f some letters. The most common serif font is Time New Roman. Compare THIS with THAT and you'll see the extra little bits. Moving on... a good rule of thumb is to stick with either serif fonts, or sans-serif fonts for one design. Try not to mix and match.

Keep things simple. The more simple it is, the less chance for ugly mistakes!

3. Tear Along The Dotted Line

Since the internet came along, it's tough to be in the printing business. Prices have plumm

We've all seen our share of business cards. Nearly every day you encounter a new one. Some look fantastic. Others... well... they reflect poorly upon the business and person that they belong to. That right there is what we're looking to avoid. The ugly, the horrible, the big negatives. Sidestepping these five major pitfalls will set you on the path to having a good business card.

1. The Technicolor Dreamcard

When it comes time to print a business card, you'll find there's very little reason not to make use of a full-color printing process. That means every color of the rainbow can be captured on your business card. But, please, oh please, don't be tempted.

A good design uses a limited color palette (or color scheme) most commonly focusing on just two colors. It's not unusual to use a third accent color. However, any more than that and you're approaching the danger zone.

Avoid having your card looking like a fruit-cocktail explosion by focusing on a few key colors. Suit them to your business. Choosing warm, low-key colors creates a "sense of home" for a real estate company, while bright, energetic colors better suit an adventure travel agency.

"Full color printing" is not an invitation to get your money's worth!

2. The Ransom Note

When your computer comes with hundreds of wild and crazy fonts, it can be tempting to have some wild and crazy fun when writing up your business card. It ends up looking like a ransom note, with a different font for each word.

Similar to limiting your colors, you should use restraint when choosing fonts, or typefaces, for your card. Follow the basic rule of using one font for key elements, like headlines or your name, and another font for the detailed information.

If you do use more than one font, it's usually best to use two that share similar properties. Serif is a term that refers to the small lines at the end of some letters. The most common serif font is Time New Roman. Compare THIS with THAT and you'll see the extra little bits. Moving on... a good rule of thumb is to stick with either serif fonts, or sans-serif fonts for one design. Try not to mix and match.

Keep things simple. The more simple it is, the less chance for ugly mistakes!

3. Tear Along The Dotted Line

Since the internet came along, it's tough to be in the printing business. Prices have plumm

ll find there's very little reason not to make use of a full-color printing process. That means every color of the rainbow can be captured on your business card. But, please, oh please, don't be tempted.

A good design uses a limited color palette (or color scheme) most commonly focusing on just two colors. It's not unusual to use a third accent color. However, any more than that and you're approaching the danger zone.

Avoid having your card looking like a fruit-cocktail explosion by focusing on a few key colors. Suit them to your business. Choosing warm, low-key colors creates a "sense of home" for a real estate company, while bright, energetic colors better suit an adventure travel agency.

"Full color printing" is not an invitation to get your money's worth!

2. The Ransom Note

When your computer comes with hundreds of wild and crazy fonts, it can be tempting to have some wild and crazy fun when writing up your business card. It ends up looking like a ransom note, with a different font for each word.

Similar to limiting your colors, you should use restraint when choosing fonts, or typefaces, for your card. Follow the basic rule of using one font for key elements, like headlines or your name, and another font for the detailed information.

If you do use more than one font, it's usually best to use two that share similar properties. Serif is a term that refers to the small lines at the end of some letters. The most common serif font is Time New Roman. Compare THIS with THAT and you'll see the extra little bits. Moving on... a good rule of thumb is to stick with either serif fonts, or sans-serif fonts for one design. Try not to mix and match.

Keep things simple. The more simple it is, the less chance for ugly mistakes!

3. Tear Along The Dotted Line

Since the internet came along, it's tough to be in the printing business. Prices have plumm

losion by focusing on a few key colors. Suit them to your business. Choosing warm, low-key colors creates a "sense of home" for a real estate company, while bright, energetic colors better suit an adventure travel agency.

"Full color printing" is not an invitation to get your money's worth!

2. The Ransom Note

When your computer comes with hundreds of wild and crazy fonts, it can be tempting to have some wild and crazy fun when writing up your business card. It ends up looking like a ransom note, with a different font for each word.

Similar to limiting your colors, you should use restraint when choosing fonts, or typefaces, for your card. Follow the basic rule of using one font for key elements, like headlines or your name, and another font for the detailed information.

If you do use more than one font, it's usually best to use two that share similar properties. Serif is a term that refers to the small lines at the end of some letters. The most common serif font is Time New Roman. Compare THIS with THAT and you'll see the extra little bits. Moving on... a good rule of thumb is to stick with either serif fonts, or sans-serif fonts for one design. Try not to mix and match.

Keep things simple. The more simple it is, the less chance for ugly mistakes!

3. Tear Along The Dotted Line

Since the internet came along, it's tough to be in the printing business. Prices have plumm

card. It ends up looking like a ransom note, with a different font for each word.

Similar to limiting your colors, you should use restraint when choosing fonts, or typefaces, for your card. Follow the basic rule of using one font for key elements, like headlines or your name, and another font for the detailed information.

If you do use more than one font, it's usually best to use two that share similar properties. Serif is a term that refers to the small lines at the end of some letters. The most common serif font is Time New Roman. Compare THIS with THAT and you'll see the extra little bits. Moving on... a good rule of thumb is to stick with either serif fonts, or sans-serif fonts for one design. Try not to mix and match.

Keep things simple. The more simple it is, the less chance for ugly mistakes!

3. Tear Along The Dotted Line

Since the internet came along, it's tough to be in the printing business. Prices have plumm

f some letters. The most common serif font is Time New Roman. Compare THIS with THAT and you'll see the extra little bits. Moving on... a good rule of thumb is to stick with either serif fonts, or sans-serif fonts for one design. Try not to mix and match.

Keep things simple. The more simple it is, the less chance for ugly mistakes!

3. Tear Along The Dotted Line

Since the internet came along, it's tough to be in the printing business. Prices have plummeted thanks to increased competition. I can get business cards delivered from Taiwan cheaper than I can get them down the block. (That's a fact... I've done it! ) There is no excuse not to have your business cards professionally printed.

Yet, there are still some people out there who fire up the inkjet and whip up a batch of homebrew cards on that perforated cardstock. (I've settled upon "Perfs" as an unflattering name for these offenders)

The end result is best summed up as amateurish. The printing is faded and, after a dozen pages, starts to streak. The edges are fuzzy from being torn, and the paper is thin and flimsy.

If you can't invest fifty bucks in having cards printed up, then you likely don't have any reason to get business cards in the first place. The professional result will be thick, glossy, beautiful, and appropriately portray you as a serious business.

Don't skimp out when it's oh so affordable.

4. Mystery Meat

A well designed card presents it's information gracefully. However, no amount of design can make up for missing information. A common mistake on business cards is to completely overlook the fact that other people don't know what you do for a living. Sure, you will tell them when you hand it over, but that's no help when they discover your business card the week after the party.

Your card should succinctly convey what it is you can do for your customer.

A business card is no place to be shy, or subtle. Spell out the answer to "What can you do for me?" and your card will actually get results. Avoid catchy slogans that don't actually say anything important. Instead, write something that summarizes your business in a meaningful way. Key distinction... meaningful to other people... not just to you!

The nicest design in the world won't keep your business card from the trash if it's meaningless.

5. All I'm Askin'...