How Do I Make My Own Business Cards?

Although the world now does most of its communicating and networking via cell phones, e-mail, and social networking websites, the fact of the matter remains that there is still a place for the humble business card. Business cards will never go out of style making physical impact in a digital landscape. You can hand them out at appointments, trade shows, and networking events. Plus, they can be slipped into envelopes when you mail things out the old-fashioned way. If you don’t have a business card or if you need to re-design your old one, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s quite easy to create and print your own. Just follow these easy steps:

1. Design your cards. The first thing you need to do is design your business cards. This can be a lot of fun to do, especially if you’re artistically inclined. You can design your cards with whatever program you want. Microsoft Word, Canva, and Adobe Illustrator are always popular choices, especially since you can download business card templates for Word. (If you don’t want to use a template, keep in mind that the standard business card size is 3.5” x 2”. Cards can be either horizontal or vertical.) The key thing to remember when creating your cards is to keep it simple. Less is more. You don’t want the card to become so cluttered that the reader can’t locate your name and contact information. Make sure you use a font that’s stylish but also easy to read. Feel free to include your company’s logo for easy brand recognition. Finally, if you don’t have a lot of faith in your artistic abilities, ask one of your graphic designer friends if he/she can help you out. (For a modest fee, of course.) You can also find graphic design help on the Internet via sites like Fiverr.com if you’re on a tight budget.

1. Print your cards. Once your cards have been designed, it’s time to print them. You’re better off printing a bunch of them on one page so you can save paper. If you want, you can purchase pre-perforated paper so the cards will be easy to separate after they’ve been printed. Avoid printing the cards on regular printer paper. You will want to use thin cardstock so the cards can withstand a good amount of handling. Before printing your cards, make sure your printer has a new toner/ink cartridges so your cards will look great.

1. Separate your cards. After you print your cards, you will need to separate them. There are a few ways you can do this. Check them out:

    

   
   
   • Perforated paper. If you used perforated paper, fold it along the perforated lines and then gently tear the cards apart. You should be patient and take your time when doing this so you don’t accidentally rip them.
   
   

   

   • A rotary trimmer or a guillotine paper cutter. A rotary trimmer is a great tool to use if you don’t have too many cards to cut out. One of these devices will cut perfectly straight lines so your cards look professional. If you have a lot of cards to process, a guillotine paper cutter would be a better choice simply because it will be able to slice through more sheets at once.
   
   
   • A card slitter. If you’re going to be producing a lot of business cards on a regular basis, you might want to consider investing in a card slitter. These machines can usually cut 50 or more cards per minute, so you will save a lot of time by using one. Plus, these devices are generally easy to use. You can usually just place your paper in the feed tray and the machine will do the rest for you.
   
   
   • Scissors. Finally, scissors are a last-ditch option if you don’t have access to a cutter, trimmer, or card slitter. It can be difficult to cut perfectly straight lines with scissors so this is far from a preferable cutting method.

1. Laminate your cards. The primary downside to physical business cards is that they can deteriorate over time. However, you can make your cards last longer by laminating them. Here are two methods to try:
   

    

   

   • Pouch laminator. If you have a small pouch laminator at your disposal, give it a try. You will need laminating pouches that are slightly larger than your cards so they will be properly enveloped. Turn on your laminator and let it heat up. Place your business card in a pouch and insert it into the laminator’s feed opening. Make sure the folded edge goes in first. When the card comes out of the machine, let it cool off before use.
   
   
   • Self-sealing pouches. If you don’t have access to a laminator, use self-sealing pouches. These are pouches that are made specifically for business cards and they will make your card look like it was processed by a laminator. Just place your card in a pouch, remove the lining, and apply the laminate.

Now that your cards have been designed, printed, cut out, and laminated it’s time to distribute them. You can keep some in a card holder on your desk to hand out during appointments or on your person for easy access while at a trade show. It’s also a good idea to carry some in your wallet so you can network on the go. With your newly laminated business cards you won’t need to worry about them gaining any wear before you pass them on.

That in a nutshell is how you can create and print your own laminated business cards. Give it a try today.