Are you designing your own business cards for the first time, but don’t know what to put on them? What if you print 1,000 business cards and you forget something when they are delivered? Well, here is a handy checklist of the information that should appear on your business cards:

Name – This is obvious. But do you use initials or your full name? Use the name you are most commonly called, and do not use nicknames (especially when dealing with professionals)

You want your name to stand out, so try to make it bigger than the rest of the text on the business card.

Credentials – If you are a CPA, P.E., etc, then you want to list it on your business card, especially in a professional setting. This adds credibility to your business card and lets people remember you better.

Title – This your position at your company. For example, it can be “President” or “Creative Director” or “Manager.” If you are a small company or one-person freelancer, avoid using titles that make you sound far more important than you really are. Use a title that lets people know what you do.

Address – Once again, credibility is key here. Without an address, many people will assume you work out of your basement (if you do, that’s OK – Get a P.O. Box or UPS Store Box). And of course, you want to show it off if your office is located in a swanky part of town!

Telephone, Cell Phone, and Fax Numbers – The easiest and fastest way for people to get in touch is through telephone. While many people are migrating to e-mail, most professionals still want the personal touch (and fast) that telephone provides.

Email Address – Some people prefer e-mail over telephone, especially for things that aren’t urgent. To come off as more professional, register a domain name (even if you do not have a website) so you can have an email address like myname@mybusinessname.com. Having a @yahoo.com or @gmail.com address comes off as amateur.

Website Address – After you hand a person your business card, the first thing they do is check out your website to see what you are all about. You do not want to forget your website address, especially if it is part of your marketing mix!

Professional criteria – If you need to display license numbers or registration, make sure these are on the card as well. This can apply to real estate brokers, therapists, and so on.

Photos (optional) – If you want people to really remember you, you can use a photo on your business card. Photos are better suited for professionals, like chiropractors, doctors, and real estate brokers. If you do include a photo, make sure to have it done professionally. Candid photos and home pictures won’t cut it!

Too Much Information?

Experienced designers know how to place all of this information on a business card without it becoming too cluttered. But if you are doing it yourself and you don’t have much design talent, you might have trouble getting everything in place so it looks good.

You always have the option of printing on both sides of the card. One side can include your important information, like name, phone and email, while the other side can include your address information, services, and website address.