How to create your own business card

Not so long ago there was lots of talk about how the internet will affect business as we know it. The biggest question on a lot of graphic designers' minds was how companies transitioning to digital marketing will affect design and print. A common theme was that graphic design will be less in demand and the print industry will be reduced to a few niche markets. Well, the year is 2020 and we know that could not be further from the truth. Graphic design is more in demand than ever and print marketing is still thriving. Business cards, in particular, have grown in popularity despite much of today's business networking being done on social media platforms like LinkedIn. There is something about a tangible business card that makes interactions more personal and memorable.

Unfortunately for many small companies and startups, design budgets are often not a priority even though branding is more important than ever. This has been a common theme for a long time but thanks to the progress in technological innovation and AI we have tools available that give you the option of creating business cards yourself and generating designs that give your brand that top-notch look and feel.

Here are a few points to keep in mind when designing your own cards.

1. Remember the foundational design principles!

A. First off you need to keep all your key design elements like logo and text at least 5mm from the trim edge of the card. This will ensure that the edges of the design are not cut off during the printing process.

B. Ideally you should always work with vector software that produces 300dpi images. This will ensure that your business cards are printed in high resolution.

C. It is important that your business card is legible. Make sure that your fonts are at least 5pts but ideally bigger.

2. Keep it simple!

Simplicity is key when it comes to any design piece but particularly when it comes to business cards. Often it can be challenging to fit all your information onto such a small space and still look good. Try to only include the information that is essential and make use of the backside of the card as well.

3. Make use of Do It Yourself design tools!

If vector editing software and graphic design jargon sounds and looks intimidating to you, you are not the only one! Learning how to properly use these tools can be quite the process and often very time consuming. There are numerous tools online that allow you create business cards with the help of AI. The download fees range between $19 and $69 but you can also try a free one here.

4. Choose durable material!

When you have finished your design you will need to choose a card stock. This is where you really get what you pay for. In order to make a good first impression you want the card stock to be solid and rich. Most printers will give you a number of options so I suggest you go in and feel the card stocks to get a better idea of what you are dealing with.

Ready to get started

The great thing about the handling your own design process is that you get be really creative and show off what your company is all about. Branding is so important and business cards still play a vital role in how businesses and consumers relate to your company.

Now that you know the basic deisgn principles and some potential pitfalls to look out for, you are ready to tackle this project! Have fun and look out for my next article with tips on how to create your own website.