Creating a business card is not as simple as one might think. There are numerous different styles, designs and layouts and any type of type of business card can be created. For my personal business card, I want a card that looks very professional. At first glance, 1 want the person reading my card to get the strong impression of professionalism . Health care is serious business and I want my card to portray a strong sense of that seriousness. I also want my card to portray the sense of competency and quality. These are crucial elements in this type of practice.

A casual or sloppy card could forfeit a client's business before it even starts. A business card may be a client's first encounter with a professional's practice and since first impressions are significant impressions, they are extremely important. A carefully designed business card can "tell" a lot about a practice in a very small space, and therefore, needs to be carefully prepared.

Before beginning to work on my card, I looked through about 30 different business cards my husband happened to have. I also reviewed several books on advertising paying particular attention to the following terms: layout styles, design principles, balance, contrast, movement, proportion, unity, slogans, body copy, copy style, graphic styles, content, and objective. While keeping these ideas in mind, I created the above card.

I began my card with my name and titles. I want the client to know exactly who I am and what I am. Even if a person does not know exactly what all the titles stand for, they should get the idea that I am a well educated individual and have worked hard to attain these titles. I then clarified exactly what my role is. Most people, by now, have heard of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, and at this point of reading my card, they should have a very good idea of what I am about.

My slogan in the middle also continues to clarify for the client what I do and how I can be of service to them. "Specializing in Advanced Practice Nursing" tells them what I am doing in my practice, and "Health care for you and your family" is an attempt to be more personal and also an attempt to give the impression that a wide variety of services are available. Lastly, I've given my place of employment, address and phone number for obvious reasons. I was able to find a Community Health Care Systems seal which I taped on. I do like the look of an emblem or seal on a business card and I feel that it adds a certain quality to the overall look of a card. I chose the color navy for my print. It is a classic color, still professional-looking, but less formal than black.

Ernst, S. (1979). The Creative Package - A Working Text for Advertising Copy and Layout. Ohio: Grid, Inc.

Another example of a students card


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