Decide on a concept

Your card should reflect your image. You may prefer a straightforward design with a logo and contact information. If you're in a creative field, you'll need to show some personality on your card. In other professional industries, such as real estate, a photograph may be appropriate.

I recommend: Check out business cards online gallery to see how other companies like yours have designed their cards or swipe a design idea from "The Best of Business Card Design 6".

Include all the details

Your business card design should include all of the information you want your clients to have, but beware of making the card look like the fine print of a credit card. It seems obvious, but oftentimes the business card is the first thing that small business owners set up, before they have a physical address, website or email address.

I recommend: For a comprehensive checklist of what to include on your card, take a peek at magazinedesign.weblogsinc.com or check out tips from marketing coach Veronika Noize. Before you print business cards, take the quiz "How does your card rank?"

Design and print business cards online

There are hundreds of online print shops that produce high-quality cards with a fast turnaround.

I recommend: One of the easiest business card printing services to navigate, gotprint.com, provides ten templates to let you design business cards online and insert your own logo. Designyourowncard.com also lets you design business cards online with different fonts and ink colors.  If you want to take care of your business card printing locally, you can design with Microsoft Publisher.  Find more business printing services at Business.com.

Don't forget about the back in business card printing

Print business cards on both sides to add marketing messages, directions, coupons and more.

I recommend: Get ideas for the back of your card at greatfxbusinesscards.com and businesscarddesign.com.  You can also order a custom logo online.

Look for free business cards online

You’ve probably seen the offers for 250 free business cards online. There may be a catch: The back sides of free business cards may carry advertisements for business card printing services.

I recommend: Compare offers for free business cards online at free-business-card.org or try the free offer from business card printing services giant VistaPrint.

Be sure they keep it

Even the most beautiful business card design is useless if people toss the card in the trash.

I recommend: Discover what makes people hang on to business cards and what you can do to make sure they keep yours at greatfxbusinesscards.com.

Consider a digital card

In these days of ever-accelerating technology, cutting-edge self-promotion options, like mini CD's, are becoming increasingly popular.

I recommend: Check out Business.com's digital business cards listings for links to vendors.