Business Cards
Business Card Sizes
Business cards are usually a one-size-fits-all proposition. Changing the size of your business card could set it apart from the pack. Then again, it could also send it straight to the recycling bin.
Most business cards are simple, straightforward and predictable. Your name, contact info and company logo packed into a standard 3.5" x 2" space.
The problem is that everyone else's business card fits the same description. To get noticed, you need to do something that will make your card stand out.
With more and more options at their disposal, some executives are garnering attention by changing the size and even the shape of their business cards. Gone are the days when you could neatly stack your business card collection in the corner of a desk drawer. Today's business cards run the gamut, with sizes ranging from super small to extremely large.
But the big question is whether non-standard business cards attract the right kind of attention. While some people are drawn to oddly sized business cards, others would rather throw them in the garbage than deal with the hassle of storing an irregularly sized piece of card stock. So before you decide to mix up the size of your business card, there are a few questions you need to consider:
- Why are you doing it? If your reason for changing the size of your business card is personal preference or to cram more information on each card - don't do it. However, there may be certain scenarios in which changing the size of your card makes a lot of sense. For example, let's say your company sells baking utensils. By printing your business card on a 3" x 5" index card along with your grandmother's famous chocolate chip cookie recipe, you virtually guarantee your card will remain in recipe files for years to come.
- What are the consequences? Sometimes even a good reason doesn't justify changing the size of your business card, especially if the consequences outweigh the benefits. Suppose you've found a really good reason to reduce the size of your business card in half. Congratulations . . . but now you'll either have to reduce the amount of information contained on your business card or radically reduce the size of the font. If neither is an attractive option, it might make more sense to leave the size of your card alone.
- How much is it going to cost? Not surprisingly, irregularly sized business cards cost more to produce than standard-sized ones. If you're only ordering business cards for yourself, the cost differential probably isn't a big deal. But what if you're ordering them for your entire sales force? The benefit of changing the size of your business cards might justify the additional cost, but if not admit it and explore less costly alternatives.
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Do you think it's a good idea to have a business card that isn't the size of a traditional business card? We welcome your comments on business card sizes.