Parts of a Business Card
How many of these elements does your business card design
have?
Most business cards will have at least a name of a person or
company but there are other essential and useful elements of a good business
card.
Name of Individual
Not every type of business card has to have the name of the
individual but it's a nice personalized touch. In a large organization it can
be beneficial to the recipient to have the name of a specific person to
contact. The name of the individual or the name of the business or organization
is usually the most prominent text element of a business card.
Name of Business or Organization
A business card almost always has a business or organization
name on it. The name of the individual or the name of the business or
organization is usually the most prominent text element of a business card.
An organization with a highly recognizable logo might
de-emphasize the business name (size and/or placement) but it is usually an
essential piece of information.
Address
A physical address or a mailing address or both are typical
parts of a business card. If the company does business exclusively online or by
mail, a physical address might not be a key element to include. If both a
physical and a mailing address are included, it may be desirable to label each
one.
Phone Number(s)
Multiple numbers are typically listed in order of voice,
fax, cell but you can omit any numbers that are not the preferred method of
phone contact. Don't forget the area and/or country codes and extension, if
required. Using parentheses, hyphens, periods, spaces, or other characters to
separate numbers in a phone number are generally a matter of preference and
custom but be consistent in whatever method is chosen.
Email Address
Including an email address is an important element for
Web-based businesses but other businesses or organizations might omit this form
of contact unless it is one of their preferred methods of contact.
Web Page Address
Web addresses can be listed with or without the http://
preceding the URL. As with email addresses, it is an essential element for
Web-based businesses.
Job Title of Individual
Not a required element, some entrepreneurs or sole
proprietors might include "President" or "CEO" or some
other title to give the appearance of a larger organization.
Tagline or Description of Business
A tagline or brief description can be useful when the
business name is somewhat ambiguous or doesn't clearly convey what the business
does. Taglines can also convey benefits and features.
Logo
A logo used consistently on business cards and other print /
electronic materials helps to establish a company's identity.
Graphic Image(s) (including purely decorative elements)
Small companies without a logo may choose to use generic or
stock images or custom illustrations that help reinforce what the company does.
Small graphic embellishments or boxes might be used to separate blocks of
information.
List of Services or Products
A long list will usually clutter up a standard size business
card but when using two-sided or folded business cards a bullet list of
services offered or main product lines can extend the usefulness of the
business card.