Tips for a Business Card That Means Business

1. Choose a nice cardstock that exudes quality. Don’t skimp on the paper. A card that looks and feels professional gives people confidence in you.

2. Make the card memorable with color or artwork so that it’s easy to find shuffling through a pile.

3. Be as clear as possible about your business. So many cards leave you scratching your head! What kind of business is this? How you are different from the competition? Attorneys, accountants, financial planners, etc. should specify a specialty if they have one. Incorporate your slogan if you have one.

4. Card should match the profession. A very creative card that’s perfect for a graphic artist or web designer might be totally inappropriate for a lawyer or CPA.

5. Don’t overwhelm with information. The card should have just the necessary facts. People can go to your website (address on the card) for more information, or learn more when they meet with you.

6. Branding should be consistent across all marketing materials. Your business card should include your logo and have similar colors and graphics as your website and any brochures.

7. Consider carefully whether to put your address on the business card if you work at home. There are times you will not want to give out your address. Perhaps have two sets of cards, with and without, for different needs. A post office box is an alternative, but to some people it suggests that this is a company with no roots that can vanish at any moment, so perhaps not a good idea.

8. Use separate cards for radically different product lines. You will confuse people otherwise.

9. Make it easy to file. Unusual shapes and sizes are hard for someone to save and are often discarded.

10. Leave the back open so people can make notes. Print only one side (or leaves lots of blank space on the back). Non-gloss surface on the back of the card for easy writing (you can get a card glossy on the front and dull on the back).

11. Your picture on the card makes it easier for someone to relate your name to your face. But only if the picture actually looks like you!

Bring lots of cards to meetings. Nothing marks you as an amateur more than saying “I forgot my business cards.” This is the cheapest form of advertising for your business. Give people two cards – “one for you and one for a friend who might need my product or service.” That works sometimes.

Exchange cards at the end of the networking conversation. “Well, it was nice talking to you. Give me your card, and let’s get together for coffee or lunch and get to know each other better.”

Follow etiquette in the exchange of cards. Take a moment to look at the card you are handed and acknowledge receipt. When giving someone your card, present it to them with intention, making sure it is facing them so that they can see your card as you pass it to them.