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13+ Business Card Templates in Publisher
Business cards have gone through so many changes over the last few centuries. Where they were used to announce an aristocrat visiting another person’s home in the 1700s, business cards of today are different since they can be used by almost anyone. These small printed cards now act as an engaging way to present business or professional credentials to potential clients, customers, or employers.
That is why if you intend to create a favorable impression for yourself, your organization, or your business, crafting a good business card design is a must. Explore the different ways on how you can do that as you learn about different business card-making tips and design hacks in this article.
Elements of A Good Business Card
Business cards may have veered away from their original purpose but their use today is still considered a formal and socially acceptable act. And to create business cards that can give you positive results (i.e. job offer, business deal, etc) that you want, you need to factor in the different elements or qualities that make a good business card design.
We are sharing a few of the most important elements below. Read and study them well.
1. Design Theme: A good theme or motif unites all the text and graphic elements you are using on your card design. When a person sees and reads the card, they see through your personality and/or the image of your brand. A business card that lacks an overarching theme will appear directionless, disorganized, or even untrustworthy. An example of a good business card theme is shown by this rustic business card template.
2. Layout: Due to a business card’s small size, its contents should be arranged in a logical and easy to read manner. To illustrate, a business logo or letterhead design often takes the bulk of one side of a business card while a person’s contact information is placed below it or on the other side of the card. When your business card has a good layout design, it means that anyone reading it will readily obtain the information he or she needs, unencumbered by any extraneous design elements.
3. Typography: Choose font styles that complement that card theme and belong to the same typeface family. Consider how the font size, color, kerning, and overall arrangement help tell a story or convey a message. When done well, good typography design help make your card easier to understand.
4. Printing Material Quality: Using high-quality paper transforms any business card into something more elegant and well put together. Choose paper or cardstock with a higher GSM number as they are thicker and can be more durable.
As a business owner, professional, fresh grad, or freelancer who wants to set yourself apart, being mindful of these few elements will help you in your career. Combine all the design elements shared above and any simple business card can be transformed into something more.
13+ Business Card Templates in Publisher
Take a look at all these premium and free business card templates in Publisher file format. Each template is fully editable using MS Publisher or other graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Microsoft Word.
Corporate Business Card Template
Dental Business Card Template
Gold and White Business Card Template
Studio Business Card Template
Blank Business Card Template
Clean Black Business Card Template
Education Business Card Template
Gym Business Card Template
Medical Business Card Template
Minimal Business Card Template
Restaurant Business Card Template
Simple Business Card Template
Square Business Card Template
Vintage Business Card Template
Simple Tips For an Excellent Business Card
Interested in getting more out of your business card? Then the next few paragraphs are just for you. Here, we list down a few actionable tips that anyone can follow to help transform their own or their client’s business card designs.
1. Be mindful of the print bleed: Print bleed (measuring about one-eighth of an inch from the edge or the trim area) is the designated area on any formatted sheet that will be trimmed off. They are necessary to ensure that a printed business card does not have blank spaces or missing portions where there should have been background color or images. When you use printable templates, the bleed area will be preformatted into the design so you do not have to worry about it. But if you are making your own template, make sure that you add a margin, trim area, and bleed areas.
2. Scale fonts and images well: Due to its size, any text or image you incorporate into a business card design should be scaled or resized well. This ensures that you do not have any problem reading the details on the card later on. Also, bold and clear fonts often work well as accents on any minimalist business card designs.
3. Proofread before printing: Avoid wasting money and time and make sure that your business card designs are checked for typographical errors or data accuracy before you print it out. If you have created the design yourself, it’s time to ask another person to review the design. This way, he or she can be a fresh set of eyes into the project.
4. Don’t forget your branding elements: Integrating your business or personal branding design elements into your business card is a must. This does not only add variety to the card design but it also helps reinforce your brand’s image. If you do not have an official company letterhead or logo design yet, make sure to invest in one.
5. Use alternative printing material: Using high-quality cardstock is good when making business cards. But if you want to have a truly attention-grabbing business card, you should explore printing your card on alternative materials like wood, metal, plastic, or any combination of these materials. A good example is this transparent business card that uses transparent laminate plastic.
Some of the tips and printing methods suggested above may require a higher upfront cost. But your business or organization will surely benefit from the higher chances of brand recall they help create.
Types of Business Cards
Business cards may be categorized according to how they are created. Learning the different card-making methods allows you to explore other ways that you make your own business cards more unique.
- Template-Based Business Cards: These are business cards created using printable business card templates. Examples of which are embedded in this article.
- Handmade Business Cards: These cards are made by hand. Everything from cutting out the paper or printing material to lettering the information stated on the card is done manually.
- Electronic Business Cards: These are digital versions of business cards. They are sent through email, MMS, or SNS messages.
Business Card Sizes
The standard business card size is 3.5 inches by 2 inches. Despite this, if you want to follow a different printing size, you can easily resize a printable template to match your card size preferences.
Business Card FAQs
What is the difference between a business card and a visiting card?
Business cards evolved from visiting cards. The latter was first used in the 17th century as a way to announce aristocrats visiting other people’s homes. Visiting cards contained the name, title, rank, and reason of the visit.
What is the proper etiquette when giving business cards?
The etiquette rules surrounding the use of visiting cards or calling cards in polite society centuries ago no longer exist. Today, there are still less formal but equally proper rules surrounding the use of business cards. For example, professional business cards should be in their best condition when given away. They should also be handed to another person using the right hand. They should contain accurate and the updated business contact information of its owner. When personally handed a business card, you should not stuff it directly into your pockets. Instead, acknowledge it and then place it in your wallet or on a card case.
What to write in a business card?
The standard business card format or the most common pieces of information written/included on a business card are as follows:
- Name of Cardholder
- Name of Business or Company
- Business or Company Logo or Letterhead
- Cardholder’s Job Title or Designation
- Contact Information (address, phone number, email address)
- Company or Professional Website URL
- Social Media Links
With all the practical design and etiquette tips shared above, you should be ready to begin creating your own business card designs. If not, don’t hesitate to use any of the free business card templates shared above. And to see more business card templates in various themes, color palettes, and file formats, check out the rest of our website.
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