Despite businesses moving online, automation changing the face of companies, and virtual networking events becoming more commonplace, business cards seem to be one aspect of the professional world that is determined to stick around. From small businesses to large corporations, workers carry these cards around as a way to share their contact information and to promote their services wherever they are ‒ be it at a meeting, a trade show, a lunch-and-learn seminar, the grocery store, or the gym!

Your business card is often the only thing your connections will have after you’ve parted ways, so ensuring that they provide clear, concise information about the benefits of your business and services is imperative.

Whether working at a school, hospital, or doctor’s office or in their own practice, Health Coaches are part of the larger business ecosystem. Business cards play an important part in the marketing of your skills and expertise, and they can help make a lasting impression on potential clients.

Eight Tips for Designing a Health Coach Business Card

There are many services that can design and print your business cards for you, but your main goal is to stand out. Using a template makes things simpler but can often make your information forgettable. Don’t worry—you don’t have to be a graphic designer to create your own business card! These eight tips can help you get started.

1. Feature your logo

Your logo represents your business and serves as a way to communicate who you are and what you believe in. When designing your logo, try not to make it too busy or cluttered, since the design will be relatively small when printed on your business card.

If you’re not design savvy, working with a professional is one place you can splurge. After all, your logo represents you and your business – you want it to be as strong as possible. Independent designers on websites like Fiverr and Upwork can offer relatively inexpensive logo design services. It’s recommended to feature your logo (at least) prominently on the back of your business card, to remind the recipient of your company.

2. Don’t be afraid to use color

Color can help you convey your brand without a single word of type. In home design, the 60-30-10 rule is timeless, and also translates to business card design, with the following recommendations:

• The main color of your card should cover 60% of the surface. This is often your background color. It’s typically white, but it can be black, green, blue, gray, or any color that fits your brand and your personal style.
• The next 30% of your card should be your secondary color. This is usually the color of your type. Again, this is typically black or white, but any color that contrasts with your main color will work.
• The last 10% is your accent color. This should be an eye-catching hue and different from your main and secondary colors. This can be done with graphics or with your logo.

Colors play on our psyche and can evoke certain emotions; they can influence how people react to your business card. See below for colors and what they communicate.

• Red: Courage, strength, passion
• Orange: Passion, urgency, creativity
• Yellow: Confidence, energy, positivity
• Green: Harmony, growth, prosperity
• Blue: Security, loyalty, honesty
• Purple: Spirituality, enlightenment, wisdom

3. Keep it legible

Legibility isn’t just for handwriting. Since business cards are rather small, making sure they’re easy to read is key. Plus streamlined, easy-to-read typefaces provide a clean, polished look.

Your choice of font can also convey branding intent. For example, serif fonts (where letters have tails, like Times New Roman) are considered more formal. Sans serif fonts (where letters don’t have tails, like Arial) have a more casual vibe. Choose the typeface that speaks to you, but make sure you (and your target demographic) can read it!

4. Utilize white space

“White space” doesn’t have to literally mean white space, it can be any color. All it means is that not every inch of your business card has to contain information. Allowing there to be separation between design elements can help make what is included easier to comprehend. White space is a great tool to balance design elements and better organize content. Don’t bombard your recipient with information –include only what’s most important for them to know.

5. Include your contact information

This may seem like a no-brainer, but giving others your contact information is the whole point of business cards! Your contact details can include the following, when applicable:

• Your full name
• Your title
• Name of the business
• Phone number
• Website
• Business address
• Business email
• Social media accounts

You can also include your business’s tagline, if you’ve got one. If you’re completely virtual (like online Health Coaches), adding professional social media accounts shows a more personal side to your business.

6. Explore card materials and finishes

Business cards come in every paper weight (or thickness), size, shape, finish, and texture imaginable. Cards made with heavier-weight paper are less flexible and can provide a more luxurious feel, but they’re more expensive. The same goes for textured cards ‒ which may interfere with how your design looks once they’re printed.

7. Proofread, then proofread again

Your business cards are the first (and potentially last) impression potential clients will have of you; be sure to leave them with the feeling that you’re a professional. Proofreading is a simple step that can prevent things like spelling errors, which could keep clients from contacting you. Better yet, find a friend or family member to proofread – they may catch mistakes you won’t!

8. Be creative and let your authentic self shine through

Unlike résumés and cover letters, business cards allow you to express your creativity and individuality. Get creative! Business cards don’t have to be traditional. Instead of paper, they can be refrigerator magnets, chip clips, or bookmarks. Using an unconventional medium can help you stand out from the crowd. And because these are more interactive, they’re more likely to get used – and read – again and again. More exposure can lead to more clients and referrals.

The Bottom Line

Business cards shouldn’t be an afterthought when planning your health coaching marketing strategy. They should be carefully crafted, with the purpose of spreading your message and promoting your business. When done right, business cards are a powerful marketing tool!