Unless you and your buddies are going to sit around a table, American Psycho style, and compare the subtle qualities that differentiate your business cards from everyone else’s, ask yourself why you have or need a business card.

I’m saying this, because, after watching a video of an extremely obnoxious guy explain why all business cards are crap (with the exception of his of course), I started to research business card best practices, design tips, examples of memorable business cards, and so on. My plan was to come up with several solid, universal guidelines that people could follow when preparing to design their own. However, after scanning a plethora of websites saturated with do’s and don’ts, design tips and lists of things to include on them, I started to wonder if people get so wrapped up in the design and creative appeal of business cards that they forget the actual purpose of having them.

Your business card should serve a purpose – the end goal you want to accomplish. Ultimately, the design and what you choose to include on your business card will vary based on that purpose. Is your business card meant to simply exchange contact information, exhibit your design talent, create tone for your business, be something that will be collected and remembered, attach a name to a face, etc?

Once you determine the purpose of your business card, all the other elements will fall into place. Then, the only thing left to do is to find a quality printer that will turn your concept into reality.

What is the purpose of your business card? Does everybody need them?