How to turn your business card from ‘blah’ to ‘brilliant’

We’ve all been there. You’re at a conference or networking event and by the end you’ve got fifty million business cards strewn throughout your bag or pocket. You get home and where do they go?

Bin. Why? Because, let’s be honest here, they’re blah.

So how do you stand out among the plethora of two-tone, single-sized, white cardboard business cards?

Make it an experience

When meeting new people, you have a small window of opportunity to make an impression. When handing them your business card consider how you can delight your audience, by making it an experience for them.

Material

Think outside the square with what types of material you use. The first thing your new connection will do is hold the card in their hands. It’s about making the experience tactile for your new contact. They’ll remember and be impressed by a business card that was different to touch.

Many design agencies in Brisbane (us included) are using different types of materials to create unique business cards. Experiment with different textures and thicknesses of paper/ card or leap outside of the box completely and use things like wood, cotton, silk, Perspex or metal!

Design

The design is where you can really make an impact. When your contact is reaching into their bag to pull out all the business cards they’ve received, will yours be the one that they keep?

Choosing a different design or shape will help yours stay out of the bin. Play around with different shapes, sizes and designs. You can go even further by making it a puzzle, or choosing a card they can ‘open’ or ‘unlock’ (our By Ninja team are experts on this type of design called Origami – check it out here).

The design also includes things like the clever use of colour and font. Different colour combinations and creative font use will help draw the eye to the important information you’ve added to your card.

Show your personality

Your business card should be an extension of your personality. Is your personality black and white? No! So don’t make your business card feel that way.

Your business card doesn’t have to be limited to your contact details. It can include fun or personal things such as a favourite quote, or joke or something to catch their eye.

Make your elevator pitch, a business card pitch

What sets you apart from your competitors? If you can tell someone in a single sentence, why not put it on your business card? Remember, just because you’ve got your name, title and business name on your card, does not necessarily mean your new contact will understand what you do and what you can offer them.

Need help transforming your business cards?

We are the only design agency in Brisbane, and in Queensland that specialises in the unique art of Japanese paper folding: origami design. Using this delicate artform, we can transform your business cards into a talking point and set you apart from the crowd.

Don’t believe us? Check out the business card ninja-ry we worked on with Welcome to the Fold and the super-electric Thunderbird Trade Services.

Read more about how our origami can help revolutionise your business card design.