If not interested in doing design yourself, there are online services that will aid in card construction, but possibly with some limitations on design, stock or color. You can probably get box of 250 for under $20, depending on finish.

• Vistaprint
• 123print.com
• Loads of others (Google "business card printers")

If interested in controlling design, create multiple versions in almost any software and e-mail to above printers, or to local Staples. Using local printer has the advantage of getting proofs of card just right before printing off a box. Sometimes the designs don't come out exactly as you might think (e.g. spacing, font sizes slightly off, centering etc.)

• Staples

If unsure about what design & printer to use, consider pros and cons of design and who to go to:

• Business card printing comments

• If unsure about what design to use, make several variations and share samples with friends who would be typical of who might hire you.

• If traditional job in corporate environment then a simple, uncluttered conservative design is probably best. Remember, you're networking card is uniquely you since there is no employer logo or standard design to use.

• Consider putting some simple messaging on the card to create "memory hooks" with contacts. Two or three bullets tops, 2-4 words max that are most germane to your professional profile.

• 4 factors affect look & effectiveness of design:

  1. Amount of info;
  2. Focal arrangement of the information;
  3. Messaging clarity;
  4. Cosmetics of font and color of print & stock

Sample business card formats are shared here. They are generally conservative, business style. These may not be the best depending on certain fields where more creativity and 'artfulness' should be shown off a little bit. Generally speaking, though, in most business settings, the simpler, the better. All of these styles were created in Powerpoint, but could just as easily been produced in MS Word, Photoshop or other software packages. The purpose here is to stimulate some thinking on basic designs.