Congratulations, you did it! The very first step you take right after setting up your business in Dubaior anywhere in the world is to print your business cards. Your business card is the window for the audience to peep into your business world! The more appealing it will be, the more curious they will be to see what’s behind it. And if they liked it even a bit, they sure are going to knock on your doors. Therefore, choosing the right and impactful content for your business card becomes of utmost importance. After all, it’s the face of your company that your current and potential customers wish to see.
Business Card Types
Not everyone knows that there are various types of business cards based on diverse specifications and designs that can be adjusted to one’s requirements. No matter, what type you pick out, your business card should be designed in a way that makes you stand out in the crowd of hundreds of thousands of competitors in today’s highly-competitive business environment. Let’s take a look at the basic card types available in the market at your disposal below:
Flat Business Card: Sleek-looking standard-sized business card with brief information about the business person and their business. It can be single-sided or double-sided, depending on the amount and type of content you need to print. You may opt for a double-sided card if you want to include graphical elements, directions, or maps in it.
Folded Business Card:With this card type, you have more room for your business information.
Horizontal Business Card: Horizontal layout is the most common type you’ll see around. Businesses (such as real estate, business consultancy, banking, retail, etc.) that need to bring up more trust, confidence, and stability choose horizontal business cards.
Vertical Business Card: This card type is suitable for those businesses or persons that revolve around creative activities such as music, dance, arts, SEO, digital marketing, and interior designing, to name a few. Caveat: By selecting a vertical card layout, you are limiting the space for your content. Therefore, better you go with this style if you don’t have much info to tell the audience.
Main Elements of Business Cards
From transparent and frosted styles to custom shapes and sizes, the sky’s the only limit when it comes to business card designs, and that’s important too. But before getting into aesthetics, we would first talk about the prime elements that your business card must have. Irrespective of the card types or designs you select, the content that you want on your business card is the most important part of your business. Your business card includes:
- Company logo
- Business name
- Website
- Tag line
- Your name
- Job title
- Contact details
- Inspirational quote (optional)
Golden rules to nail a great business card
Business cards can bring new opportunities to you! A thoughtfully-designed business card works like a charm! It’s not just the carrier of your and your brand’s information but also gives your prospective clients/customers a glimpse of your trustworthiness, values, and USP that sets your small business apart from others. But before you start handing out business cards to everyone you meet, stop and ask yourself – Does your business card contain in it what is required to impress your client? Is it useful to the receiver? How can you make it eye-catchy, and ultimately bring in more business? The answer to these questions lies in the mindful blend of the information and its presentation on the card. To attain the simple yet one of the most powerful marketing tools, it’s paramount that you make sure the card is designed in such a way that it represents you the way you want. You might not be a graphic designer or their likes, therefore, it absolutely makes sense that you consider these rules while creating your tell-tale.
Pick a template that flaunts your brand’s personality
Allow your business card to talk about you and your beloved business by finding a template that squarely fits into your brand’s image. For instance, if you run a beauty salon or barber shop in Dubai that specializes in trendy beauty and hair solutions – reflect that with an avant-garde template that’s stylish and beguiling. Or, if you’ve just started a virtual law firm in Dubai then pick a simple and sober card template communicating about your services and intellectual nature more in a sophisticated way. Similarly, dance/music and daycare business owners can reflect the fun nature of their business with a colourful, less formal card.
Let the typography do all the talking for you
Like graphics and images, fonts can also holler out about your business. Do not opt for a playful, if you want your brand to be perceived as serious. A “serious” company doesn’t need to be boring, tho. For instance, a business advisor might pick Times New Roman, while a Content Writer may feel inclined to a typewriter-inspired font to be easy on the eyes of the target audience. There are many brands that stick to a particular font for all good reasons. When used aptly, fonts have the power to communicate your brand personality. If there’s a go-to font, that’s everywhere in your company, from website to banners to other marketing materials, don’t shy away to bring that onto your business card as well. You may play around with different font types and sizes on the same card as well. Experts recommend using a company name larger than a 12pt font, and all other text not smaller than 8 pts. Case in point: Information crucial to the business (like your name or business name) can be printed in a larger size, a different typeface, or in bold.
Decide the size and shape of the card
Are your offerings for fun people or stuffed shirts? Settling upon the size and orientation of your business card is equally important, as not only does it decide the text size and the amount of information you can include, but also makes a statement about your brand. Most business cards you see are rectangular and about the size of a credit card, and stretched out horizontally. It’s a safe choice, but it doesn’t harm if you choose to be a sunflower in the garden full of roses by selecting a square shape, rounded corners, or vertical orientation for your business card.
Plan out your information
When designed dextrously, your business card reminds people of the first time you met and encourages those who are interested in your offerings to get back in touch or visit your website for more information. Ideally, your business card should give customers everything they need to reach you, whether online or offline, including social media handles and directions of your/map shopfront. Besides your name and job title, add your business name, telephone number, website, email address, and availability (time/days your business operates). Organize all of this information on your business card in a brilliant manner, so prospects can easily connect with you the way they feel most comfortable.
Be wise while laying your information out on your business card. Each piece of info should be cleanly differentiable but flow nicely with one another. An ideal visual flow for a business card design starts with the logo. Then comes name, email IDs and phone numbers. Remember, adjusting an element’s size, shifting its location, or adding additional white space is always in your control to make more look uncluttered.
Think of repurposing the card that can do double duty
No matter how thoughtfully you design your business card, most of them end up in a trash can or on the roads. But by going the extra mile, you can have your business card decking up your customers’ refrigerators. Confused?! Yes, that’s possible. Turn your card into a magnet especially if you are providing recurring services like plumbing, water supply, gardening, babysitting, dog walking, tuitions, hairdressing, car services, restaurants, and more. Utilize the reverse side for appointment reminders, loyalty stamps, or as a blank canvas to highlight something about your business. Including a short recipe for a signature dish or drink of your restaurant on the backside of the card can be a great idea. Also, if you are dealing in handmade goods (like jewellery, clothing, accessories, and other crafts) you can tag your business card with the items itself. There are endless ways to ensure your card gets further, lasts longer, and makes a stronger impression.
Spruce it up with picture/s
A picture is worth a thousand words! Gone are the days when using a picture on the business card used to be the biggest error to steer clear of due to the low-quality printing technology. Today, pictures on modern business cards can do wonders. Refrain from an image that’s too colourful or intricate. Use only the original version of the image/s or icon/s of high-resolution, so it can be printed without any blurriness. If you are not so sure, just forgo it. If graphics define your business more, using vector graphics is highly recommended not raster graphics, as that can be magnified or shrunk without lowering their quality. To differentiate between a raster graphic and a vector graphic, try opening a picture with MS-Paint.
Be mindful of other elements too + your special touch!
Your business card is way more than your contact information. It’s your vision realized on paper! Dedicate one side of your card solely to your company logo. Don’t forget to leave some white space to make it easy to read. If possible, make your card stand out by adding an unusual design element or special print treatment such as paper stock, extra-thick paper, recycled kraft paper, foil accents, embossed gloss, and a glossy coating, giving your cards a difficult-to-forget look or touch. Add something special. You may also consider using a QR code as part of your call to action. And last but not least, proofread the card up to the hilt before printing, even a single typographical error has the potential to spoil the image of your brand. Not every brand spells like FCUK. Excuse the punk!
Your Pre/Post Business Setup Advisor
Whether you are about to take the first step toward your business setup journey or have already reached your destination, your business is an ongoing journey full of challenges. And every destination turns into the origin for the next phase of your non-stop adventure. Allow us to be a part of it and assist you to deal with every hurdle you might stumble upon. From business set-up advisory, management consultancy and accounting, bookkeeping and auditing services to visa assistance, PRO services, and local sponsor support. Connect with us for any sort of pre- and post-business setup services in Dubai, UAE.
