Are your business cards getting noticed?

Have you ever gotten a compliment on your business card? Is it something that you're proud of? Does it simply and clearly tell people what your business does? Is it inviting and make them want to call you?

Did you just answer no to one or more of these questions? If you did then it is time for you to update your business card.

Why?

Well because you might have missed an opportunity to make a great impression.

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to come up with a good business card. Here are some tips to avoid when creating your business cards:

#1: Your card looks like all of the rest-- Most business cards out there leave no real impression and will be overlooked. Leave someone with a card that looks great, feels great and clearly defines what you do.

#2: A Cluttered Card--- You want enough info to catch someone’s eye, but at the same time you don’t want there to be a story on the card. Simple is best. Sort out the information and keep only what's totally necessary for someone to know your name, your company, what you do, and why they should contact you. Don't skimp on your contact information; you want to be easy to reach.

#3: Poor Card Quality-- You want to have good stock paper so that the print/ink doesn't bleed through. A poor quality card implies that a business will have poor quality products and services.

#4: Having a Mystery Business card-- When someone looks at your business card, can they tell immediately what your business does? Your logo should have some connection to what your business does or what you are selling. If you have a jewelry business you wouldn’t want a picture of a cake on your card.

#5: Not Having a Unique Selling Point--- Your card should state at least one very powerful reason a customer should do business with you. For instance, the company I work for, someone can get started working with us “Risk free.” So that could be one of my “selling points.”

#6: Print is too Small-- Does your business card have a font size so small that you need to hand out a magnifying glass in order for it to be read? Since 95 percent of the population aged 35 or older need reading glasses, a good guideline is to use a type size no smaller than 8 point.

#7: The Use of Poor Color-- Spice up your business cards with a little splash of color. You'll be surprised what a difference it makes. Avoid the common mistake of grey print on a white background; it lacks contrast and the print is difficult to read. On the flip side, don't make the mistake of color-overload. Too many colors that don't complement one another will make the card look busy and will detract from the content of your card.

#8: Are Your Cards Getting Seen?-- What good is having a box full of business cards if they're just sitting there collecting dust? Get out there a get them seen.