Business cards are an important first impression. Here are 7 mistakes commonly made on business cards that could leave not such a good taste in your potential clients mouth. How do you your cards stack up?

1. Fonts

Font choice is an important factor in how people perceive your company. Playful fonts don’t bode well for people who are looking to be taken seriously. Also, the amount of fonts you use is just a big problem. Try using a bold or italic face of that font instead. And make sure the letters are large enough to read clearly. If things are looking too small than maybe you should reconsider your content, and if you can lose some of it.

2. Too much or too little information

Do potential clients need to know your cats name, but they do need to know where to reach you? Be thorough but precise. Think about what people will need to know to be able to reach you and what business you are in. You should be clear on your service (be it with words or an image) or they will end up ditching your card because they don’t know if you sell cars or paint houses.

3. Too many logos or photos

Business cards are just a small taste of what you do. Try to weed out things that aren’t absolutely necessary in order to ensure a call back with this potential customer.

4. Using the wrong embellishment

Sometimes people go crazy with trying to make their business cards different and unique that they end up making them hideously overdone. Think about thermography, foil stamping, gloss coating, perforation, embossing, and metallic inks and why you need them/or do not. They definitely add a different touch but should be used sparingly and with thought behind them.

5. Paper

There is nothing worse than feeling like you are going to bend and ruin someone’s business card as soon as they put it in your hand. Choose a nice hearty paper stock that will withstand some punishment, especially if you expect them to use the card again and again.

6. Out of date information

It’s such a turn off when you try to call someone back and their number is disconnected. The point of business cards is to gain clients so make sure that your numbers, addresses, email addresses and other contact information is correct.

7. Too much like an ad

Is this a business card or an ad? If your intent is to have a coupon on the back of your business card than you are on the right track. (there is nothing wrong with an incentive to keep your card around) But if you are trying to exude a more professional look, once again, less is more. Starbursts are not professional.

Business cards work best when they are simple, easy to read designs that have a little extra white space for notes.