How much information belongs on a business card?

Good card content is ruthlessly edited, so the front carries only what a stranger needs and the back handles the rest.

• Build a clear hierarchy so the eye moves from name to contact without effort.
• Ask what the recipient must grasp in three seconds, and make that your front side; everything else moves to the back or gets cut.
• Let your industry decide the extras: corporate professionals lead with credentials and a direct line, creative freelancers with a portfolio link and minimal supporting text.
• Add a specific call to action, like Scan for a free quote or Book at yoursite.com, so the card points to a single action.
• Pair sharp copy with a premium stock; cards that get kept keep marketing for you long after the handshake.
• Proofread every character before you send the file, since a typo prints a thousand times.