Business Cards - Small but Mighty
Business Cards - Small but Mighty
They weigh less than 1/4 of an ounce.
They cost about a nickel or a dime.
And they pack a powerful punch!
They are business cards, and they are your most effective, least expensive form of advertising. You can (and should!) carry them with you daily, on the ground and in the air. They are your omnipresent marketing tools.
Because business cards frequently create your first impression when handed out, mailed or shared by someone you met. Because they also have permanence, your business cards need to be designed with as much detail as you give to your personal image. After all, they represent your corporate image.
The initial image people consciously and unconsciously conjure up about your business card is based on design, color and stock type and weight. Even though you may currently work for someone else, you undoubtedly will have the opportunity some time in your career to design your own card or help a family member or friend.
Use the following guidelines:
1. Make it attractive and pleasing to the eye. While computers and software packages can make desktop publishers out of almost anybody, there’s real merit in hiring an experienced graphic designer to give your card a professional, coordinated look. It can become your winning edge!
2. Include the necessary information. Today that translates into a lot of verbiage. It means your name, company name, title, phone, fax and cell numbers, email and web addresses (at least!). This alone calls for professional talent since so much information has to be arranged in an easily read and understandable manner. Most people call the first number you have listed; therefore, make sure it is the number where you most want to be reached.
3. Use a heavy card stock. Unless you are using parchment paper, stay away from lightweight stock, especially the kind that will easily run through your printer. My research has shown that people say lightweight cards leave an impression of a business that is temporary and cheap ... certainly not building blocks for your business!
4. Understand the role of color. Dark colors such as black and navy blue “say” authority, power and knowledge. Brown says dependability and stability, but not power. Pastels can be used to add interest rather than for the meat of your card.
5. Use additional information if you company name is not descriptive of your business. You want people to immediately grasp the nature of your business.Since Duoforce Enterprises, Inc., for example, does not describe my training and speaking business, I added “Rapport Builders” under my logo and “Author. Coach. Speaker. Trainer.” on the bottom of my card.
6. Make your business card perform multiple marketing functions by using both sides. A doctor, dentist or therapist may want to use it for appointment listings. A motivational speaker can print an inspirational message. A health club can use it as an invitation for a free visit. Anyone can use it as a calendar or as a discount on products or services. I use it to list my products. Don’t, however, put information there that is vital to your business like your web address or email, which I have seen done ... ineffectively.
7. Use the front as an enhanced marketing tool. A photographer friend of mine turns his originals creations into four-color business cards. A gift-basket owner does the same with baskets she has created. Professional speakers and Realtors often include their photos to increase recognition.
8. Stick to the standard size. Cylinder desktop business card holders are passé. Avoid fancy cutouts. Spend the extra money on design.
In my workshops, I ask people to exchange cards and then answer the following questions. Try the exercise now with several of your (honest!) associates and acquaintances.
§ Does your card make a positive first impression?
§ Does it tell the nature of your business?
§ Does it clearly tell them how to reach you?
§ Does it pack a wallop?
And always remember business card etiquette. If you want someone to have your card, ask for her/his card first. If the other person doesn’t ask for yours in return, don’t offer it. Silence is an important part of the communication/relationship-building process. Tune in to what people say nonverbally as well as through their words.
Business Cards Small but Mighty - To learn more about this author, visit Lillian D. Bjorseth's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
They measure about 2” x 3 1/2”.
They weigh less than 1/4 of an ounce.
They cost about a nickel or a dime.
And they pack a powerful punch!
They are business cards, and they are your most effective, least expensive form of advertising. You can (and should!) carry them with you daily, on the ground and in the air. They are your omnipresent marketing tools.
Because business cards frequently create your first impression when handed out, mailed or shared by someone you met. Because they also have permanence, your business cards need to be designed with as much detail as you give to your personal image. After all, they represent your corporate image.
The initial image people consciously and unconsciously conjure up about your business card is based on design, color and stock type and weight. Even though you may currently work for someone else, you undoubtedly will have the opportunity some time in your career to design your own card or help a family member or friend.
Use the following guidelines:
1. Make it attractive and pleasing to the eye. While computers and software packages can make desktop publishers out of almost anybody, there’s real merit in hiring an experienced graphic designer to give your card a professional, coordinated look. It can become your winning edge!
2. Include the necessary information. Today that translates into a lot of verbiage. It means your name, company name, title, phone, fax and cell numbers, email and web addresses (at least!). This alone calls for professional talent since so much information has to be arranged in an easily read and understandable manner. Most people call the first number you have listed; therefore, make sure it is the number where you most want to be reached.
3. Use a heavy card stock. Unless you are using parchment paper, stay away from lightweight stock, especially the kind that will easily run through your printer. My research has shown that people say lightweight cards leave an impression of a business that is temporary and cheap ... certainly not building blocks for your business!
4. Understand the role of color. Dark colors such as black and navy blue “say” authority, power and knowledge. Brown says dependability and stability, but not power. Pastels can be used to add interest rather than for the meat of your card.
5. Use additional information if you company name is not descriptive of your business. You want people to immediately grasp the nature of your business.Since Duoforce Enterprises, Inc., for example, does not describe my training and speaking business, I added “Rapport Builders” under my logo and “Author. Coach. Speaker. Trainer.” on the bottom of my card.
6. Make your business card perform multiple marketing functions by using both sides. A doctor, dentist or therapist may want to use it for appointment listings. A motivational speaker can print an inspirational message. A health club can use it as an invitation for a free visit. Anyone can use it as a calendar or as a discount on products or services. I use it to list my products. Don’t, however, put information there that is vital to your business like your web address or email, which I have seen done ... ineffectively.
7. Use the front as an enhanced marketing tool. A photographer friend of mine turns his originals creations into four-color business cards. A gift-basket owner does the same with baskets she has created. Professional speakers and Realtors often include their photos to increase recognition.
8. Stick to the standard size. Cylinder desktop business card holders are passé. Avoid fancy cutouts. Spend the extra money on design.
In my workshops, I ask people to exchange cards and then answer the following questions. Try the exercise now with several of your (honest!) associates and acquaintances.
§ Does your card make a positive first impression?
§ Does it tell the nature of your business?
§ Does it clearly tell them how to reach you?
§ Does it pack a wallop?
And always remember business card etiquette. If you want someone to have your card, ask for her/his card first. If the other person doesn’t ask for yours in return, don’t offer it. Silence is an important part of the communication/relationship-building process. Tune in to what people say nonverbally as well as through their words.
Business Cards Small but Mighty - To learn more about this author, visit Lillian D. Bjorseth's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
|||
John AlexanderJohn has taught keyword research and SEO skills to small groups of business owners and Webmasters from over 80 different countries world wide since 2002. John is also the Director of Search Engine Academy ; Co-director of Training at Search Engine Workshops offering live, SEO Workshops with his partner SEO educator Robin Nobles, author of the very first comprehensive online search engine marketing courses at SEO Training Online and the SEO Workshop Resource Center. I look forward to hearing from you! - Visit John Alexander's Website |
|||
John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
|||
David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
|||
Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|||
Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
|||
Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
|||
Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Lillian's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Get Working Capital Canadian Leadership Managing Generations Creating Rapport Guide Human Potential Institute |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Productivity Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2009 | |
 |
Choose A PR Topic
Press Release Builder | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||