Things You'll Need:
- A reason to create a business card
- Ideas about what your business is about and what you want it to mean to your customers
- Funds to pay for a custom designed logo and/or business card (recommended)
- Funds to pay for business card printing
- Internet access
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Step 1
A business card can be part of a family or series that, when viewed together, have a clear relationship.Decide why you want a business card, what you want to accomplish with it, and how the card is going to represent your business and help you reach your goal for it. Write all these things down as they come to you. Perhaps over several days or weeks. Let these ideas congeal on paper. Your business cards will be 1000% better for it. Answer the following questions: Do you have a logo? Is it in color? Is it suitable for high resolution printing on business cards and other items? What colors might represent your business best (not your favorite colors, but colors that will suit the business because it is a separate identity from your own)? What shapes might represent your business best? What images or objects represent your business? Are any of these images bold or emotionally moving? Can any of these images be used on other items? Can any of these items be used on multiple cards but still demonstrate a clear relationship between the items (perhaps all are used in your business, for example, or the object of your business)? What typestyles seem to capture the spirit of your business, if any; can you describe the typestyle that you think would capture its spirit? How do you want your customers to feel about your business card? What do you want them to think about your card? What do you want them to think about your business? What do you want them to tell others about your card or business? What do you want them to do with your card? What contact information should you put on your card? What information will help customers find you (a map might be useful if your location is off the beaten path, for example). These seem like a lot of questions, but they will guide your card to doing as much work for you as possible to promote your business. Gather as many business cards from your competitors as possible, too. See what you like - and don't like - about their cards. Information you should have on your card includes business name, business address, phone number, fax number, email address, web site address, employee name, employee title -- any means a customer should use to contact you.
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Step 2
This is a third business card in a series for wholesale and retail tire businesses all owned by the same company.Once you've answered the questions listed above, you're ready to move to the design phase of your business card. Here you have two choices: 1) Design the card yourself, or 2) Hire a professional to design it for you. If you've already answered the questions above (and you should have), you've already done much of the mental design work. If you have the proper software, experience and vendors, you should consider designing your own business card. But if you don't have the proper software or experience, your time is better spent doing other things for your business that will be less frustrating but more profitable for you. If this last sentence describes you, you should hire a professional to design your card for you. The reward will far outweigh your investment if you choose a designer carefully.
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Step 3
These sample cards all share a similar design, with carefully chosen colors, logos and images to reflect each individual business.As noted above, if you've answered all the questions posed in Step 1, and written down all your ideas as they've come to you, you've done much of the design work already and will be able to better guide the designer you choose toward creating the ideal business card for your business. But you should choose your designer carefully. You should not only weigh costs, but also the designer's portfolio, experience in your business segment, and how well he or she will work with you to meet your needs. Remember, however, that there are a million well-meaning low-cost freelance designers who just don't have the experience or skill to meet your needs. You should first try to contact a designer who is near you so that you can meet with him or her face to face. Ask other business owners in your community about their business cards, who designed them, how much they cost, etc. This may lead you to the perfect designer for your needs. Even a local printer, for example, might be able to recommend someone. If you cannot find a designer near you in the phone book, turn to a Google or Yahoo search. Take as much time as you need to identify and contact potential designers. Tell them as much about your project as you can, so they can respond and tell you what they can do for you. A good site to find talented freelancers is elance.com.
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Step 4
Today, high-impact full color business cards can be printed for little more than one- or two-color business cards.After you've given your chosen designer everything you know about your business card project, make sure that you understand what will be provided and at what cost, then leave them free to do their best work for you. Let them use their talents and experiment. Ask them when they may have designs to show you, but don't ask about progress unless they are late. You want them to do what they do best: Make your business card look its best so it does the most work for you. What you really want is a business card that people will remember again and again, and keep it handy for future reference. You want it to stick in people's minds long after it has been given to them. Your designer may also have ideas for logo, letterhead and envelope design, or other items your business might find useful, as he or she works on your project. These types of ideas and suggestions are really a bonus...you may be able to use some of these ideas in the future.
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Step 5
The audience of your business card is important. Your designer should have good understanding of the audience when presenting potential designs to you.The final step is to have your business card printed. If you're working with a designer, he or she may have a vendor who can print your business cards at reasonable cost. The added benefit is that the designer can send all appropriate files to the printer, and therefore assumes responsibility that your cards are printed as intended, should anything go amiss. However, if the designer isn't able to have your cards printed for you at a reasonable cost ($85 for 2000 full color cards would be more than reasonable, for example), you can contact local printers or order your cards over the Internet. Remember, however, that you will assume all responsibility for errors or problems that arise since you're ordering them. At the same time, reputable printers (local or otherwise) have clear guidelines about what they need to print your files, so these can be given to your designer who can prepare your files as instructed for the printer you've chosen. If you're printing over the Internet, avoid VistaPrint. My experience with them has been spotty, and their cards are NOT printed to standard business card size (2" x 3.5" is standard). I recommend UPrinting.com first and PrintPlace.com second. You can submit your prepped files over the Internet, see a proof before approval, and receive your cards in about 7-10 days.
