The business cards have always been, and will continue to be the staple of networking. There are few limitations when it comes to making your business card unique to you. After reading through this article, you’ll have a better understanding of what to keep in mind when designing and printing your business cards.

Factors to be Mindful of

Cost

It may go without saying, but typically the higher quality your business card is, the more it will cost. It is important to find the right balance between affordability and quality. The best way to accomplish this is to find a reputable print shop that can keep costs down, while providing a top-quality business card.

Materials

Business cards are typically printed on two paper thicknesses; 14 pt cardstock, and 16 pt cardstock. Although 14 pt yardstick gets the job done, it is noticeably thinner than 16 pt cardstock, and therefore it may be worthwhile for you to spring for the 16 pt cardstock.

With this in mind, we’ll go over some of the “add-on” options you may want to consider for your business cards.

UV and Spot UV

UV is the process of applying an ultraviolet coating to your business card, which is a glossy, shiny coating that enhances the look and feel of your card. Many people apply UV to only part(s) of their cards, which is referred to as Spot UV.

Foil

Many people decide to impress hot foil stamping upon their business cards, which is referred to as foil. It can be a very effective way to emphasize your logo, or certain text.

Rounded Corners

If you’d like to instantly stand out, consider using a rounded business card which will set you apart from the competition, as most people use rectangular business cards.

Painted Edges

From a design perspective, painted edges can really help enhance the look of your business cards. The thicker card you are using, the better that this design will pop.

Something to keep in mind is how often you will be handing business cards out, as well as to who you hand them out. If you hand out 100 business cards, and only get 1 person ever reaching out to you (1% contact rate), then adding spot UV may not prove valuable.

But if you hand out 100 business cards, and 25 people reach out to you (25% contact rate), then spending more money on your business cards may definitely be a worthwhile investment, since making that extra special impression on them will keep your contact rate up.

Although making the right impression in person is the most important, leaving them with the right impression, i.e. a nice business card, is also crucial.