A business card can be more than just a wallet-sized piece of paper. It is the best "hand-to-hand" marketing vehicle for small business owners and because of its significant impression upon your brand's image, it should be of the best design and quality possible.

A business card is a great opportunity to prove the VALUE your brand provides customers.

In my book, BRANDING TO THE POWER OF 5, I explain how to shape the VALUE your small business provides. This makes your brand more attractive to customers.

1. Your business cards should match the look of your Web site.
If your Web site looks like this:

Then your business cards should look like this:

As you can see, the layouts for DIVERSAKORE® are not exactly the same, but their similarities show that the card and Web site are from the same business.

This may seem to be difficult considering you will be using different online tools to create your look. If the colors, font style and general layout are similar looking, your business will look professional and the average person won't recognize the difference.

The simpler option is to keep your business card a standard white with just your logo and contact information. It is a common misconception that you need to have a full-color business card or edge-to-edge color to impress customers. Pure white is very professional looking and will always match a site design if it possesses the same logo.

2. Highlight the benefit your product or service provides to customers. 
These original business cards for TuneBuckle™ by ProductM are a good example:

TuneBuckle™ used both sides of their business card to tell their story (and you should too). Their card has their logo in the front with a drawing of how their unique belt buckle works on the back of the card.

They have since advanced to a full-color business card with a model wearing the TuneBuckle™, but their initial card was the most effective way to communicate their product with the least expense.

However, you don't need to make a nice drawing like TuneBuckle™ did (they are industrial designers after all). But, you can use the power of words and/or stock photography to illustrate your message. I recommend looking into inexpensive stock services like Image Vortex, iStockPhoto.com, and Photos.com. Or learn to take your own creative digital shot.

3. The Web Address should be clearly separated from the other information.
Your card should direct customers to your Website. Therefore, the Web address must be distinct enough to draw the eye toward it.

4. Use a professional email address.
The email address on your card should NOT be yourname78493@yahoo.com. It is not professional.Have separate personal and business email accounts. When you set up your Website, they will give you an email address that you use (which you can forward to another email you check more frequently). So, your email address will be yourname@yoursmallbusiness.com. All email that goes to that address would automatically be forwarded to your main account. Be aware that when you reply to any emails, your reply should be from the same address. Your hosting provider can help to set up your email program to do that.

5. Use the area code of your phone number.
If you will be conducting business within a region that uses only one area code, I still suggest putting the area code in front of your phone number(s). You never know who will get a copy of your card or where they will be calling from.

6. Use a separate fax number.
Even if you never expect a fax to come in or to purchase a fax machine, it is still important to have a fax number on your business card. I do not suggest listing one phone number that acts as your voice and fax line because this is NOT professional. You can get a FREE fax number from eFax. Unfortunately, the free numbers will have an area code outside where you conduct business and you are limited to 20 faxes per month. To obtain a fax number within your area code without limitations, you will have to pay a monthly subscription fee.

7. Show a physical address only if customers will be visiting your retail store and/or if you have a physical office space.
Placing an address on your business card can demonstrate your validity as a business, however, customers don't always need to know your address. The reason not to do this is because physical addresses change more often than your phone number or email address. If you want to post your address, put it online because you can update the Website instantaneously. The longer "shelf life" you can give your card, the more integrity it will portray down the line. Plus, you don't want to risk strangers showing up at your door unexpectedly.

8. Be specific with titles.
If you would like to list titles on your business cards, give yourself and your employees recognizable and specific labels. I have witnessed many attempts to be clever with titles like, "The Big Cheese. " Unless your business is centered around absurdity, keep it simple. "CEO" still works very well. You can be creative with your titles but keep it clever and avoid being not silly. 

9. Avoid glossy cards.
As a designer, I never created a glossy business card. They give off a cheap impression, although you pay more for it.

Here are some great online
do-it-yourself business card services

Overnight Prints (www.OvernightPrints.com)   PROS: Easy Set Up Process; Many Templates; Delivery Within 24 Hours CONS: Too Many Background Options; Too Many Design Options This is a great Design-It-Yourself service for small business owners at all experience levels. For the novice, they offer an easy to use set up and design process with quick delivery times. Experienced designers will appreciate their ability to upload finalized art mechanicals. Despite your level of use, I recommend filling out their online form to have some free examples of their printing mailed to you.

VistaPrint (www.VistaPrint.com)   PROS: Inexpensive Alternative; No Frills Enter Data-&-Go Set Up Process CONS: Outdated Designs; Can't Upload a Logo; Limited Layout Flexibility Forego the free business cards because VistaPrint will put their name on the back of the card making it look less professional. Instead, make the investment into the Premium Business Cards. Try to avoid to the pre-designed templates with icons (the logos are very eighties) unless it matches an element on your Website.

Your business cards don't have to be flashy or fancy and should never be too busy. A simple white card with your logo positioned off-center is sufficient enough, so long as the card clearly shows your small business name, information and describes the VALUE you provide customers. A logo can be a simple way to connect your Web site, stationary, and business cards. Read on for some tips about creating and designing a logo that will compliment your small brand's identity.

STEP 3: Learn How To Design Your Own Impressive Logo >>