Name card printing first began in the 17th century as a means to announce the arrival of wealthy aristocrats. Nowadays, anyone can create business cards online, regardless of any situation. If you regularly meet with new people, then you might have come across (and gave out) more than your fair share of business cards. 

 In fact, you probably have a stack of them somewhere in your house or wallet right at this very moment! There’s no doubt about it; these handy little cards are particularly useful when you’re at an event. Plus, when done right, they can also double as great (low-cost) marketing tools. 

That said, you’ve got to remember that when you’re at an event you’ve only got precious few minutes to make an impression. And what better way to do that, than with a tricked out corporate name card! To help give you some idea of what we’re talking about, here are 10 creative ways to impress people who receive your business cards!

Details Matter.

Depending on the nature of your business, it doesn’t hurt to get a little creative. Try experimenting with different paper materials, textures and colour schemes. These little details can really help to make your corporate name card stand out from the rest of the pack. 

If you’re not sure where to start, try researching some inspirational designs online or add your own special touches to a pre-made template. That way, you can still deliver your contact information in a way that is unique to your business.

Design a series of Business Cards.

Impress people by creating a series of business cards that features different designs. Imagine handing out a business card that has a Christmas theme for winter or one with a floral design for spring. Not only will it make your card stand out, but it’ll also serve as a nice little reminder to the recipient on when you meet. 

Alternatively, you can incorporate a developing story into the design of your cards and turn them into collectable items.  Not only will it give your cards an element of fun, but it can also make people feel excited to receive them. 

Give them a sneak peek

We can all agree that a few minutes is hardly enough time to make much of an impression. Plus, there are some people whose actions speak louder than their words. For this instance, you may want to look into turning your business cards into mini portfolios.

Not only will it give people a better idea about what you do and what your capabilities are, but an accordion-style mini-portfolio business card will definitely stand out in a sea of minimalist, single cards. 

Quality over Luxury

Just how you would put your best foot forward when you make a first impression, always opt for quality when creating your business cards online. A poor quality business card may imply to people that your business will offer poor quality products or services. 

In order to prevent people from making such assumptions, don’t skimp out on the cost to make high-quality business cards. Choose good-quality paper stock that is sturdy and pleasing to the touch. Ensure that it is resistant to tears and if possible, opt for a finish that will make your card waterproof. Accidents can happen and you want to ensure that your cards remain legible in the event that someone ends up spilling water over them (which happens much more frequently than you think!).

Try the 3D Look

If you’re a photoshop wiz, bring your business cards to life by playing with design elements to give your business card a 3D effect. By cleverly utilising shadows, colours and shapes, you can give off the illusion that the words and design on your cards are floating just above the surface. 

Not only will it give your name card an interesting and unique look, but the 3D effect will also help make it easier for people to recall you and your business. 

Use Untried Materials

While business cards seemed to be unequivocally linked to printed paper, why not go a bit out of the box and surprise (and hopefully delight) your receivers by presenting them with a business card made out of plastic, wood, metal or even slate. 

This works best if you or your company are actually working with any of the stated materials (say you’re a furniture designer or an artist). This distinctively quirky approach is a great tactic for leaving lasting impressions. 

Incorporate #hashtags

If your business is on a lot of social media platforms and has a unique, long-tail hashtag, you might want to consider putting your hashtag on your business cards (as opposed to your social media handles).

By using hashtags, the receivers will be able to locate your presence on different social media platforms (to see if you’re truly as connected as you say) and will be able to form their opinion on you and your company based on the contents that you post or by the reviews lefts by your previous customers.

Experiment with Shapes

When you think about business cards, one of the first things that come to mind is the shape. While the classic rectangle is great in a professional setting, it can be a bit boring and make it hard to differentiate yourself from your competitors. 

Even if you’re not from a creative industry, you might want to try embracing non-classic shapes for your name card. Some eye-catching shapes for business cards include smaller rectangles, squares and even circles. Just make sure that they’re small enough to fit into people’s wallets or cardholders and you’re set!

Serve a dual purpose

Ever heard of the phrase; ‘to kill two birds with one stone’? Instead of creating a simple business card, why not create unique, multi-purpose business cards that can help out your recipients in their day to day activity or serve as a unique decoration. 

For example, a business card that can double as a ruler, a unique bookmark or one that can be taken apart and turned into a form of decoration would leave an amazing impression and get people interested in finding out more about your or your business. Plus, these are the type of cards that people are less likely to throw in the bin! 

Use a QR Code

When it comes to business card designs, a lot of people prefer simple designs as it’s less cluttered and more pleasing to the eyes. Impress the people who receive your business cards by going on a super minimalist route by giving them a business card that simply features your name as well as a QR code for other relevant information. 

Not only will it appear neat and highly professional, but it can also create a sense of curiosity while simultaneously maximising the amount of information that you want your recipient to receive. 

In conclusion, business cards can be used as more than just a means to provide your connections or potential clients with your company contact details. They can also be used as a way to build and grow your brand identity as well as become incredibly useful and super portable marketing tool. Therefore, you should really spend some time doing research in order to create uniquely impressive business cards that can effectively convey your business messages.