You may be inclined to think that business cards are no longer relevant in the digital age, but here’s the surprise: they still remain one of the most essential networking tools for your business. LinkedIn and other social media platforms are great for digital networking, but business cards are the most effective strategy when it comes to in-person networking. They can serve as physical reminders of your business to potential customers, or your skills to a potential employer.
Statistics show nearly 10 billion business cards are printed each year in the United States alone, with that figure showing no signs of decreasing. If you’re wondering why the humble business card is so important, the reasons are plentiful. Networking is all about creating a genuine and face-to-face connection, and this is where tools such as social media and email fall short. Present someone with eye contact, a friendly handshake, and a perfectly designed business card, and you've formed that in person professional relationship.
Pro Tip: Keep a few business cards on hand at all times. Whether you’re at a networking event or a coffee shop, you’ll always be prepared to make connections with potential customers.
When it comes to networking successfully, a professional-looking business card can do much of the hard work for you, as it helps your company to remain memorable, as well as providing all of your important contact information in a single, handy space.
But how can you create the perfect business card without having to fork over cash for a graphic designer? The answer lies in BeFunky's Graphic Designer and the range of ready-made business card templates it offers!
We all know a great business card can help your product, business, or services stand out from the crowd. Take a look at what your business card should include.
Perhaps the most important aspect of any business card is all of the necessary contact information a potential client needs in order to get in touch with you. This includes your phone number, email address, website URL, and the location of your business (if applicable).
Next is your business’ name (or your name if you are advertising a service you specialize in, such as photography, business coaching, etc.). The name should be one of the most eye-catching elements on your business card, as helping others to remember this can play a significant role in the success of your services. Next time they require the products or services of [insert your occupation here], you certainly want to be the first who comes to mind!
Additionally, your business card’s branding needs to be on-point. By this, we mean that the color scheme, logo, fonts, and imagery need to be cohesive across all of your branding material – whether it’s your website, social media platforms, or other marketing materials. Doing so helps your audience recognize you instantly (before they even spot your logo).
Speaking of visual presence, you’ll also want to utilize the space of your business card perfectly to prevent it from looking like a poorly designed mess. To do this, pay attention to things such as alignment and spacing. You’ll want your text and imagery to be aligned in a way that makes sense and is visually pleasing. For example, text placed on the right side of the card should be right-aligned. And any graphics or effects should be impressionable, without drowning out important information.
Gone are the days when business cards lacked personality in order to be seen as 'professional.' Now, you should inject your business card with as much personality and style as possible! You want it to be a unique and true representation of your business to help you stand out from the rest of the pack. Choose a design that best represents you and your business, and start customizing!
If you’re still wondering where to start, check out the examples below for a little inspiration.
Different kinds of business cards are necessary for different kinds of jobs. And those cards will vary depending on seniority, job title, and more. A graphic designer may want a business card that showcases a bit of their personal style whereas an elementary school tutor might want a fun and approachable design. Below are four examples of business cards that will catch the eye of potential clients while properly representing their own brand.
Artists should feel free to get creative with their business cards. Experiment with color, photo effects, and more. A business card is often the first physical impression a potential customer gets of an artist – use it to show a sprinkle of your talents. Our example is designed to resemble a painting. The back is a splash of blues and greens that looks like a work of art. The header text has character, but it's still readable. Contact information and social media handles are also clearly legible.
Business cards for professionals in any major industry should be clean and classy. A solid color as the background and a minimal design goes a long way. In this example, we used a simple graphic that is offset from the center. Try sticking to one or two fonts, especially for this style. Make sure your name or the business name is centered and easy to read. As mentioned earlier, your contact information is among the most important information to have visible on the card. Ensure it’s easy to find and easy to read.
Similar to artists, designers should strive to make business cards that represent their unique sense of style. Whether this is for an interior designer or graphic designer – the design of the card should resemble the person behind the service. This example showcases the colorful and painted elements of this designer’s style. The font is playful while maintaining a sense of professionalism that will catch the eyes of potential customers.
Business cards for eateries are likely the ones that are given out most often. They can be found at the front desk of most restaurants and are an easy way to spread the word about delicious food. A business card for a restaurant or other eateries should try to convey the mood and tone of the business. What kind of experience should eaters at the establishment have? Try to capture this feeling in your business card. Dark tones might work better for an elegant Italian restaurant, while pastels and sweet fonts work best for a bakery. Make sure customers who have the business card know what to expect from the business.
With Befunky, it's super easy to create a personalized business card. A lot of networking happens online, but business cards are crucial tools for successful in-person networking. They help potential customers remember your business.
Thanks to BeFunky's Business Card Templates, designing your next card is a piece of cake. You’re sure to ace your next networking event!
Identification (ID) cards have become an essential component of facility and workplace safety, and it's nearly impossible to walk into a workplace without one. Organizations equip employees with ID cards to easily identify who does and does not belong in the building and to streamline personnel processes.
ID badges can play a pivotal role in an organization's security plan, and creating the right card is imperative to achieving security goals. By considering the following ten ID card components, organizations can create the perfect ID card to meet their needs.
Add a visual security element to ID cards by incorporating your organization's logo. Be sure your ID card design is consistent with the current marketing style sheet, including font, logo, and colors to reinforce the brand's message and project a professional image. A corporate logo is a highly recognizable image for employees and security personnel. To truly protect your cards against forgery, add HoloKote capabilities to your printer. HoloKote adds a holographic overlay of your custom logo that can be seen when your ID card is turned at an angle. By incorporating your logo into the ID card design, it will be more difficult for fraudulent cards to be created.
An effective ID card design is both attractive and functional, and your card design can be just as important as the security features it encompasses. Time should be invested into the design of your ID card to ensure it meets all of your security and branding needs. The card design itself can also provide valuable information using colors and graphics. For instance, hospital ID cards often assign a specific color to different floors or departments, making it simple to identify where employees work. The color bar system can also designate various security clearances.
Depending on what security or data features are included, ID cards can be single- or dual-sided. Determine what ID card functions are priorities for the organization and consider how much space will be needed. A dual-sided card can include a lot of information and features without sacrificing design. With a dual-sided card, you also have the ability to add important information to the back of the card, such as a mission statement or emergency contact numbers.
ID cards can be displayed horizontally or vertically, and the orientation of your ID cards will impact how they are worn by employees. Consider the different scenarios where ID cards will be used. If employees interact with customers on a daily basis, your ID cards should be designed as a marketing piece with the employee’s name able to be read easily by customers. If employees need to swipe cards for time and attendance or access control, that may also impact the orientation.
It is standard for ID cards to include a picture of the employee on the front of the card. The photo on an ID card makes it unique to the individual employee and should be easily visible. Photo identification is normally used on identification documents, such as a driver's license, passport, or ID card, to increase the security and authenticity of the document. Government personnel verify identity documents by examining both the card and the card carrier. Likewise in the workplace, security and authority personnel should use a similar verification process with employee photo ID cards.
ID cards made of durable materials, like PVC, or plastic HID smart cards, require fewer reprints and can last up to five years. These long-wearing materials have been proven to last long after paper ID cards are in the recycle bin. They are also more difficult to copy since an ID printer is required to print a PVC card, whereas a paper ID card can easily be recreated on a PC home printer.
ID cards, at their best, include encoded information about the user with the use of barcodes, magnetic stripes, RFID tags, and smart chips. These features allow an organization to sync their identification with building access or time and attendance programs. Combined with a card reader to approve or deny admittance, these encoded cards relieve an organization from staffing security personnel in critical areas – ultimately saving money.
When a photo isn't enough to visually identify an employee include a copy of the authorized employee's signature printed on the ID card. Even trained professionals have a hard time duplicating a signature on the spot. When someone's identity is in question, having this visual security reference printed right onto the ID cards is an instant way to detect a fraudulent ID card or unauthorized visitors.
For some organizations, enhanced security is a desired quality of employee ID cards. Various enhanced security features can be added to ID cards with the proper equipment and software. A non-replicable fingerprint or holographic overlay can both be added to your cards to make them more secure and less prone to fraud.
An ID card has a limited amount of space, so the personal information displayed needs to be purposeful. Because employees will display their ID cards every day, the cards can be an effective vehicle for communicating job-related certifications. However, always check with organization and industry security standards for disclosure guidelines. Many organizations in the service and healthcare industries do not put employee last names on their ID cards to protect their privacy.
These ten components make up great ID badges. If you need more information or any assistance in creating your ID badges, contact an ID System Specialist at 1.866.438.4553.
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