If there's one scrap of paper the Internet has yet to eliminate, it's the business card. There is something solid and comforting about that palm-sized piece of card stock as it passes from hand to hand, which modern gadgetry still can't replace.
Maybe you're a freelancer looking to make new contacts, or you want something professional to hand to acquaintances at the bar. Or maybe you just need a card to drop into the fishbowl at your local sandwich shop to win a free lunch. Whatever the case, when you're designing your business card, remember that the old adage "dress for success" applies to that little paper rectangle, too.
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Here's what you should include, and what you should definitely leave out, to make your card really pop.
There are a few things that have belonged on a business card since time immemorial, including your name, your job title and your phone number. These days, you'll want to add your email address to that list.
Non-freelancers should also include a company name, logo and website. Stick to a single phone number where contacts can reach you in the easiest way in order to reduce clutter.
Image: Flickr, Tom Magliery
Yes, it's acceptable link to your social media profiles on your business card, but you shouldn't link to all of them. Does a potential employer really need to see your "Dream Wedding" Pinterest board?
Stick to the profiles that best showcase your work and your personality without getting too personal. Your Twitter feed or LinkedIn page are acceptable, but the Facebook profile where you share photos of your fifth cocktail on a Wednesday night is definitely not — and you should probably go ahead and make your Facebook private while you're at it. If you have a personal website or a blog on which you showcase creative projects, be sure to include a link.
Assume that most companies have at least a cursory understanding of what the Internet is and how a URL begins; on a business card, you only have to include the part of the link that comes after the "www."
Lastly, if there's anything the modern design aesthetic can teach us, it's that white space is your friend. Don't make the card too cluttered; QR codes are nifty, but they also take up a lot of room. Only include a QR code on your business card if you're linking to a site that is optimized for mobile viewing.
Image: Flickr, Matt Jiggins
Unless you're a freelance fax-machine salesperson (and we're very sorry if you are), there's really no need to include a fax number on your card. What are the odds that a potential employer or colleague is going to fax you to set up an interview? There's a little wiggle room, perhaps, if you're in an HR department or part of a major corporation.
Leave your office address off the card, too, especially if you work from home — unless you're really hoping your new pal will stop by for a spot of tea.
In the digital age, few people have just one job. You might be a marketing assistant by day and a modern dancer by night. Or you might take freelance work on summer vacation from your teaching job. Maybe you work at Starbucks but have a great idea for a startup.
Whatever your second career, making multiple business cards is a sensible alternative to trying to cram "Freelance Journalist, Photographer, Social Media Maven and Expert Barista" onto one card.
Image: Flickr, Annie Mole
Business cards are no longer the somber black-and-white affairs they once were. They should showcase your personality and creativity in a way that's appropriate to your career.
If you're working for a legacy financial firm, you may want to go the subdued route, but if you're in the startup sector, color and playfulness are both assets. That goes double if you're immersed in any sort of creative field, where you will likely be expected to have an eye for aesthetic details.
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Think about paper thickness, card shape, color and font when choosing your card, and make sure the design is consistent with the personality you showcase on your website and social media accounts. Moo, Zazzle and Vistaprint make stylish business card templates that are easy to customize, or you can create, upload and print your own.
Try a style that really stands out — offbeat shapes such as Tinyprints' square cards or Moo's mini-cards are eye-catching, as are cards made of clear plastic. You can even order eco-friendly, plantable business cards made from seed paper. Really, who wouldn't want a business card that sprouts wildflowers?
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Image: Flickr, Kyle Van Horn