Your business card triggers the first impression your target clients get about your business and so it's very obvious that nothing is more important than creating a splash when handing out your business cards. Aside from communicating your name and contact information, more importantly, business cards send out an overall picture on what your business does and how you do it. It's no secret that almost every business differs from another in even the smallest way. No two businesses are exactly the same. This being said, it was very ironic for me to uncover a gold mine of websites offering generic business card designs online AND for free.

It’s not that I have something against these “free business card design" websites. But for business owners who actually patronize these sites, it makes me wonder how is it possible to choose a well-fit “generic" business card design to exude a distinguished feel for your business. The irony.

The most important rule when creating your business cards is to make sure that your overall visual appeal reflects how you want your target clients to see or remember you by.

From the point of view of the brand, the look and feel you have for your printed business cards should also match those of your logo, corporate image and target market. What I'm talking about is consistency. When coming up with designs for any of your promotional materials, always think about the big picture. Every marketing arm should be attached to one unifying body and that would be your company's overall tone, your motto, your mood and target audience. You can't be strongly corporate in your flyers and then wildly hip and modern when it comes to your postcards. Promoting your brand's identity requires the teamwork of all marketing collateral to communicate the same message with the same beat. With this unique and consistent beat of your business, a more solid identity is formed in your audience's minds.

Now that we have design covered, here are other popular mistakes you should avoid in your business card printing project:

1 – Low-quality business card paper stock.

Low-quality flimsy paper stock for your business cards may help you save money but it can also make your business cards look less professional. Not only does low-quality paper stock look cheap, it also has a way of rubbing you different when you feel it. You don’t want to be remembered as the company with the rough-feel business card paper, do you? High quality business cards may cost you a couple more bucks but the respect and reputation your business gets in exchange for this tiny sacrifice is priceless.

2 – Your business card design template and logo do not match.

Your card design and logo should always match. Consistency. Plan your design with your logo and corporate identity in mind. Most online templates are developed for generic purposes and usually don't match your well-defined logo. If the business card printing template seem unrelated to your logo, don’t use it.

3 – Using too much color.

Too much color makes for an undesirable wild card. You look like you're trying too hard and it looks cluttered and messy. Use no more than two color shades in your business cards and match them with your logo to get the most out of your color scheme.

4 – Too much individuality and uniqueness in your business card.

I understand that you would want your card pieces to stand out. And the way to get attention is to come up with something unique and different. But don’t make it difficult for your target clients to carry or keep your cards that they get frustrated and throw it away. (Imagine putting your business card shaped like a star in your pocket.) The golden rule: function is more significant than form.

5 – Using a huge logo.

Use an appropriate size for your logo. Don’t make it too large that the other elements found in your business card is overshadowed or worse, covered by your company logo. If you want to bring attention to it, try using white space in your business card printing project and you’ll surely put emphasis to your otherwise humdrum logo.

A simple trick: always start simple. Then work you way up from there if you think you need to add more elements to your card. And know when to step on the brakes. There is such a thing as over-designing. Keep it simple, send a clear message, make it effective.