We’ve got a great sale happening now on business cards.

And to go along with this, here are some helpful hints to help you maximize your reach with this important marketing helper!

In this day of mobile and electronic sharing of data, a business card remains an important part of your branding package. It’s often your first chance to make a strong, positive impression and it’s a piece that keeps speaking for you – and about you – when you’re not around.

Here are some quick tips to help make sure you’re doing business cards right.

A – Absolutely use a professional designer
Unless you’re tops at design, leave this to a skilled pro. They’ll be able to help bring your entire brand together, giving you a cohesive look and a clear statement that speaks volumes about you and what you can do.

B – Be concise
Business cards aren’t meant to spell out everything you do. Keep your message clear. Need more room? Leave that for a brochure or your website. Too much information will clutter the card, making it too hard to try to understand, losing your points.

C – Don’t go “cheap”
If you cut corners on this important piece, it shows. And it speaks volumes about you. Are you really saving anything by skimping on this impression-maker? Not really. In fact, you could inadvertently saying “don’t choose me” to that important client. Paper, printing technique, design – they all matter.

Common mistakes
•Don’t make the font size too small, and make sure that it’s in a colour that can be easily read.
•Want to use a different size than 3.5” x 2”? Then make sure it’s for a really good reason. Non-standard sizes can be frustrating if they don’t work, making it harder for people to want to keep your card on hand.
•Keep your design and message consistent with what people will see on your website, advertising and other marketing material.
•Social media listings help showcase your brand and your message, but don’t clutter up your card by trying to fit too much in. Putting something like this on the back of your card lets you follow rule “B” with room to spare.

The bottom line:
Make sure that your card is a positive reflection of both you and your company – what you stand for, and what you can bring to the table. The time and effort you put into it is worth it, helping you to establish trust, spread your message and build your business.