How to Make Custom Business Cards for Free

Recruit new business by making your own business cards.

When you're trying to promote yourself and your company, one of the quickest and handiest ways to get your information into potential customers' hands is through a business card. The tiny rectangles transport your personal data to the people who may later pull out your card and contact you for a product or service. Through programs you may already have on your computer or downloadable trial versions, you can make your business cards for free.

Things You'll Need

• Windows Paint
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Publisher

Instructions

Using Paint

1. Open Paint, pull down the "Image" menu and click "Attributes." Set the dimensions as 3.5-by-2 inches and click "OK." The Paint workspace automatically adjusts.

2. Click the "Text" tool, which looks like an "A." Click at the top of the business card; if a text toolbar does not appear, pull down the "View" menu and select "Text Toolbar." Select a font for the card, then type your name. Press the "Enter" key to get to a new line and type your job title and/or company. Continue to press the "Enter" key to add information such as your address, phone number, email address and website. Add any additional information such as certifications, awards or hours of operation.

3. Click the "Pencil" tool and select a color from the "Color Picker" at the bottom of the screen. Draw a small, simple design on the left side of the card to represent your business, such as a hard hat, paw print or ice cream cone. Another option is to draw an abstract design such as a swirl or crossed lines.

4. Give your card an eye-catching background color by selecting a new paint color from the "Color Picker," clicking the "Paint Bucket" tool and clicking in the white space of the card. The card fills with color behind your text and drawing.

5. Pull down the "File" menu, click "Save As," name the card file and save it to your computer.

Using Word

1. Open Word, pull down the "File" menu and choose "New." The "New Document" panel opens on the screen. Type "business card" into the "Search online for" box and click "Go." Scroll through the template result list, click a preview link and click the "Download" button to open a sheet of cards in the Word workspace.

2. Click your cursor into the top left card. Click once on the placeholder graphic on the card and press the "Delete" key to remove it. Pull down the "Insert" menu, click "Picture" and choose "Clip Art." Type a word or phrase, such as "soccer," "lawyer" or "cupcake catering" into the "Search for" box and click "Go." Scroll through the results and double-click an image, which appears on the card. Shrink it down to preferred size.

3. Highlight the placeholder text on the card with your cursor. Type directly over it with your name, company, type of business and the best ways to contact you. Add any information such as "Mention this card for 10 percent off consulting services" or "Bring this card in for a free slice of pizza."

4. Highlight all of the new text and the graphic on the top left card, then press the "Ctrl" and "C" keys on your keyboard to copy the new information. Click into the next card on the template and highlight all of that text and graphic. Press the "Ctrl" and "V" keys to paste your new data directly over the top of the template. Repeat this to fill all the cards on the template.

5. Pull down the "File" menu and select "Save As." Type a name for the cards and choose a destination to save them to on your computer.

Using Publisher

1. Open Publisher or download a free trial. Click "Publications for Print" and select "Business Cards." Scroll through the card template designs and double-click one, which opens in the Publisher workspace.

2. Click your cursor into the first line of placeholder text that becomes highlighted. Type your name. Click into the next text box on the card, typing your information over the template lines. Add your website, instant messenger or social networking pages or any other ways you wish people to contact you.

3. Right-click the placeholder image on the card and select "Change Picture." Choose "Clip Art," type a word or phrase into the "Search for" box, click "Go" and double-click a graphic to add it to the card.

4. Click the "Color Schemes" link on the "Business Card Options" pane. Scroll through the different color groups and double-click one that goes with your company, business or favorite colors. The card automatically updates in the Publisher workspace.

5. Click the "Multiple" button under the "Copies per sheet" section to ensure you print multiple cards per page rather than just one. Click the "File" menu, choose "Save As," name the cards and save them to your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• All Windows installations come installed with the Paint graphics program. The Microsoft Office Suite includes Word, and depending on your version, may also include Publisher. If you bought a stripped computer or an earlier version of the Suite, download a free trial of Publisher from Microsoft so you can experiment with making your own business cards before actually purchasing it.

References

• Windows: Using Paint
• Baycon Group: Microsoft Word Tutorial
• In Pictures: Microsoft Publisher

Resources

• Microsoft: Office 2010 Trial (Publisher)