How to Design Your Business Cards for Special Events

Ideally, you should use multiple channels to promote an event. It can be tempting to rely only on digital channels because they’re cost-effective, but investing in some quality business cards can be just as cost-effective.

Business cards have more than one function. They help you connect with a potential client or partner, and they’re a way of consolidating an interaction into something concrete when you hand them out after a short conversation.

They’re also a practical way of sharing your information that doesn’t require your new contact to write anything down or enter your number in their phone.

A business card can say a lot about who you are from a personal and professional perspective. Think of your business card as a miniature version of your resume.

You can use your business cards to tell people how you define your job, which values shape what you do, or which key skills set you apart.

Business cards are small objects that represent your business. The way people feel about the card can influence their feelings towards your business.

Did you know that 39% of people won’t do business with an organization that hands out cheap-looking business cards? Things like a professional design, quality cardstock, or a glossy business card finish can go a long way in sending a message about quality and trust.

Handing out your business cards for special events can be an excuse to approach someone and engage them in a brief conversation. It’s also a polite way to end an interaction.

Keep in mind that the way you hand out your cards is just as important as the business cards themselves. Ensure your business card etiquette is top-notch and give people a specific reason to get in touch with you based on what you learned during your conversation.

Your usual business cards might be too generic for a special event. It’s worth creating a new design and printing a new batch of cards so you can share information relevant to the event.

Your business cards should include practical information about the event, including the name of the event and a brief description of the nature of the event. It’s fine to share a link if you are hosting an online event so that people can learn more about the event if you can’t fit everything on the card but do your best to come up with a one-sentence description of what to expect.

Your card should also include information about attending, like the date and time, the address, and directions.

Get to know your audience and, more specifically, the segment you want to target with the special event. How familiar are they with your brand? What kind of products and services are they interested in? How do they perceive your brand?

If your audience isn’t familiar with your business, your cards will play a significant role in shaping how they perceive it. Suppose you’re handing out cards to people who already know about your business. In that case, the design should confirm their perception of your business while introducing new information that is valuable to this audience segment.

Think about things like how the colors of the card can convey emotions, how the font can tell a lot about your branding image, or even how the weight and finish of the paper feel. An important aspect is to focus on how to hire a graphic designer to find the most suitable candidate for what you need.

Design business cards with the special event in mind. It’s important to capture the tone of the event with your cards.

For instance, an event where you will raise money for a charitable cause with profound implications calls for business cards that don’t use overly bright colors.

The following tips will help you design a business card that stands out.

The standard business card size is 3.5 x 2 inches. You don’t have much space, and it’s vital to make it count.

Leave some white space to make sure your card is easy to read and focus on sharing essential information. Use both sides of the card, and draw attention to what matters with colors, fonts, bolded text, or font size.

Remember that business cards can affect how people perceive your brand. An outdated or amateurish design could create a negative impression.

Here are some recent business card trends you can use to create a design that feels up-to-date:

• Cards that people can reuse are popular. Think bookmarks, origami cards, magnets, or coasters.
• Make your cards memorable with a fun fact, statistic, trivial question, or optical illusion.
• Explore custom shapes with die-cut designs.
• Experiment with different business card materials to avoid the traditional cardstock.
• Add a business card finish such as embossing or lettering effects.
• Integrate some metallic accents into your design.

Your business cards for special events should feature your logo and use a color scheme that makes your business easy to identify. Avoid using too many colors since the result could be confusing and not look professional.

Font choice is critical. You don’t have to limit yourself to classic fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, but you should look for a font that is easy to read and reflect your branding. Google Fonts is a great resource to find free fonts.

Pay attention to details. If you cut the cards yourself, do it carefully and make sure there are no white bands on the sides, and the design looks centered. Most of the time, it’s just easier to order your business cards from a reputable store so you don’t have to cut them yourself.

Your business cards need to sum up what you offer. Think about your unique value proposition and identify what sets you apart from the competition. Make the information relevant to the audience segment you are targeting with this event.

Turn your business cards into a powerful tool for lead generation by including a call-to-action. Business cards for special events work as an initial point of contact with prospects, and they should encourage them to get in touch after the event.

Your cards should include your contact information, but don’t hesitate to add a message that encourages your audience to get in touch with you. You can use other methods, like adding a link that people can use to download an eBook rather than contacting you directly or adding a QR code to your business card.

Encourage people to contact you when you hand out the cards and personalize this message based on what you learned about their needs during the interaction.

It’s important to establish a distribution strategy. You need to figure out how many business cards for special events you should print, how much the cards will cost, and what kind of ROI you can expect from the business cards.

It’s also best to budget your time and resources when handing out the business cards. You’ll get better results if you engage with a smaller number of prospects but spend more time on each interaction.

Ask yourself who you want to target with the business cards and where you can connect with these people. Find ways to make a positive impression when you hand out the cards and identify what kind of information recipients need when giving them a card.

You can decide to hand out many business cards to increase awareness of your event, but you can also limit distribution to make the event feel more exclusive. Both strategies are valid, and the best one will depend on the audience you want to target.

On average, people throw 88% of business cards away within a week of getting them. Turn your cards into something more to give them more value and encourage people to hold on to them. You can, for instance, create cards that double as tickets for your event. Your cards can also be coupons, raffle tickets, or loyalty cards.

An innovative way of interacting with your audience and bringing value to them is an augmented reality business card creation. The technology augments physical business cards with virtual objects placed on them. An AR business card becomes an interactive source of information about your company, linking to your website, social accounts, or video promos. 

A good business card should tell recipients about your business. Here’s what you need to include:

• The full name of your business and/or your full name. Consider adding your photograph so people can associate the card with the conversation they had with you.
• Your job title. This gives people a better idea of how you see your role.
• Email address. Share your professional email address so people can easily get in touch with you.
• Phone number. Adding your phone number gives people another option if they want to contact you.
• Link to your site or portfolio. You can use a URL shortener if your website doesn’t fit on your card. Think about what kind of content you should add to your homepage to address the needs of people who visit this link after finding it on a business card.
• Professional summary. You can create a short professional summary if you’re handing out cards to potential employers, partners, or long-term clients. Talk about your values and the things you’re passionate about.
• Career objective. Again, you can include your career objective if you’re handing out cards to potential employers or partners.

The right business cards can create a positive image for your business while boosting attendance for a special event. By following the above tips, you’re sure to create a lasting impression and gain the attention of your potential audience.