There is no real disadvantage in having business cards, only problems that occur if the design is somehow lacking.
It is easy to get carried away with all the different design tools, but nobody intended all of them to be used at once. Ever tried mixing every ingredient in the pantry in order to bake something? It would be a disaster. Decide if you are a light-hearted entertainment group or a serious finance service, and approach a design accordingly.
You want to communicate as much as possible; but if you try to do that in words you end up with a small essay, or at least too many bullet points. Say it with style – literally. An emblem, or logo carries more that the name of the company, it show who they are, and if the company becomes the next Coke, fast food chain or computer giant then the general history of the company is carried with the logo.
Pictures can say as much as a thousand words, though there is an art to it. A bland card that says ‘party hire’ company is a mistake. A colourful picture of clowns, balloons and other party phenomena might only need the contact information to successfully sell the business. It implies a lot at a glance, and then provides the way to the service.
If you want to sell formal wear or market an accounting firm a minimalist design is advisable; but this still says a lot. A slick emblem of sophistication can say it all, with accurate formatting and proofing to show how meticulous you are.
Free business cards might work for some situations, but they never make a company look serious or high-end. They tend to provide minimal variation on reasonably good (but not great) quality paper, making every business look the same. The fact that the printing service also advertises on the back of the same card is a noticeable distraction.
Always proof card designs meticulously, say what needs to be said with style and image and minimal text, and do whatever it take to live up to the reputation that your company builds for itself.
It is easy to get carried away with all the different design tools, but nobody intended all of them to be used at once. Ever tried mixing every ingredient in the pantry in order to bake something? It would be a disaster. Decide if you are a light-hearted entertainment group or a serious finance service, and approach a design accordingly.
You want to communicate as much as possible; but if you try to do that in words you end up with a small essay, or at least too many bullet points. Say it with style – literally. An emblem, or logo carries more that the name of the company, it show who they are, and if the company becomes the next Coke, fast food chain or computer giant then the general history of the company is carried with the logo.
Pictures can say as much as a thousand words, though there is an art to it. A bland card that says ‘party hire’ company is a mistake. A colourful picture of clowns, balloons and other party phenomena might only need the contact information to successfully sell the business. It implies a lot at a glance, and then provides the way to the service.
If you want to sell formal wear or market an accounting firm a minimalist design is advisable; but this still says a lot. A slick emblem of sophistication can say it all, with accurate formatting and proofing to show how meticulous you are.
Free business cards might work for some situations, but they never make a company look serious or high-end. They tend to provide minimal variation on reasonably good (but not great) quality paper, making every business look the same. The fact that the printing service also advertises on the back of the same card is a noticeable distraction.
Always proof card designs meticulously, say what needs to be said with style and image and minimal text, and do whatever it take to live up to the reputation that your company builds for itself.