Handing out business cards is one of the oldest marketing tricks in the book, but it continues to be one of the most reliable. When creating a marketing strategy for yourself or your business, developing a business card is a great first tactic to spread the word about yourself and your expertise.

Business cards continue to be a convenient, professional way to stand out in the business world. Their relevance and usefulness persist even as technology and new ways of marketing and branding emerge. As you get started on creating your own business cards to distribute, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1.  Make sure the most important information is on the card

The most important function of a business card is to convey your information to whoever receives it. Be sure to include your name, the name of your company, your logo, any social media you would like to include, your website (if applicable), and contact information, preferably both a phone number and email address. If these important details are missing, the card will not be able to serve its full purpose in promoting you and your business.

2.  Color scheme matters

Depending on your profession, different color palettes will be appropriate for your business card. If you’re in a creative field, it would be entirely appropriate to take a risk with a bold color scheme to really make your business card stand out. However, if you’re in a field like finance, a minimalist color palette would be best. Consider aligning the color scheme of your card with the general aesthetic of other promotional endeavors you might have already begun, such as social media profiles or a website. This consistency in color will help reaffirm your brand.

3.  Determine card material and how many cards to order

Choosing a card material is an important factor to consider. You don’t want a card that’s thin and easily damaged because you want it to be sturdy enough for people to hang on to it in case they need your services. With that in mind, paper isn’t the route to go. For a high-quality business card, you want to invest in customizable plastic cards.

As you’re ordering your plastic cards, you will have to consider how many you would like to buy. Think about where you will be distributing them, to whom, and how often. If you plan on attending networking events, for example, consider what your target goal would be for how many cards you would like to distribute. Then, think about how many events you would likely attend in the period of time that you are hoping your cards will last you.

You can also assess other times you would be likely to distribute your cards, whether that be at business meetings, in social settings, or elsewhere. You can treat the number of cards you order as a goal for how many business cards you hope to distribute in a certain period of time.

4.  Pay close attention to your font choice

Font psychology is actually a well-researched field that studies how different fonts stimulate different types of internal responses. For example, people are more likely to remember bigger fonts, and experience different levels of reading fluency depending on the readability of particular fonts. Letter spacing, typeface, and font shape are all things that actually factor into how people digest information.

You certainly don’t have to become a student of psychology to create a business card, but it is worth considering how your font type and size could affect someone’s experience with your card. You want your card to be accessible and easy to read, so choosing a clear, well-spaced font is best. If you’re unsure, you can always run your designs by family and friends and ask their advice on which typeface they like the best.

5.  Avoid including too much information

The purpose of a business card is not to tell a potential customer or client everything about you and your business, but to encourage them to look you up online or reach out to you. The goal is to provide enough information that they are interested in looking into your business, but not too much that they don’t feel the need to look further. The card, ideally, should communicate essential points about you and leave the recipient feeling interested in learning more about you.

It’s also important to make sure that any links you provide or social media pages you plug on your business card are up-to-date and showcase everything you want to share about your business. Since you are encouraging the recipient of your business card to check these out, you want them to be as strong as possible.

6.  Add something distinctive

Once you think you have completed the content and design of your business card, take a long look at it to see if it’s lacking anything. If it feels a little lackluster, don’t be afraid to add something to distinguish it from other cards, whether that’s a unique border, a catchy design, or a symbol. You want to make sure that you are setting yourself up for success with your business card, and this requires something eye-catching or aesthetically pleasing.

With these things in mind, you will be ready to have your business cards printed and in the hands of potential customers or clients. Getting a business card into circulation within your community is a great way to set yourself up for success. Even as marketing evolves, an old-school favorite like business cards will never go out of style.