culled from:bizboost.com.au

If you have skimped on the design and printing of your business card,
what does that imply about the quality of your products? Does your
business card provide prospects with enough information about your
business? Is it clear what you do? No matter how good your product or
services are, if your business card looks unprofessional… you will lose
business.

Following are some hints on creating a card that will stand out from the crowd and impact favourably on your potential clients:

1. Make sure your card displays a professional looking logo, which is consistent with the rest of your marketing materials.
    
2. Use a font style that is easy to read and fits with your image.
    
3. Include your name, phone number, address, and email address.
   Ensure that these stand out. Make it as easy as possible for your
   prospects to contact you.
    
4. Always display your website address prominently. This can be one
   of the best ways to build a relationship with your prospect, allowing
   them to find out more about your business. To be professional and
   credible, you should have your own domain name (website address) and
   corresponding email address.
    
5. Make sure that it is clear what you do. Use a tag line which
   states clearly why people should do business with you – what solution do
   you provide? Alternatively, include a short bulleted list of your
   services / products.
    
6. Use both sides of your card. If all of the above information
   fits neatly on one side (without looking cluttered and without the font
   being too small) use the other side to include important information or
   maybe a valuable offer. This is where you can make your card stand out
   from the rest. It can be the information on the back which determines
   whether a prospect keeps your card, hands it on to other potential
   clients…. or bins it!

   Some ideas for the back of your card include:

   a valuable coupon
   a rewards card or punch card for regular clients
   a special webpage address containing discount coupons for business card recipients only
   a testimonial from a satisfied client
   a map to find your business

   You could even include emergency phone numbers or a small calendar to encourage people to keep it in their wallet.
    

7. Add a splash of colour – but don’t overdo it. Too many colours
   can detract from the card’s message if they don’t complement each other.
   Avoid grey print on a white background – as well as being boring it can
   be hard to read.
    
8. Proof read well prior to printing. A handy hint is to read each
   line backwards, and to read from bottom to top. This will force you to
   look carefully at each word and number. Check and re-check phone/fax
   numbers and addresses.
    
9. Print on quality card. Your card should feel substantial in your hand. Do not use a light flimsy homemade card.
    
10. Laminate one side of your card only. This will keep your card
    strong and sturdy to maintain your professional look, but will allow you
    or your potential client to write on the back, which increases the odds
    of them keeping the card.

Once you receive your new cards, make sure you have a supply of them
with you wherever you go, and hand them out whenever you can. Every card
that you hand out is potentially another customer. Don’t be afraid to
hand out more than one each time. Ask people to pass them on to others
who might need your service.