Should your picture be on a business card?
Your business card is the first item people will judge your business on, which means that you should dedicate most of your time and resources to making sure that the card has a great aesthetic appeal. The question most people usually ask is whether it is a good idea to include a picture on the card or if that will make it look less professional. The type of picture you choose to use will determine the final outlook of the card. There are benefits and downsides that you must consider before deciding to use your picture.
Benefits of using your picture
One of the reasons why using your picture is the good idea is that it helps you stand out from most of the other business cards in your industry. Most people who use their pictures are in the real estate industry. This means that if you are in any other industry, you can use this to get a competitive advantage and capture the attention of more customers in your field.
A picture helps create a more lasting memory in the minds of your clients, and that’s another reason why you should try using your picture. People will associate your brand with the picture they see in your business cards. It’s easy to forget logos or other details on the card, but a picture usually leaves a lasting impression.
A business card with a picture also tends to be more relate-able, which in turn helps improve trust between you and the prospective clients. People will see you as a transparent business person and will want to buy more products from you. Including your face should not interfere with the business card size. It should be done to make yourself known to the people you give the card to. Most people will feel more comfortable when they meet or interact with people who they are familiar with, and that’s what your face does to the card; it makes you familiar.
The fact that images increase the effectiveness of a business card is another reason why you should use one. You, however, have to choose the most appropriate image because others can backfire on you and send the wrong message. For instance, you can use other images apart from your head shot and send the message you intended to. You have to remember that your image is supposed to make the information on the card more effective. This means that you should use an image that intensifies that information and makes the message more pronounced. If your plain head shot doesn’t help in that scenario, then you can use another appropriate image. Business card printing companies can help you choose an appropriate image for your business type.
Why you should never use your business card on your logo
One of the biggest challenges associated with pictures on business cards stems from the business card dimensions. The presentation of your business card matters, and given the small sizes, fitting your photo on the page may not be the best decision. The main purpose of many cards is usually to pass some contact information. Trying to fit all that information and including an image at the same time may result in overcrowding, which will make the card look less appealing.
Another reason why you should avoid including a picture is that it may result in your targeted clientele not taking you seriously enough. The use of photos on cards has tremendously increased over the years to a point where people are considering them to be too “cheesy.” You, therefore, have to be very careful to get it right; otherwise, it will be easy to compare your business cards with others, and you will be judged harshly based on the comparisons.
Another major factor that affects the outcome of your cards even if they are custom business cards is the printing technique. Over the years, text printing techniques have improved tremendously to become more advanced and better in the display. Modern-day texts can be made to look amazing using the simplest printing services. Image printing, on the other hand, has remained to be challenging and more difficult. This means that the results of your picture on the card may not be as exquisite as you like. The papers used on printing the cards play a role and add to the challenges. However, if you can have the guarantee that the printing quality will be as vibrant and attractive as you want them without affecting the display of the text, then you can go ahead to include your photo on your business card.
On the one hand, your picture makes you more familiar to your clients and increases trust, but on the other hand, it removes the mysterious aspect. While it is okay for people to know who they are dealing with. Sometimes its also good to leave it to their imagination. That way, they will not try to form opinions based on the pictures they see, which will create more room for you to make a great impression when you get to meet them. With pictures, someone can decide they don’t like what is portrayed and will not give you a chance to prove the qualities of your services or products to them.
A picture on a card can easily lead to misinterpretation of the rest of the information. If you have essential information on the card, people will only look at the image and not focus on the rest of the information. The business card size is very small, which means that people will have to strain to find the rest of the information on the space left by the picture. Trying to find a proportional balance for both the picture and the text is very difficult. Most of the space on the card will either be covered by the picture. Or by the text resulting in a disproportionate display.
Conclusion
The decision to put your picture on your business card should depend on what you want to achieve and the type of business card printing service provider you are using. If you trust them to do a great job with both the picture and the information, then you can go ahead. You have to compare all the positive and negative outcomes before you include your picture. You can still look at the business cards online options to see if you can come up with a great result.