Business Cards
Two-Sided, or not Two-Sided - That is the question...
Dear Monkeys
I’m setting up a new accountancy business and looking at business card designs. But I can’t choose between single or double-sided cards – what do you suggest?
Jason, Gloucester
Dear Jason
It sounds like a simple choice, but actually you’ve hit on an age-old debate - and designers have many a handbag fight over this hot potato! So let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons, and you can decide from there…
The downside of double-sided
Extra printing costs – ink doesn’t grow on trees, so a stingy printer could charge you buckets for a two-sided card.
No space for networking notes – do you want people to jot down stuff about you? Not bitchy stuff like your tie’s a bit gawdy, but things like when to follow up. Printing on the back can make this a tough one. (By the way, glossy coatings can make it impossible!)
Confusion for business card filing systems – there are filing and scanning systems that ignore the back of your card. So whatever you do, don’t put any vital information on the back – make sure the card is still useable when only the front is visible.