Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Whether you launch a startup business or struggle through the competition, networking tools are just as important for your success as the quality of your product or service. Your business card is one of these. Business cards are inexpensive compared with most of the other advertising materials; they are handy and easy to carry around. An attractive and memorable business card will become a powerful means of promotion.

When you work at your business card layout, make sure it incorporates the best design practices. Here are some golden rules for business cards.

Use a contrasting color scheme with a maximum of three colors. All the text blocks and graphics items must be clear and distinctive. If your background has an image or rich texture, it may be advisable to leave white fields for the most important text blocks. Avoid fancy fonts that may be illegible. Preference should be given to sans-serif fonts like Arial, Tahoma, or Verdana.

Images are more important than words to human brain. That's why a catchy logo or a photograph can make all the difference. A contact card with a photo is ideal if you are in a "relationship business" like real estate or law consultancy. When you use an image as part of the business card design, choose one with high resolution.

Remember that great business card design is not the only factor in creating a lasting impression. Decent paper and high print quality are also crucial. If you design your own business cards but do not have a photo quality printer, you'd better export the layout to a common graphics file and take it to a print shop. Choose matte or textured paper. Glossy paper may look attractive, but there is a drawback - it's difficult to write on it, while business etiquette requires the reverse side of a business card to be blank for notes.

Every corporation as well as every business person tries to create a distinctive image that reflects their philosophy. Putting it onto a 3.5 x 2'' piece of cardboard may be a challenge. You may commission this task to a design studio, or try your own designer skills. Designing business cards has never been so easy thanks to user-friendly software available today. With an application like Business Card Maker you don't need to be a Photoshop guru to create exclusive business cards for yourself and your staff. Professional design studios will also appreciate this software as it provides the whole kit of tools for implementing original layout ideas, along with an inexpensive business license.

Business card software provides you with a large selection of pre-designed business card templates. Created by professional designers, they can be used for making business cards in minutes. All you need to do is enter your contact details, save, and print. Business Card Maker has a collection of over 150 original templates for different business areas.

You can learn more about this software and download the trial version here: http://business-card-maker-com.