Creating business cards - quickly and easily!
A convenient program for quickly creating and printing business cards. The full version can be purchased through the most reliable online stores. Delivery on CD is possible throughout Russia.
A very clear and convenient program for creating business cards. Before that, I tried different ways to design business cards and badges, but it was either too difficult or not enough options. But “Business Card Master” is exactly what I need!
Mikhail Morozov, Moscow
Great program! It really allows you to create a beautiful business card in a couple of minutes. The secret of success is to create your own versions of business cards based on existing templates. Special thanks for the fast technical support.
Natalya Metelskaya, Ekaterinburg
In modern society, a person constantly has to establish and maintain a large number of contacts, both personal and business. Sometimes there are so many of them that we simply do not have time to remember or write down the necessary information, or convey it to another person. In such situations, business cards come to our aid, performing representative and informational functions.
You must always remember that exchanging business cards is a kind of ceremony. Therefore, before handing your business card to anyone, you need to understand what business card etiquette means.
.First of all, the etiquette of a business card is reflected in its proper design. For example, business cards are usually characterized by a strict style and simplicity of design. An important criterion is that the paper for printing business cards must be of high quality. Basically, black and white colors are used to design business cards.
Making double-sided business cards is considered a sign of bad taste. As a rule, the reverse side is used for some kind of writing. The same can be said for a business card with corrections. A business card is your face, and in this case it will not convey anything good about its owner
.You should not hand out old, wrinkled, worn out business cards. Business card etiquette involves storing them in special business card holders. This will help maintain the quality and “marketable” appearance of the business card. It is not customary to carry business cards in trouser pockets or, for example, in the top pocket of a jacket.
Exchanging business cards is not only the transfer of information from one person to another, it is also an expression of respect for a communication partner. According to etiquette, if you are given a business card, you must provide yours in return. If a business card is not available, it will be sent as soon as possible. As a rule, a business card is given only when there is an interest in continuing contacts; you should not “force” your business card on your partner. If you do not plan to continue communication, you can use a representative business card that does not indicate any contact information. Very often, such business cards are used by celebrities and show business stars.
Business card etiquette requires careful reading of the business card you receive. This demonstrates courtesy and respect for the owner of the business card. In Asian countries, it is customary to hand over a business card with both hands and bow; this also emphasizes the respectful relationship between partners. When receiving a business card, you should say the person’s first and last name out loud (for example: “I’m very glad to meet you, Mr. Ivanov”).
The order in which business cards are exchanged depends on the position held, age, and gender.
When presenting a business card in person, generally accepted abbreviations of French words are often used. According to business card etiquette, they are written in the lower left corner of the business card.
- p.r. (Pour remercier). Expression of gratitude
- p.f. (Pour feter). Congratulations on the occasion
- p.f.c. (Pour faire connaissance). Expressing satisfaction with acquaintance
- p.f.N.A. (Pour feter Nouvel An) Happy New Year
- P.R.N.A. (pour remercier et pour feliciter le Nouvel An). Reply to Happy New Year greetings
- p.p.c. (Pour prendre congre). Farewell at final departure
- p.c. (Pour condoleance). Expression of condolences
- p.p. (Pour presenter). On the occasion of presentation through a third party.
Thus, business card etiquette largely determines the effectiveness of further interaction between partners. Therefore, the business card itself plays a huge role in establishing business contacts. In this regard, many people take a creative approach to the process of creating business cards, make a lot of effort, and show imagination. There are now many ways and technologies for this, and the availability of computers and specialized programs makes it possible
Business card- it's much more than a piece of paper. For a business person, it is the face of the company, but above all, it is your face.
Any business card left with the interlocutor creates an association with its owner. Therefore, it must be made in such a way as to evoke positive emotions in the one who looks at it. The ability to apply it correctly is no less important, so knowledge "etiquette and rules of business cards" This is no longer a goal, but a real necessity.
Basically, business cards are divided into three conventional types: personal, business and corporate.
Personal business cards
Personal business cards are used for informal communication or by those who are temporarily unemployed (the business card contains the owner’s first and last name, sometimes the phone number, position and address are not required, the style of execution is in accordance with the personal preferences of the owner).
Business cards
Business cards are used in business. Business cards must include your first and last name, position, as well as the name of the company and its type of activity. The business card design uses the company’s corporate identity, logo, etc.
Corporate business cards
As a rule, such a business card does not contain first and last names. It contains complete information about the company: field of activity, list of services, contact numbers, location map, website address, e-mail. Developed in accordance with the corporate style. Usually of an advertising nature, mainly used at exhibitions. They are often made double-sided.
We are interested in the second type of business cards, and we will consider them more carefully.
What should a business person's business card be like?
It is better that the size of the business card is standard. The CIS has adopted a standard of 90x50 mm, and it is better if the information is placed horizontally (vertical business cards irritate some people, because they need to be turned over to read them). In some cases, business card rules allow high-ranking managers to use business cards measuring 100x60 mm. But in any case, the business card should not be larger than 10x6 cm, because... won't fit in a business card holder.
The business card font should be easy to read; you should avoid complex decorative fonts and italics.
If there is a logo, it should be in the upper left corner. In rare cases, instead of the logo, the business card may contain a photograph of the owner.
Typically, business cards are printed in the language of the country in which the owner lives. If you are traveling to another country, then the business card must be printed in the language of the host country. In business practice, it is acceptable to print in English, which is considered to be an international language.
Sometimes bilingual cards are made, for example: in Russian, and on the back - in English. This is not to say that this is unacceptable, but if possible, it is better to pay a little extra and order yourself two versions of business cards.
The business card should only contain the necessary information. A business card should not be overly provocative or bright: no frames or patterns. Recently, printing houses have been offering very wide color gamuts, producing cards on plastic, metal, veneer, leather, etc. But the rules of business card etiquette are quite strict, and it is not recommended to stray far from black and white.
It is better to focus your attention on choosing high-quality paper, the density of which should be at least 300 g/m2. The paper can be slightly tinted and have a satin surface. Avoid glossy surfaces of cards, as... It is impossible to make any recordings on them.
Exchange of business cards
The initiative to present a business card should come from a junior in status. If the status is identical, the youngest in age gives first. The business card is presented so that the person can read it immediately. When presenting, it is recommended to clearly introduce yourself out loud. The person who receives the business card must look at it, but not for long, and be sure to say the name of the person who presented it. These could be simply words of gratitude: “Thank you, Alexander!” or “Very nice, Natalia Petrovna!”
If you are in your office, then it is convenient to store business cards in a business card holder standing on the table - you can easily and quickly remove the card from it for presentation. If the meeting does not take place on your territory, then the business card can be in an easily accessible place, for example, in a jacket pocket.
Before the meeting, it is better to prepare a business card in advance so as not to look for it for half an hour in your wallet or bag.
During negotiations, you should put the cards in front of you, arranging them in the same order in which the partners are sitting.
Some business card etiquette rules
- You cannot hand over a business card if you are sitting at the same time.
The business card is given in person, but sometimes you can send it by courier as a sign of respect, with a gift or a bouquet of flowers.
Under no circumstances should you crumple other people's business cards, make notes on them, or twirl them in your hands in front of the owner. This is perceived as a sign of disrespect. If you do not find your partner in the office, leave your business card with the secretary by folding the upper right corner and then straightening it. The fold indicates that you personally left the business card, and this is perceived as a sign of the greatest respect and respect.
The card can also be delivered by courier, but in this case it will not be folded.
- It is considered a gross violation of etiquette if a courier or driver is assigned to get a card with a bent corner.
- You can enter a new phone number on an old business card to replace the outdated one, but under no circumstances cross out or enter the changed status (position). To do this, it is better to order new business cards.
Don't skimp on matches!
You can make a business card yourself. Now there are many free programs that can simplify this procedure. But it is better to entrust this to the professionals who do this. Usually in such companies, there are many different types of paper and ready-made designs. This way, you can easily choose the appropriate design style and understand what your business card will look like.
It’s better not to do it at all than to print a homemade business card. Keep in mind that inkjet printer ink tends to smear when exposed to moisture, and classic laser printer powder is only good for documents, but does not have the desired durability when used on business cards. This is not a rule, but it is better to use specialized inks that are used in the relevant printing houses.
The cost of printing one business card usually decreases in proportion to the circulation. However, you should not print too many business cards - the information placed on them may become outdated, and you will have to make edits manually or order new ones.
1. The General Director must always have at least 10 business cards.
Check your partners urgently!
Do you know that during an audit, tax authorities can cling to any suspicious fact about a counterparty? Therefore, it is very important to check those with whom you work. Today you can receive free information about your partner’s past inspections, and most importantly, a list of identified violations!
2. Men carry business card holders in their briefcase or in the top pocket of their jacket. Business cards should not be placed in the back pocket of trousers or the breast pocket of a shirt (however, nothing should be carried in these pockets at all). Women carry business card holders in their purses.
3. You need to give and receive business cards with your right hand.
4. Hand the business card so that the interlocutor can read it immediately (that is, the text should be upside down for you).
5. When giving the card, say your first and last name.
6. You cannot bend or crumple the card or make notes on it in front of the owner of the business card.
Want to learn about other important business etiquette rules? Sign up for .
What does the paper say?
Irina Mikhaleva, creative director of visual marketing department WIN2WIN Communications
What is the first thing people pay attention to when they first pick up a business card? Many, without hesitation, will answer that it’s design. More sophisticated ones - on the font. In fact, even before looking for the logo and reading the name of the interlocutor, a person on a subconscious level manages to evaluate the quality of the paper on which the business card is printed. This is a very important point that often goes unnoticed: a properly selected paper can tell almost more about the company and its products or services than all the text typed on it.
If you look at the exemplary business cards of large world-famous companies, you will find that they have a lot in common. In the vast majority of cases, they are printed on thick, high-white paper in the format 5 x 9 cm, less often - 5.5 x 8.5 cm. The color logo and black text, typed in a corporate font, are usually duplicated on the reverse side in English. You will not find on these business cards either highly artistic embossing, or gilding, or a breathtaking design, in the usual sense - all colors and proportions, down to the smallest distance between letters, are thought out at the stage of creating a corporate identity, and no deviation from the rules is provided for in the guidelines even for the CEO. Successful companies understand like no other that a business card is primarily a business accessory, and not a space for creative experiments.
Another thing is medium-sized businesses and, first of all, creative brands: in their case, the use of designer paper may be quite appropriate. However, first of all, it’s worth thinking about: what can this or that paper tell about the company? The velvety, pleasant-to-touch surface of the “tachkover” is well suited for a beauty salon or a store of precious fabrics, but it will look ridiculous in the context of a brick factory or a transport company. A women's accessories store can quite successfully use paper with the effect of crocodile skin, but, for example, for a terrarium such a solution would look very doubtful.
Dunkin’ Donuts found an interesting solution: slightly deviating from the strict rules, they created a memorable business card without going beyond the boundaries of business style. The paper is a light warm shade that evokes associations with milk foam on the surface of a latte or cappuccino, and to enhance the “coffee” effect, all text is typed in brown. Another successful example that recently caught my eye is a business card of a private photographer, printed on craft paper. It is made as simple as possible - a name, contacts, a small icon - and brings back memories of retro film cameras and thick envelopes in which printed photographs were issued in photo studios. If I wanted to order a traditional photo album, I think I would try to contact this artist - precisely because of the business card.
Irina Denisova has 13 years of experience in conducting seminars and trainings in the field of business culture (business ethics and etiquette, telephone conversations, working with clients, etc.). Author of articles, participant in TV shows dedicated to business culture. Clients: Alfa Bank, International Moscow Bank (IMB), Siberian Coal and Energy Company (SUEK), Pipe Metallurgical Company (TMK), holdings Adamas, Askon, Granul, Lukoil, Soyuzkontrakt, LLC TD Evrazholding, companies Denta Class, Croc, Ligget-Dukat, Mega-F, Moskabelmet, Pan Sportsman, Gedeon Richter. She took part in the development of ethical codes for Watson Telecom (Ukraine), a network of travel agencies “1001 Tour”.
Business cards came into use in our lives several centuries ago. After so many years, they have changed greatly not only externally, but also functionally. Today, business cards can be divided into personal, family and business. The most popular, of course, are business ones.
Business cards and the ability to use them are not only a means of information, but also evidence of the solidity and prestige of an entrepreneur. However, in addition to beautifully designed and high-quality printed pieces of paper, people forget or are completely unaware of the basic rules of etiquette that should be followed when giving, receiving or sending business cards.
Agree that it is not pleasant to watch when someone gives you a crumpled business card, or when your card is put away in your trouser pocket. What does it mean if you are handed a business card with the upper right corner bent? It is difficult to cover all possible rules in one article, but I tried to compile the basic ones that every self-respecting person should know into 25 points.
So, 25 rules of business card etiquette:
1. The exchange of business cards is carried out strictly according to ranking, starting with the most senior members of the delegation. If the partners are at the same official level, the youngest in age hands over the business card first.
2. If you are meeting in your office, etiquette obliges you to be the first to hand over a business card, since the hosts do this first.
3. A representative of the stronger sex must be the first to present a business card to a woman.
4. When presenting a business card, say your last name out loud so that your partner can pronounce it without errors. When presented, the business card is turned to be read, which indicates courtesy and attention to the recipient.
5. When accepting a business card, read the partner’s first/last name out loud and understand his position.
6. During negotiations, you should put the cards in front of you, arranging them in the same order in which the partners are sitting.
7. A business card without an address does not comply with the norms of etiquette; the only exceptions to this rule are cards of diplomats and senior government officials.
8. On a business card, you can carefully cross out old phone numbers and enter new ones, but writing a new job title on it is considered bad form. Although, it is customary to avoid any corrections.
9. If you did not find your business partner in the office, then leave your business card with the secretary, bending the upper right corner and then straightening it. Such a bend indicates that you personally left a business card, and this is perceived as a sign of the greatest respect and respect. The card can also be delivered by courier or driver, but in this case the corner is not folded. It is considered a gross violation of etiquette if a courier or driver is assigned to carry a folded card.
10. If you send business cards for several people at once in one envelope addressed to a company, then in the upper left corner of each of them write the name of the person to whom it is intended.
11. It is not forbidden to look at the business card of your interlocutor during a conversation with him, because That's why business cards are needed, to remind us of the necessary information.
12. It is not customary to make notes on a given business card in front of its owner.
13. If you wish to write anything on the blank back side by hand, remember: all inscriptions about yourself should be written in the third person.
14. The business cards of the secretary and the general director must differ from each other, for example, in the quality of paper, size or execution technique.
15. You can send both your old and new business card to your business partner - this is done when you want to inform about changes in address, phone number, etc.
16. Business cards of sellers and service sector employees may be offered to visitors. In this case, visitors take them themselves. In other cases, the card is given to the interlocutor during a face-to-face or correspondence meeting.
17. It is not customary to carry business cards in the pockets of trousers, jeans, or jackets. There should be a special business card holder for business cards. If you don’t have a business card holder at hand, you can put the card in your wallet or folder.
18. Business cards are not handed out during meals (with the exception of a business meeting in a restaurant)
19. Business cards received by mail or delivered must also be responded to with business cards within 24 hours.
20. When sending a personal or family business card to a married woman or a married man, you must give it in two copies (to her and her husband/him and his wife).
21. A person can design personal cards in any way he likes, even put his photograph on it. When ordering a family card, you should remember that the wife’s name must appear ahead of the husband’s name.
22. As a rule, a woman’s business card does not indicate her home address, but only a telephone number.
23. Under no circumstances should you crumple other people’s business cards, make notes on them, or twirl them in your hands in front of the owner. This is perceived as a sign of disrespect.
24. When exchanging business cards with foreign partners, do not make double-sided business cards, because such an act may be regarded as the inconsistency of the person presenting this card.
25. Many localities and countries have their own national preferences. For example, in Italy business cards in the form of books are popular, in England - vertical cards, in Japan there is a whole ceremony for presenting business cards, etc. When choosing a style, it is not recommended to move too far from these generally accepted traditions.
As Marina Matveeva, manager of the printing company Global Marketing, explained to us, although in Russia the standard size of a business card is 9 x 5 cm, many business cards of the European style (8.5 x 5.5 cm) are also used along with them. Of course, you can order yourself a card that barely fits into your pocket, but it will quickly get lost, since it will not be stored with the others.
The text should be readable: straight black letters on a white background - and no Gothic fonts, italics or script. Avoid playing with color. This is not a table for testing the eyesight of railway workers. A rich palette is allowed only in the company logo. “The full name is always printed a little larger and bolder than the rest of the text,” says Marina. Especially if the surname is rare and difficult to pronounce the first time (for example, Ivanov).
If using only bold font is not enough for you, individual parts of the text can be highlighted with foil stamping, embossing (convex printing) and thermal rise (volumetric letters rising 0.5-1 mm above the surface of the card). Choose one. Eclecticism will turn a business card into a vinaigrette, and it will cost more.
Don’t try to squeeze all your personal information and short biography into the limited space of a cardboard rectangle. Information should be limited to your name, position, place of work, telephone numbers and email for contact. However, if you hope that your business card will be read, nominated for the Booker, and subsequently filmed, you can even publish it in two volumes and provide a table of contents and cross-references.
At one time it was customary to write the address of the company’s website in order to show that the company keeps pace with modern trends. Nowadays it is no longer necessary to do this, unless your company does web design, etc.
Remember the abbreviations that are used when sending a business card and are written in the lower left corner. The abbreviations are borrowed from French, so you will have to leave the translation on the back or explain in advance what it all means.
a.c. (avec compliment) - greeting. Attached to a bouquet of flowers, a gift, or a suspicious ticking package left in a watch store.
p.r. (pour remercier) - an expression of gratitude. Thank you that you can put in your pocket.
p.f. (pour fete) - expression of best wishes. Usually sent on the occasion of a birthday, when there is no time to look for a greeting card.
When you don't find your owners at home, it is customary to leave a business card with the upper left corner bent. (If the owners of the house, but the bastards, do not open the door, the corner of the door is bent. Or the business card is chewed and the lock becomes clogged with the resulting paper pulp. However, the last two tips are optional and not mandatory.)