How to Make Professional Business Cards

Businessman is giving you a blank business card

Business Cards are one of the easiest and most effective ways of leaving an impression of yourself on a potential customer. They can also leave a way for someone to find out additional information about you. Whether you are selling something, or at an interview, business cards are often the best leads you can leave with an individual. Creating professional looking business cards is fairly straightforward, and cheaper than you think!

The Design

The design of the business card is the first thing a potential customer will notice. It is important to keep the design simple, professional, but also complete with all necessary information. The easiest way to begin is to open up Microsoft Publisher to begin the desing. Any program will do, but Publisher is often the easiest way to control even the minute portions of your design. Now, you may select a predesigned template and simply fill in the information, or create one for yourself.

Keep it Clean and Simple

Keeping the design simple and able to be read quickly is of utmost importance. A fairly standard, though professional, technique is to have a tagline or company name unembellished on top of the card.

Keep all fonts simple. Try to match a "feel" of yourself or organization while still retaining legibility.

Typically, a line directly under the tagline will create a layer technique, seperating the tagline from the rest of the information. Under this, you can put the rest of your necessary information. Typically, this would include a name, phone number, and email or website. Any more information may begin to clutter the design, so keep it simple. If you need to include more information, you may look at double sided business cards to allow yourself extra space.

Print and Distribute

Many different services offer business card printing at competitive rates. A local Kinko's shop is sometimes the easiest way to print them. While they may be a bit more expensive, the knowledgable staff can help alleviate problems and ensure that they come out exactly as you want. If you want to go the online route, Vistaprint.com offers competitive rates and can print and ship cards quickly. Once you have your business cards, be sure to keep 5-10 cards in your wallet or purse. This will keep enough that you can distribute them to a lunch or other meeting with more than one prospective customer.

Keep a stack of business cards in your car to replenish your wallet or purse stock as necessary.

Creating professional looking business cards is fairly straightforward, and cheap process