Business Cards – 9 Common Mistakes to Avoid

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What are business cards?

Business cards are small, rectangular pieces of paper that contain the contact information for a person or business. They are usually printed on one side and have a standard size of 3x2 inches. Because they're so small, business cards can be easily distributed to potential customers or clients.


Instead of handing out your full name and phone number on every card, you give out, why not use concise descriptions of what you offer? This way, people won't feel overwhelmed or like they need to keep track of multiple cards in their pockets at all times. You can also include social media links if you want to share more about your company or product.


In terms of design, there is no "correct" way to make business cards. However, some popular ideas include using fonts that stand out (like Comic Sans), using graphics or cartoons for humour and visual appeal, and adding personalized touches like personal quotes or pictures. Whatever style you choose, make sure it's visually appealing and makes your brand shine!


Increase brand awareness with your business cards

Business cards are one of the most important pieces of marketing material you have. 


Not only do they help your customers and clients remember your name, but they can also be used to promote your business in a number of different ways.

  • Use them as a way to build relationships with potential and current clients. Give out business cards at events or receptions, and make it a point to chat with people about what you offer. You may even be able to convince some people to sign up for your email list as well!
  • Offer them as incentives for sales appointments or other interactions. Keep a few packs of cards on hand, and give them away when someone makes an investment (or buys something really valuable!).
  • Distribute them through social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. post pictures or short bios featuring yourself and/or your business, along with the card's contact information. This will help generate more leads from interested individuals who see the promotion online!


5 Best Ways to Use Your Business Cards

1. Give them out as a gift

2. Stick them in people's purses or wallets

3. Use them to collect contact information

4. Keep them in your desk drawer for emergencies

5. Keep a few in your wallet for when the need arises


12 Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Omitting Important Contact Information

It can be hard to remember all of the important contact information for your business, especially if you're hand-crafting each card yourself. That's why it's important to include not only your name and address, but also the phone number, email address, and website URL on every business card you distribute. This way, potential customers can easily find out more about you and connect with you in a convenient manner.


Plus, Mistakeless recommends using high-quality paper stock when creating your cards so that they look professional and attractive. Printing your contact information directly onto the stock instead of just putting it on a sticker or inside a fold makes cards less likely to get lost or damaged in transit.


2. Not Including Your Address

If you plan on networking in your industry, it is important to remember that not including your business address on your card can be a major turnoff. In today's competitive environment, businesses that are unable to network and build relationships are at a disadvantage. Not only will they miss out on potential opportunities, but they also run the risk of losing customers who may move on to competitors if they don't feel like their needs are being met.


It might seem silly to some people, but sending cards without an address ensures that prospects have everything they need to reach you -without having to search for you or ask someone else where you're located. Including your business address allows prospects to get in touch with you directly and easily resolves any misunderstandings or concerns before they develop into conflicts later down the line.


Not including your business address on your cards will definitely limit how well YOUnetwork!


3. Having a Card That Blends in with All the Rest

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make when it comes to card design is trying to blend in with their competitors. Instead, they should focus on creating a unique and innovative card that will separate them from the pack.


The goal of any good card design is twofold: First, it needs to be visually appealing so shoppers will want to take notice. Second, it needs to have functional elements that can help your business improve its bottom line.

There are many ways you can achieve these goals, but some popular methods include using typography and logos creatively, incorporating striking colours and patterns into your designs, and adding attention-grabbing features like QR codes or NFC tags. The key is experimentation - find out what works best for your brand and go with it!


4. Using a Poor-Quality Card

Using a low-quality business card is a mistake. Not only will it make you look bad, but it can also lead to damaged relationships and lost opportunities. When you select the right business card for your needs, you'll be able to create positive impressions with potential clients and colleagues alike. 


Here are some tips on how to choose the perfect card:

  • Look for a sturdy material that won't tear or fall apart easily. Card stock is usually good quality, but feel free to try other types of paper as well - Birch paper, vellum paper, or even textured matte photo paper all work well.
  • Make sure the print is crisp and clear - small details such as typeface sizes matter! Avoid cards with blurry printing or Low Resolution (LR) images because they will appear pixelated when displayed onscreen.
  • Choose colours that suit your brand and personality - avoid too many bright colours or spontaneous designs that may clash with your company's image. Try choosing muted shades of blue green yellow orange instead.
  • Consider adding special features to your business cards - embossing them with logos or data layers is a great way to distinguish yourself from the competition without spending extra money upfront. You can also add QR codes so customers can scan them into their smartphones for more information about what you do (or don't do). itched Business Cards take care of everything from design consultation through production processing. making it easy for businesses of any size get high-quality customers.


5. Not Providing a Unique Selling Proposition

One of the most common mistakes businesses make when designing their business cards is not providing a unique selling proposition (USP) on the front. A USP is what sets your business apart from all the other businesses in your industry, and it's what you should focus on when creating your card. 


Your USP should be based on your company's specific niche or market segment, and it should be something that potential customers will want to know about. It can be anything from the quality of your products or services to the personality of your team members. The more specific and focused your USP is, the more likely people are going to choose you over all those other businesses with generic cards!


6. Using an Oversized Card

Using an oversized business card is a mistake. Not only will it make you look less professional, but it also risks damaging the card in some way and causing problems down the road. When choosing a card size, aim for something standard - about 3.5"x2". Oversized cards can be difficult to read and might strain your arm if you have to hold them up for long periods of time. Additionally, they take up too much space on your desk and could easily get lost or damaged. Stick with a simple design that will look great and help you stay organized.


7. Print That’s Too Small

When printing business cards, be sure to print them at the proper size. Not only will this make them look nicer, it also allows you to include more information on each card.


To determine the correct size, take your desired card dimensions and multiply them by 0.1169 to get the actual printer width in inches (or use a converter online). Then divide that number by 2in order to get the print height in inches (note: please double check these numbers as they may vary depending on your printer and settings).

For example, if you want a 4x6 card with 1 inch of space between lines and 1/8in borders all around, your calculations would look like this: 4 x 6 = 24; 24 / 2 = 12; 12 = 16inch which is how wide your printed cards should be set according to standard US letter paper sizing guides (.5″ margins all around).


8. A Cluttered Card

There's nothing worse than walking into a meeting or an event and feeling like you're in the middle of a cluttered mess. It makes it difficult to concentrate on anything - let alone the task at hand.


If you find yourself struggling with this problem, there are a few simple tips that can help you organize your business cards quickly and easily.

  1. Sort them by type: Name, contact info, website URL (if applicable), etc.
  2. Group similar types of cards together: company logo, social media buttons/links, testimonials or reviews from past customers, images/photos related to your product or service...etc.
  3. Create folders for each category: "Name Cards", "Contact Info Cards", "Website URLs & Images Cards" etc.
  4. Keep everything neatly organized on your desk or in a filing cabinet- it will make working with them much easier!


9. Inadequate or Poor Use of Color

To make a strong impression, your business card needs to be well-designed and feature-rich in colour. Inadequate or poor use of colour can quickly diminish the impact of your design. 


When choosing colours for your business cards, keep in mind the following tips: 

  • Stay consistent with the colours you choose for your website and branding. This will help reinforce a unified look and message across all channels you use (web, print materials, social media).
  • Choose colours that are easy on the eyes - they should be light enough so that they don't compete with other elements on the page but dark enough to stand out.
  • Make sure to include white space around your images so that text is easier to read. Use complementary colours instead of clashing ones if possible; this will also create a more dynamic and professional appearance.



Bottom Line 

When you're out and about, make sure to keep your business card handy. Not only is it a great way to show your affiliation with the company or organization you work for, but it can also come in handy when making introductions or networking opportunities. If someone asks for your card, be sure to give it to them without hesitation. It's always polite to have a business card on hand!