What to Put On a Business Card: 8 Must-Have Elements
(and 4 Things To Avoid)

Business cards! They’re so small… So sophisticated…

But so utterly useless if you don’t include all the relevant information your contact needs. 😕

We may live in a digital age, but that doesn’t mean the business card is obsolete. On the contrary, a high-quality card can work wonders for your brand as far as networking and communication go. If you have the right design and information, that is.

If you’ve been wondering what to put on a business card to make it more successful, wonder no more. Our team has compiled this quick and easy guide that outlines what should be on a business card and why. 🤓

We’ve also thrown in some of the most common card mistakes to avoid and a few tips for ensuring that your card stands out from the competition.

Ready to learn what goes on a business card? Let’s go.

What To Include on a Business Card

The primary purpose of your business card is to transfer information from one party to another. But what info is the most important?

Of course, you don’t have room to write a novel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t include the relevant stuff. Here are eight essential business card info elements you need if you want to be memorable and entice customers.

Logo

Your logo is one of the most memorable visuals connecting you to your brand. Unlike names and phone numbers, your contact is more likely to remember your logo. So, make sure it’s visible!

Include your logo in a prominent place and make sure it’s big enough to draw attention. We also recommend using plenty of white space around the visual to ensure it stands out.

Company Name

For such an obvious element, you’d be surprised at how often people forget to include this. 😏 Your contact will have a better chance of recognizing and remembering you if you include your company name as well as your logo.

Display it in a prominent place (for example, the top of the card) and make sure it’s in a large type.

Tagline

A tagline summarizes the main ideas of your business in a few catchy words. Delve into your brand’s mission, what you offer a customer, or what makes you different — but keep it simple. Include the tagline under your company name or logo.

Your Name

What goes on a business card? How about you? They are your cards, after all! Be sure to feature your name noticeably. This will help create a personal connection between you, the contact, and the company. It will also help your contact remember who they’re talking to 😎 if and when they reach out.

Job Title (also – Skills, & Specialties)

After your name, list what exactly it is that you do — and be as specific as possible. Again, you aren’t trying to write a novel, but you also need to be descriptive if you can. For example, instead of listing “Jane Doe, Programmer,” say something like, “Jane Doe, Custom App Developer.”

You can also include any impressive and relevant skills or specialties that make you stand out.

Contact Information

When you’re considering what to put on a business card, we’re sure that you think of this. Contact information is the meat of your business card, after all. So list your relevant professional contact information (i.e., email, phone number, and your address if applicable).

And don’t forget social media, either! Providing your company Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram can be an excellent way for contacts to learn more about your business on their terms.

A Website

We recommend adding a URL for your website — or, even better, a URL for a dedicated landing page on your website. This will help establish some legitimacy and convert your contacts into leads. Choose an easy-to-input URL or a QR code to cut back on typing and make it easier to reach your page.

Follow this list is one thing, to design your card – is another. 🤓
See how our pro designers help creating custom designs.

A CTA or Promo

Why not say thank you to your contact with a little reward? Include a CTA (call to action) asking the contact to get in touch again. Reward the contact with free services, products, discounts, or other promotions when they do. This is a great way to ensure that your contact saves your card for later use.

Stop! Don’t Make These Common Business Card Design Mistakes

We won’t mince words here — a poorly designed business card isn’t just ineffective; it’s a one-way ticket to the nearest trash can, too. The most common card design mistake is settling for a bland look, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only pitfall you have to avoid.

Here are four design no-no’s to avoid if you want to make a positive impact.

Too much visual clutter

Visual clutter doesn’t just look unprofessional; it also makes your card harder to read! There’s a reason that minimalist cards are so popular (and, no, minimalist does not have to mean boring).

Avoid this by:

• Keeping info to a minimum,
• Using both sides of the card,
• Limiting visuals, fancy fonts, etc.,
• Embracing white space.

Miniscule print

There’s no award out there for achieving the smallest print on your business card (trust us, we Googled it 😉😁 ). A small type can help you fit more info on your card, but it will also be tough to read. And if you choose a very fancy tiny font? Well, your contact might skip the trashcan and just set your card on fire.

Avoid this by:

• Using type no smaller than 7 (least) or 8 point,
• Making important info (for example, your company name) bigger,
• Including only necessary info.

Unbelievable colors (or no color at all)

We aren’t saying a black and white card can’t look great, but you’ll also want a bit of color to create interest and contrast most of the time. But beware — just slapping random colors on your card isn’t the way to go. Meaning – NO poor or harsh use of color!

Instead, choose colors carefully to avoid an unprofessional, sloppy, or hard-to-read design.

Avoid this by:

• Using color choices that mimic your brand
• Avoiding highly saturated hues
• Choosing complementary colors

Cheap cards and/or materials

The DIY look is trendy these days — but not with business cards. Can you print your own cards? Yes. Will they be as good? Probably not. Don’t skimp when it comes to your business cards! What goes on a business card is just as important as the card materials and printing process.

Avoid this by:

• Using professional printing services
• Choosing high-quality card stock (preferably matte)
• Utilizing textures and elegant materials, if possible

Our affordable design packages make it easy to create the
pro-grade business card you need — without breaking your budget.

Make It Catchy — How To Ensure Your Business Card Is Memorable

Now you know what to include on a business card, but that’s only half the battle.

Even if you follow all of the elements above and avoid those common mistakes, it’s not a guarantee that your card will stand out from the competition. But that’s exactly what you want it to do!

An eye-catching, memorable card is much more likely to stick in your contact’s mind and prompt them to get in touch with you at a later date.

It can be difficult to develop a stellar card design if you don’t have much experience with business cards. So, here are our top five tips for big to small businesses that will help create a unique, catchy business card.

1. Design for the customer. Remember, this card isn’t for you, so craft your message with the contact in mind. Avoid including information or design elements just because you like them.
2. Reflect your brand. Don’t go crazy when it comes to colors, fonts, taglines, or other elements. Instead, stick to your brand identity guidelines so that your card accurately reflects your company.
3. Get creative. That might mean using a non-standard shape, a unique design, special finishes, or something else entirely. Whatever you go with, remember that a creative card is a memorable card. So, think outside the box and make your card too interesting to throw away!
4. Proofread. You want your card to be memorable, but in a good way. If your business card is riddled with typos and errors, your contact will notice — and, trust us; they won’t be impressed. So, check your work at least twice before getting it printed.
5. Try out professional design. If your card doesn’t seem to be making an impact, don’t stress! Some excellent design templates on the web can help you get ideas. Alternatively, you can always reach out to a professional designer for help.

A memorable business card begins with a unique design.
Learn how our designers can help you achieve that eye-catching look.

Here, Have My Card

Business cards may be small, but they can be powerful tools that help you create lasting client relationships and boost your sales. At least, they can if you design them the right way.

Now that you know what should be on a business card and how to make it memorable, put what you’ve learned to use! If you do, there’s a good chance your card will survive the quick trip to the trash that awaits all those other, more boring business cards.

Feb 03, 2022