conduct a normal convo and connect with people? Taking your phone out to get someone’s info is a nightmare.

Business cards are still the quickest way to exchange info easily, Leila Lewis of Be Inspired PR told Forbes Magazine. Think about how easily accessible they are to just hand to someone. It’s already hard enough thinking of ways to connect with people at networking events like conferences or shows — by having a business card you can easily share, it opens the door. It should go with out saying, every business owner believes in what they do and they absolutely want to stand out amongst not only the competition but all of the noise out there too! Business cards are portable, lightweight, and they represent who you are as a business in seconds flat!

And if your business cards do their job, they can make it easy to connect and start talking!

Six Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Business Cards

Placing your branding into someone else’s hands is a great way to spark a connection and be remembered.

Let’s talk about things to think about and include on your business card, along with some tips to get you there and some stellar examples!

1. Create a mood board on Pinterest: there is inspiration everywhere, so as you start to think about how you want your business cards to look, don’t hesitate to create a board on Pinterest and gather inspiration and ideas. You can create a secret board where no one knows what you’re collecting or you can make it a regular board where the world can see, totally up to you.
2. Paper: This is where things start to get super interesting! Figuring out what paper stock you want is the first step in creating a business card you’ll look forward to sharing everywhere. And the most exciting aspect about this is there are so many options to choose from! Here are a few of our favs:

• Go classic (and safe) with with an uncoated look which is a traditional card stock; keeping the focus on your info and design.

• Get eco-friendly with kraft paper, not only are these a sharp, understated look – they’re made of 90% post-consumer recycled paper.
• I personally love the feel of a nice weighty card, like these gorgeous ultra thick paper stock examples. They don’t crease or bend, and will definitely make a lasting impression.

(Vista Print offers 11 different types of specialty cards to choose from beyond the three we’ve mentioned here. You can even get plastic or linen!)

3. Shape: Gone are the days of simple rectangles! But don’t be fooled, rectangles are still in and sought after in design. However, we now have other options such as rounded corners, square and folded business cards. Imagine what you can do with a folded business card!
4. Style: As with shape, there are no rules anymore when it comes to the style of how your card looks. The sky is the limit with colors, fonts, metallics, marks, etc. Some favs that I have seen lately is the colorfill that Vista Print offers – add your brand color right into the middle of your card. That’s sure to grab someone’s attention with a pop of color.

 

5. Design: This is probably the most exciting part. There is a lot to keep in mind as you design your new card. There are common but easily forgotten best practices to keep in mind as you design your new business card:

• Check your spelling: an obvious tip, but once those cards are printed they’re done! Be sure to double and triple check your spelling and ask others you trust to check, too.
• Include updated info like your social media handles: This is probably the first place people will go to find you, make sure this info is on your cards.

• No need to include everything: Include only the info you really want people to have (you make the rules). There’s no need to put your address or phone number on there if you don’t use them in your business. You get to decide what info to include!
• Represent your brand: this is one of the first things people see about your brand when they meet you, ensure it’s your best look. Match your brand colors, your fonts, and your overall style.

• Keep it simple: Color and a logo can go a long way. It’s easy to go overboard when creating a new business card but make sure it looks and feels like your business.

6. Bonus: If all of this feels super overwhelming, Vistaprint offers thousands of designs that you can plug your info and colors in and you’re good to go!

Running a small creative business is expensive, and while I almost always suggest hiring a designer to create a beautiful, timeless logo – that’s not always the best option when getting started. However, no matter how old your business is we all need business cards, and I truly hope this walkthrough helps you create your own beautiful cards to share with the world!

GIVEAWAY AND DISCOUNT INFO: 

To get 33% of your Vistaprint order, use the code HANDMADE33 at checkout on Vistaprint.com.

*Maximum $200 savings. This coupon is not combinable with other offers, promotions and Pro Advantage.

WE’RE ALSO GIVING AWAY A $100 VISTAPRINT CREDIT!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on letting us know what you’d order with your $100 credit if you win. Contest ends on 5.15.19. A single winner will be notified by 5.22.19 via Instagram DM so be sure to include your Instagram handle in your comment.