Smile! The Journey to the Perfect Business Card
342MAD is here to bring you a MAD Solution to any marketing problem you may have. We recently had the pleasure of working with a dentist on creating, among other things, the perfect business card. And now we’ll share some tips with you that we learned along the way.
YOUR NAME HERE? 😱 No! Stand out from the sea of white and cream when you create your business card.
Know What You Want.
The more information you can give us as your graphic design/marketing support, the better. What do you envision? Your business card can either be something to toss, file, or put on the fridge because it’s just that cool. Which one do you want?
Having an interesting and eye-catching logo can help, but don’t shy away from just text. These days, the myriad options of card stock type and special features (like embossing, etching, different finishes, etc.) can keep a just-text card captivating. So if simple is your style, be simple but in the most unique way possible!
Know Your Options.
Sick of the same ol’ same ol’ business card? Lucky you! 2019 is a good time to be alive if you love creative options for everything. Check out all the ways you can reinvent the business card:
Stand Out.
Pop your text or logo up with embossing. This can be a great way to add a three-dimensional feature to your card.
Think Outside the Box.
90 degree-angled rectangles be damned, we want something new! Try curved edges, cutouts, or square cards. Don’t let society tell you to be normal — be you!
Embossing brings this business card to new heights.
This company might be square, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t cool.
Go Plastic.
Plastic isn’t just for credit cards anymore! Translucent or colored plastic cards can set you apart from the Rolodex of cream and white Times New Roman options. Something to note: Plastic cards can only be printed one-sided in most cases, so plan accordingly. They can’t be embossed (have raised lettering and logos) because embossing melts plastic, so smooth designs are best for this one.
Go Metal.
You read that right. Want a business card that doubles as emergency weapon for your clients and peers? You found it in metal business cards. Smooth and sleek, these can be etched, ribbed, reflective, and have cutouts. The sky is the limit!
Sturdy and colorful — as good in business cards as it is in personalities!
Go Lined.
My pet peeve is when I KNOW I have someone’s business card that I need to find RIGHT NOW and I have to sift through 50 others to find it. Eliminate that problem with outlined cards! Just the edges of these cards are dipped in color, making them easy to find.
Go Thick.
No one is going to save a flimsy card that feels like you popped it out of your LaserJet at home. There are crazy thick options now for business cards—so thick they can’t be bent! And that certainly makes them hard to throw away.
Be Creative.
If you keeping thinking “Yaaasssss!” to all these options, then go with that! Be creative! Many of these options work together - emboss AND edge your card! Plastic with a frosted finish! Metal in a square shape! Give us your vision and let us show you how it can happen.
Know Your Limits.
While many of these styles DO work together, some of this technology is so new (hello, copper business cards!) that there are limiting factors on them. For example, plastic can’t be printed two sided because you can see through it, metal can’t have a color dipped edge, and various thicknesses aren’t offered in many of the fun new materials out of which business cards are now being made. It’s best to consult with someone who knows the business to find out how best to execute the perfect business card. We’re here to help. 😉
Stay tuned for the final product we created for Smile 360 Family & Implant Denistry, which is in production now (hint: he chose at least one of the above features)…