SMEs 'need good-quality business cards'

Contact numbers, email addresses and the quality of materials used all need to be taken into consideration when designing a business card, it has been suggested.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are unaware of the significance of having business card printers produce a good-quality product.

This is according to new research from virtual office provider Davinci Virtual, which revealed SMEs "often overlook the importance of getting the right messages onto their business cards".

A survey of the company's clients revealed one of the biggest mistakes is not including a landline contact number on a business card, as these create a positive image for an enterprise by implying "longevity, stability [and] security".

Other common errors include using email addresses that feature only the first name of the individual, which implies the business is very small and has few employees.

Steve Holding, general manager of Davinci Virtual, also urged firms to take note of the quality of card used by their business card printer, as "thin, shiny" material implies they were cheaply made.

About.com blogger Jacci Bear recently urged enterprises to ensure the items are not treated as a resume and filled with unnecessary information.