Vertical Business Cards – Better Than Horizontal?
There are only 2 ways to go. You can have a vertical business card…or you can have a horizontal business card. (Okay, I know some people definitely have circles and other oddly shaped business cards, but stay out of this debate!)
There is no doubt which is the most common orientation. But which one is better? Surely, there is no absolute answer. It depends on what you’re looking for… the amount and layout of your copy… and other factors. So instead of declaring an outright winner, let’s take a look at why vertical business cards are such a compelling option.
The benefits of vertical business cards:
The main advantage of vertical business cards is simply that they stand out very well. They give an instant impression that, other things being equal, of course, it’s hard to compete with horizontal cards. Why? Easy. Because vertical business cards are MUCH less common. That’s not to say there aren’t a lot of people who have them. After all, there are far more people who have vertical business cards than, say, chocolate business cards, 3D cards, or other unusual or one-of-a-kind materials. But when you compare them to the run-of-the-mill, traditional horizontal cards, there’s no question which one stands out.
That’s why your vertical business card will most likely get deeper. (Even if it’s just because you give it to someone a little differently)
The other benefit of vertical business cards is the fact that they are generally NOT more expensive than horizontal cards. It might not seem like a big deal, but you’d be surprised at the premium you could pay to stand out in other ways. Those chocolate business cards I mentioned a second ago? a couple of dollars one piece In most cases. Foil accent? Prepare to cough up some extra bones.
But… go ahead, these vertical business cards are yours. On some websites, all you have to do is click a button and they show you all their vertical layouts. Which brings me to…
The downside of vertical business cards
If you’re not a graphic designer and rely on templates you can find online, no question about it. The selection of vertical layouts is smaller. In some cases, just small. You may have to search a little further to find a design that’s right for you.
The other potential issue is that it might be a bit more difficult to style your copy on a vertical card. That’s because you’re working with 2 inches of width, instead of 3.5 inches. In other words, website addresses, slogans, and some other content can be a bit stricter.
A big problem? Not really. In fact, the disadvantages are not really a big deal. Like everyone else who wants a vertical layout, you’ll get by. After all, that’s a pretty low price to pay for a business card that automatically stands out a little better. Wouldn’t you agree?