How to make the perfect business card

A business card still remains the primary calling card when you are looking to network in any part of the world. Not even the most technologically advanced countries have been able to find a replacement for the humble business card that has its roots in 18th century European aristocracy. Ideally, one can get a professional to design the business card. But if you are going to design it yourself to make it more representative of you, there are some things you need to keep in mind before you get down to doing so.

Nilesh Parwani, MD and CEO of Vistaprint, an online marketplace for marketing materials for small businesses including business cards, says that the business card becomes the basis on which anyone forms their first impression about you and your business.

The business card can reflect your vision, your passion and a lot more, he says. If you have errors, mistakes or shoddy design, it can go a long way in creating the wrong first impression of your business, he adds. So what are the things you need to do to ensure that you get your business card right?

- Plan what content needs to go on the card

Dont clutter your business card, is Parwanis advice. The card must contain one clear message he says. Try and put your brands tag line on the card, or the clear message you are trying to give out as a company, besides the name of your company and your contact details. Make sure you add links to your social media pages.

- Pay attention to the design element

What you can do on and with your business card has changed significantly now, Parwani says. You cant rely on a black and white piece of paper to help someone remember what you discussed, he adds.

Make sure that the logo of your company is prominently placed on your card. A prominent logo can become a point of discussion while you exchange cards. You could discuss why you came up with the logo, Parwani says.

Picking the right colors is important as well. The colors of your business cards should be consistent with your website and other marketing material, if possible. One must not be struggling to read whats written on your card.

Avoid using the edges of the card while you are designing. Avoiding a border is advisable also. This is something that can become a problem when you send it to the printer. Another thing to remember is to not leave the back of your card blank. You could either put the logo or any other design element on it. But leaving it empty is not advisable.

- Think about what your card signifies

Does the card need to reflect what your business does? Parwani thinks that isnt essential anymore. Earlier people would try to relate what the business does to the card, in fact, even to the name of the company. But that has changed now, he says.

Across industries, startups go for bright colors for better recollection. The card doesnt have to reflect exactly what you do as a company, but more about your attitude, work ethic, etc.

The card should reflect that you are in touch with your business environment, he says. If your target market is the youth, the card should be designed accordingly. It should not be designed according to what you make.

- Quality and end product

Once you have planned how your business card should look and have designed it, the next thing to do is getting it printed and executed correctly.

When one touches the card, it should not appear to have been made of poor quality paper or have bad printing, Parwani says. It is important to not compromise on the quality of the card.

If you are trying something adventurous with your business card to help customers remember you, the execution is of utmost importance.

Many companies try interesting things with their business cards. Like they make stickers, reminders for an event, attach a sample of the product to it, or draw lines along which the business card can be folded to make it something else like a small model of your product.