Business experts all agree that you have just a few moments in order to make a lasting impression with a new client. Even if you make a great impression at first, people still easily forget details and even names just minutes later. That is why you need a strong, compelling business card that new clients can refer to at a later date.

However, not all business cards make a good impression. Some cards actually do more harm than good due to how bad their designs are. In order for you to avoid lost sales and embarrassment, read the following tips that you should follow when designing your next business card. Also, just to be clear, there are also some major design faux pas that you should avoid at all costs.

Do Make Sure Your Colors Match

You don’t have to be a painter to come up with a nice palette, and a good color scheme can make or break a design. Matching colors is very simple, and even if you have a bad eye for color, there are online tools like Adobe’s Kuler that you can utilize to find your color scheme. Try not to use more than three colors in your designs, as any more than that can be overkill and harm your branding efforts.

Do Use an Original Logo

You want your company to stand out, so don’t be cheap and buy a template logo that thousands of others may have. Spend a bit of money and get it designed properly and incorporate that into your business card. You won’t regret the investment!

Do Make Your Text Easy to Read

Choosing the perfect typeface is only the first step. Find a font that fits the image of your business and make sure people can clearly read it. You also need to make sure your typography shows up against the background you choose, so pick a color that shows up clearly. Finally, make sure the alignment isn’t off-the-wall and keep it uniform. Left aligned text is the easiest to read, but right aligned text can also work. Please use centered or justified text sparingly, as it is much harder for the human eye to follow.

Don’t Use Templates

It is fine to look at other business cards and templates for inspiration, but please don’t use a template. Also, you should avoid cheap business card websites, as they all use templates that look very cheap and unprofessional.

Don’t Use Cheap Paper

Cutting corners and ordering the thinnest paper possible is a huge mistake. Think of this for a second. Many business people compare a business card to a handshake. When you shake hands with someone, do you want a strong, firm handshake or a weak, flimsy one? That same should apply for your business card. Thin cards get lost and tossed in the trash cans much quicker. Plus, people don’t like to throw things away that look expensive. A card that looks and feels like it cost money to produce will stay around for a while.

Don’t Skimp on the Details

Make sure the customer knows how to contact you in every way possible. Put your address, phone number, website and email at least on your card. Showing more information on a card builds trust for a client. It shows that you are not hiding anything and you can be reached in multiple ways if there is a future problem. Remember, it is the little things that you do in business that ultimately get you the clients, so attention to detail is key.

Casey Haslem is a professional writer for SmartPress, which specializes in booklets printing. She enjoys hiking, the outdoors and spending time with her family.