A business card won’t win you a job. But it could lose you one. Here are 10 common business card mistakes to avoid:

1. Typos

Nobody in their right mind is going to hire a “Safety Professoinal.” In safety, as in most endeavors, attention to detail is critical. So, for heaven’s sake, proofread your business card before you print out hundreds of copies and distribute it to the world.

2. Cheap Paper

Low-quality paper stock, warns Entrepeneur magazine, may save you money, but it often leaves you with a card that feels cheap. Touch is an important sense and plays a role in memory recall.

3. Too Many Fonts

Like Mark says, overdoing the design elements will distract from your brand. Using more than one font is a perfect example.

4. Gray On White

Gray print on a white background is a retina burner. Business cards must be visually crisp and easy to read.

5. Oversized Cards

Supersizing is great for McDonald’s. But business cards have to fit into a wallet or Rolodex. Anything bigger than 3.5” x 2,” and you’re asking for trouble.

6. Picture Cards

I read this one on a blog: “Don’t buy those color business cards with your face on them. You’re not a real estate agent, so there’s no sense acting like one.” Amen, brother.

7. Metal Business Cards

There are some things that just never should have been invented—car air fresheners shaped like pine trees, bacon burritos, Chia-Pets and metal business cards.

8. Big Type for Address and Contact Info

Make sure the contact information is big enough to read but don’t make it the visual focus.

9. Clutter

Mark says it best. The business card is not a resume. Cramming in too much information is distracting and makes you look unfocused.

10. Too Much Color

A little color can be quite effective as a means of emphasizing key information. Research studies show that color is important to memory recall. But use the device sparingly. Use just one extra color—no rainbows. And stay away from fluorescents and other super bright colors that look unprofessional.

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