What to Include on a Business Card

It may be a brave new digital world out there, but don’t throw out your Rolodex.

Business marketing best practices still say that keeping hard-copy marketing tools in the mix gives you the best chance of reaching customers. That includes paper mailouts, hard-copy posters, and the good old trusty business card.

Yes, you should still have a wad of business cards in your arsenal to hand out at any business gathering, coffee shop, or chance meeting on the street. But when it comes to printing them, the question is: what to include on a business card?

Keep reading. In this article, you’ll learn the basic etiquette behind these marketing tools so you can create a business card that wins clients and customers.

1. Information, But Not Too Much

No matter who you are or what industry you are in, include the basics like:

Your name
Your company, if applicable
Your role or service
Your best contact information (phone number or email address)

For some industries, this is enough information to make your business card an effective marketing tool. For others, however, you can add more business card information to make it even more effective.

If your business has a website, be sure to include it as well. Even better, if you have a thriving social media presence, don’t forget to include your best social media accounts. This gives your clients a chance to check you out online before they contact you.

Information is good — after all, getting your information out there is the point of a business card. However, remember that less is more.

For instance, does the prospective client you just met at a cocktail party really need to know your mailing address? If not, don’t squeeze it onto your card in a tiny print. Include only the essential information to keep your cards clean and memorable.

2. Color

We’ve all heard the statistic. Customers hold onto a colored card up to 10 times longer than a plain white one. Don’t go overboard with the graphics, but be sure to add some visual interest to your card.

3. White Space

Even though color and graphics will catch potential customers’ eyes (and keep your card from being thrown away), too much visual noise distracts the reader. A card that’s crowded with images and text is hard to read, which means your customer won’t read it.

That’s why white space is an essential ingredient for the best business cards. Once you choose your card size from the most common paper sizes, choose a font size that leaves some white space.