How to Design Your Own Printable Business Cards
If you own a small business, you know the importance of distributing your business card to network and promote your product and services. Business cards don't have to cost a fortune at a professional printer. The pros often have supportive design tips, though, and you can order custom designed cards once your resources allow. Meanwhile, to create your own card, you can use a couple of different types of graphic design software. If you don't have such a program installed on your computer, use a library or university computer. It doesn't take too long, unless you also want to design your own logo. If you're a graphic artist, that part may be simple, but you don't need a logo for a simple business card. Your contact information and name are the basics you'll want to share.
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Instructions
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Open your graphics program and look for a business card template. If you don't have one, create a new file and save it as "mybusinesscard1." If you use graphics software, create a new image file with the dimensions set to 3.5-by-2 inches. If you add one-quarter inch all the way around, you'll have a "bleed" area, but it's usually easy to stay within the 3.5 X 2 inch confines. Keep the resolution to 300 dpi or higher for good quality prints.
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Open your business logo graphic file if you have one. Reduce it to a size that will fit appropriately within the card size, leaving room for your contact information. Experiment with several sizes, keeping the logo larger if you are going for brand recognition or smaller if you want the remaining info to be more obvious. Use the logo, your name, phone and website link together. If you don't have a logo, just use your contact info and website.
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Type your business name, your name and whatever contact information you want to have. Include a phone number, email address and website. Add a physical address if your business location is open to the public or you need to receive mail there. Car mechanics, for example, will list their garage address, but a home-based consultant may not need to add one.
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Experiment with different fonts, sizes and colors for each element, but avoid fonts that are too unusual or ornate that isn't legible. If you have a website with a key font that is simple and legible, use that.
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Lay out the card by moving the text to the left, right or center until it is pleasing to your eye. Try several different ways. Don't go all the way to the edges with the text -- allow about one-quarter inch so nothing gets cut off in printing. Save each version you like as a separate file.
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Print out a test copy of each image file on regular paper. Cut it out and look at it. Find another standard business card and verify that the size is comparable. Compare the variations. If you have family members, roommates or friends nearby, ask them for their input. In the end, however, trust your intuition and go with the one you like best.
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Print multiples from home or take the final file on a disk (or your laptop) to a printing company or office supply store and ask for the number of cards you need. Pay to have them cut for you, or use supplies in the shop. Reprint or reorder as necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Patterned backgrounds can be too distracting, but a basic color work if you plan to take the card to a printer. If you plan to print from home, avoid the color background because colored ink is expensive. Use colored card stock instead.
Upload a file online to order inexpensive business cards through a discount company.
References
Resources
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