If you are in the construction business, as with any other, your business card may be the first thing that makes an impression – good or bad – on potential clients. Your design and your message may well determine whether your card is thrown away or kept for future use. Check your company’s business card. You can learn from a short questionnaire whether your business card will be kept or thrown away.

Will your business card fit in a standard wallet? If not, it will more easily be trashed. If the paper is of high quality in weight and coloring, it will be more likely kept than a cheap card. If your ink runs on your card when you drip water on it, it will likely end up in someone’s trash. This is particularly important with your construction business cards, as they are more likely to be exposed to the elements than in other industries!

Your business card design should show color, but not too much color. Cards with more than three colors (not including photographs) and cards made from black and white will be trashed. Your message design should tell people plainly what you do, and suggest a benefit of using your product or service. If there is no message, potential buyers or clients may throw your card away.

The images on your business card should match what you do. Clip art that doesn’t have anything to do with your business will result in a trashed card. Check your font size, too. Your card should have some white spacing, so that potential clients can have a chance to absorb the message you send. Don’t use print that is too big for the card or print that is so small that it’s hard to see.

Your contact information on your business card should show as many ways to contact you as you have. Some people would rather use email instead of voice mail. Give them as many choices as you can, and check your email and voice mail for recent contacts.

Your business card can make or break your chance at a good first impression. Get the best cards you can, since this card may well introduce your company to potential clients.