Business cards that get kept: a checklist
A business card is often the one piece of your marketing a customer holds on to. The best cards are simple, easy to read and give people a reason to keep them.
A card gets handed over at the end of a job, left on a shop counter or tucked into a wallet after a chat at a local event. Whether it ends up pinned to a fridge or in the bin depends mostly on a few simple choices. This checklist covers what to include, what to leave out, how to design it and how to make it worth keeping.
The essentials
Your name and your business name.
What you do, in a few words.
A phone number you answer.
An email address you check.
Those four things matter more than anything else on the card. If someone finds your card months later, they should be able to tell at once who you are, what you do and how to reach you.
Helpful extras
Your website or Google Business Profile, so people can read your reviews.
A QR code that opens your website or booking page.
The areas you cover, if you visit customers.
If you add a QR code, test it before printing and make sure it opens a page that works well on a phone. If you list the areas you cover, keep it short, for example "Serving Dorking, Ashtead and Leatherhead" rather than a long list of every village.
What to leave out
A card has very little space, so every line should earn its place.
Long lists of every service you offer. Pick the main ones.
Several phone numbers. One that you answer is better.
Small print that nobody will read.
Social media accounts you rarely update.
Design tips
Keep plenty of space around the text so it is easy to read.
Use a font size that works without glasses.
Match the colours and logo on your leaflets, van and signs.
Consistency matters. If a customer sees your van in Horley, gets a leaflet through the door and then receives your card at the end of a job, they should recognise the same business each time. We can design your cards to match your leaflets, posters and menus. See our flyer printing page if you need leaflets in the same style.
Make it useful
A card that doubles as something useful is more likely to be kept, such as an appointment reminder on the back, or a short list of your services.
Here are some hypothetical ideas:
A hairdresser in Woking prints an appointment reminder on the back, with space to write the date and time.
A boiler engineer adds a line on the back for the next service date, so the card goes in the drawer with the boiler paperwork.
A dog walker covering villages near Haslemere lists walk times and the areas covered.
A café prints a loyalty stamp grid on the back.
Step by step: getting your cards right
Write out the text first, before thinking about design.
Cut anything that is not essential.
Decide whether the back will be blank, a design or something useful.
Choose a design that matches the rest of your marketing, or ask us to design one.
Check every detail on the proof, especially phone numbers and email addresses.
Order a quantity you will use before your details are likely to change.
There is no minimum order, so you do not need to print a huge batch. Print orders come with free delivery, standard delivery takes 72 hours, and next day delivery is available on orders placed before 3pm.
Common mistakes
Text too small. If people have to squint, they will not bother.
A typo in the phone number. It sounds obvious, but it happens. Read the proof slowly.
A card that does not match the business. A different logo or colour from your van and leaflets makes you harder to recognise.
Out of date details. A changed number or website makes a whole box of cards useless. Smaller runs avoid this.
Not carrying any. Keep some in your van, bag or wallet so you can hand them over when the chance comes.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put my photo on my card?
It can help for people whose business is personal, such as tutors, estate agents and personal trainers. For most trades, a clear logo and name is enough.
Is a QR code worth it?
It can be, if it opens a page that works well on a phone, such as a booking page or your reviews. Test it before printing.
Can you match my cards to my leaflets?
Yes. We can design your cards to match your leaflets, posters and menus, or print from your own files.
How long does delivery take?
Standard delivery takes 72 hours, and next day delivery is available on orders placed before 3pm.
Get yours printed
Leaflet Media prints business cards for sole traders, tradespeople and small businesses across Surrey, and can design them to match your leaflets. See our business card printing page, or browse all our printing services in Surrey. Email surrey@leaflet-media.co.uk or call 07525 722 427, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:30pm.
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