There are only 2 ways to go.

You can have a vertical business card... or you can have a horizontal one.

(Okay I know some people undoubtedly have circle, and other odd shaped business cards -- but you stay out of this debate!)

There's no question which is the more common orientation. But which is better?

Surely, there's no absolute answer. It depends on what you're looking for... the quantity and layout of your copy... and other factors. So rather than declaring an outright winner, let's take a look at why vertical business cards are a very attractive option.

The benefits of vertical business cards

The key advantage of vertical business cards is quite simply that they stand out very well. They make an instant impression that -- all things equal, of course -- is difficult for horizontal cards to compete with.

Why?

Simple. Because vertical business cards are MUCH less common. That's not to say that there aren't plenty of people who have them. After all, there are a lot more people who have vertical business cards than say, chocolate business cards, 3D cards, or other unusual or unique materials. But when you compare them to traditional, run of the mill, horizontal cards, there's no question which stands out.

Which is why, chances are, your vertical business card will get a deeper once over. (Even if it's just because you hand it to someone a little differently)

The other benefit of vertical business cards is the fact that they are generally NO more expensive than horizontal cards. That may not seem like a big deal, but you'd be surprised just how much of a premium you might pay to stand out in other ways. Those chocolate business cards I mentioned a second ago? A couple bucks a piece in most cases. Foil accent? Be ready to cough up some extra bones.

But... go ahead, these vertical business cards are yours for the taking.

On some websites, all you have to do is click a button and they show you all of their vertical designs.

Which brings me to...

The downside of vertical business cards

If you're not a graphic designer and you're relying on the templates you can find online, there's no doubt about it. The selection of vertical designs is smaller. In some cases, just plain small. You might have to do some more searching to find a design that's right for you.

The other potential issue is that it might be a bit more challenging to layout your copy on a vertical business card. That's because you're working with 2 inches of width, rather than 3.5 inches. In other words, website addresses, taglines, and some other content might be a little tighter.

A big deal? Not really.

In fact, the downsides aren't really much of a problem at all. Like everyone else who wants a vertical design, you'll make do.

After all, it's a pretty small price to pay for a business card that automatically stands out a bit better. Wouldn't you agree?

Alan Saltz