Business cards play a major role in first impressions, especially in the business world. We’ve been in print for a long time, so we’ve got our own list of tips and tricks to share.

These business card tips aren’t intended to build the whole card for you – don’t worry, there’s still room for creativity on your part – but they are intended to make creating your business card a lot easier. Covering everything from the paper stock to the amount of tolerable white space, the following will act as a foundation for your cards.

QUALITY PAPER STOCK ONLY

The paper stock that you use illustrates your commitment to quality. A card that bends and feels flimsy isn’t going to let you put your best foot forward. You don’t have to settle for cheap card stock; using a thick, quality stock doesn’t necessarily mean it will cost an arm and a leg. Trust us when we say that making the effort to choose the right paper will pay off.

A CATCHY SLOGAN

Don’t take yourself too seriously unless you are in a super conservative industry. Use a catchy, perhaps funny slogan on the card. Make sure that it’s short and memorable, people love humour; well, most people.

HAVE FUN WITH YOUR LOGO

If you don’t have a logo already, we encourage you to design one or have one designed for you. If you want to get creative, consider playing with the logo and putting it on the back of the card. Perhaps shrink it down or create an abstract of the logo, as long as it’s still recognisable. Adding touches of bright colour (when appropriate) help bring out the logo even more.

COLOUR, YES COLOUR

Yes, use colour. Black and white cards just don’t create the same type of impact as cards with colour. Don’t get too carried away just yet though. This doesn’t mean that you have to go over the top with colours. People need a place to focus their eyes and also they need to be able to see the contact info. Stick with one particular colour scheme, warm colours with warm and cool colours with cool. Also, if you just want to add a bit of colour but want to keep things simple, consider using dark navy blue instead of black ink for the text.

USE UP ALL OF YOUR SPACE

This last tip is pretty straight forward. If you can, you might want to consider using the back of the business card. One of the main reasons you would leave it blank is if you plan to write personal notes on the business cards. Otherwise, add an interesting graphic, photograph or design. This is a great spot for that logo!