Classic Style Business Cards

Business cards are the staple of marketing materials. No matter what kind of business you run, whether it's a beauty salon or a law firm, you need business cards to promote your company and bring in new clients or customers. Even if you don't do very much face-to-face marketing or promotions, you should still have a nice stack of classic business cards to let people know who you are quickly and to have a way to remember your name and number without having to scribble it down on a piece of paper.

So what do classic business cards encompass? Simply put, they include as little as possible. Classic business cards are not meant to include your personal manifesto or business plan. They shouldn't really even include complete sentences. They are simply a handy way to distribute your contact information. And unlike a scrap of paper, classic business cards are printed on heavy card stock, making them more durable and capable of withstanding the beating they'll get in a wallet or purse.

Classic business cards should include a design that represents your company properly. That is, the card itself should be an appropriate color and include an image or design that represents who you are and what it is you do. It's fine to have your classic business cards printed in bright, flashy colors, but you might want to think twice about that if your company is a part of an industry that deals with very serious matters like law or taxes.

Beyond the look and feel of your classic business cards, you need to also make sure the information included within is informative, useful and most importantly, succinct. Business cards don't offer very much space and need to relay your info as quickly as possible. You have to assume that people will only be giving your card a glance before they toss it in a bag or business card holder with a bunch of other people's cards. The eye-catching design you choose will hopefully encourage them to linger on it for a bit longer. Then, the information needs to be laid out in a predictable way.

First up should be your company name. Then, your name and title should be listed on a separate line, if applicable. Next up is your contact information. A few items to include are your phone number, e-mail address, fax address (if needed) and your website address. List each item of information on a separate line to keep it organized and friendly to the eye. Likewise, listing your information like this makes it easier for potential customers and clients to scan the card, find the data they need and take action on it. Organization is key to successful classic business cards, so make sure you're on top of that one hundred percent.

At the end of the day, classic business cards should be simple. If it gets across who you are and what you do effectively, it's doing its job.