Business card mistakes

Nine months ago marketing expert and author Seth Godin listed seven business card mistakes.

1. Don't print your own cards.

   I confess that I was obsessed with self-printing business cards for a number of years, mainly because digital color printing advanced faster than did commercial color lithography. Once the price of 1000 professionally printed color business cards dropped below $75, the incredible chore of producing good quality do-it-yourself business cards lost its appeal.

2. Don't use big type for the address and contact info.

   I take this one step further and suggest moving the contact information to the reverse side of the business card. Double-sided printing is a minor additional expense

3. Don't buy those color business cards with your face on them.

   One good reason not to put your mug shot on a business card is that's what everyone's business card has.
   

4. Don't go with metal business cards.

   OK. No problem. This is not a fad that made it across the mountains alive.
   

5. You might think it's a great idea to do a full color card with a big (lousy) picture on it. It's not.

   Photographs are popular because they are easy. Well, lousy photographs are easy.

6. I like rounded edges.

   I like rounded edges too, but not necessarily on business cards.

7. Margins matter.

   Seth Godin's design preference consistently runs to the minimalist. Sometimes pushing the margin is a useful design option. For another example of the style of business card Seth likes, look here.