Business cards can say a great deal about your business, and that’s true for both their design and the information they display. They are often the first impression someone has of your business - a lot of responsibility for a small piece of paper.

Here are some easy tips from Cathy Berman, director of marketing (international) at digital print company MOO, to help you create the perfect business card:

Keep it brief: Filter through the information and make sure to only include what is necessary. Name, company, title and website are great details to include. But what about phone number, email, and social handles? This becomes a bit trickier because, while being reachable is important, it is best to focus on methods of communication that are actively used. So, if you always check Twitter but never answer the phone, skip the phone number and include your Twitter handle. To keep it easy to use, it’s best to keep all the information on one side.

Be memorable: The first impression business cards make should be positive and memorable. So, with all the important details on one side, the other is left to make an impression. What this looks like (photo or illustration, perhaps?) can really depend on the personality, business, industry and more.

From photographers and designers to potters and jewellery makers, businesses can use their cards to showcase some of their best work.

Don’t overlook quality: Once again, this goes back to first impressions. Should a first impression come from a flimsy, poorly printed card? No, it shouldn’t! This doesn’t mean spending hundreds of dollars on 10 cards, but it’s important to remember that quality and attention to detail are very important. It might also be a great idea to request free sample cards before purchasing to see the quality first-hand.

Ditch the gimmicks: While business cards should be memorable, it’s also important not to go overboard. For example, although hand-crafted, hand-written business cards can seem like a good idea, they aren’t very practical and sometimes might be too hard to read. Similarly, a bit of humour might be good, but too much can lead to a sense of unprofessionalism - cards often need to cater to many different audiences.

Cathy Berman is the director of marketing (international) and global ecommerce at MOO.