A business card is one of the most powerful and least expensive advertising tools available to you to use. It helps to increase any kind of personal relationship between you and the prospect. The first impression of your business, ultimately, is your business card. The quality and design of you card will have a strong affect on your image and the product, business or services that are being offered.

It is important to select a style of card that represents your business. If you are a dog walker, for example, you would not have any reason to have a hammer and nails on your card. This would send a very confusing, mixed message to the client. Some people prefer just a very basic card, which is entirely fine if that works for what you are representing. However, even the most simple cards should follow a few efficient guidelines.

Your card needs some form of logo and it has to be placed in the top left corner. A person's eyes are trained to read left to right, top to bottom. If you don't have a logo and you do not wish to create one, at least have the company's name there in that location. This is your main focal point of the card. You want to guide the client's eyes to read the information in a comfortable manor, ending with the anchor point. The bottom right hand corner must contain your contact information. This will be the last thing the person will read, making it easier to remember. Your name, phone number, email address or even website if applicable should be located in this spot. Even if you are using the most basic black and white business card, it should have a border placed at about 3mm in from the card edge. This allows the reader's eye to focus more clearly on the information.

Your business card should very clearly be able to identify who you are and what you are offering. This powerful tool is an overall representation of you and your business; formatted properly will greatly enhance your future success.