Today, back by popular request, is another business card design mistakes you’ll want to learn about and avoid for your next business cards…
 
There seems to be a trend to put as much contact information as we can onto our business cards these days, what with all the new points of contact we have like:
 

• Website(s)
• Email Addresses
• Instant Messaging ID’s
• Social Properties (a-la Facebook)

and of course the original stuff:

• Name
• Title
• Company Name
• Phone Number
• Fax Number
• Physical Address

 
You get the picture.  There just isn’t much room on a 2.5 by 3 card to hold all that stuff, is there?
 
Nope!
 
So people have started shrinking the size of the font they use so they can cram it all on. 
 
This just makes a business card too hard (especially for an aging population) to read.
 
Listen if I can’t just glance at your card to get your phone number or email address, guess what?  I’m not contacting you, unless you are the ONLY one who can provide a solution for me, which is not very likely is it, so I’ll go to the next gals card. 
 
So how do we solve this dilema?
 
Glad you asked! 
 
First of all don’t shrink the font. 

Next review what information you really want on your card.  In most cases you probably won’t be putting your Facebook or Instant Messaging ID’s, unless you really want people to contact you that way.

Then you could create some white-space by using some abbrieviations like “P:” for Phone Number, “E:” for email address, etc…

Finally consider designing multiple cards, focusing each design on a segment of your target market.  This will allow you to create a more compelling reason for someone to contact you.

Have a good one!
Mark