9 February 2010
by 
A lot can be envisioned on that blank space. A business card is literally a clean slate, a fresh start. The design options are only limited by your creativity – if you make them yourself – or by how much you’re willing to spend to have them designed.
Business Card Considerations
Do you have a logo? Have you been in business for years, or are you new to the writing world like fellow writer, Matt Willard? Is your business recognized by certain colors or a theme? Should you put your name at the top (using a big font), or should you focus on the name of your business and your tagline? Do you include a phone number? E-mail only? Physical address or P.O. box? Do you include a “The”? Possibilities – and design choices – are endless…
The Web has changed the way businesses can order their promotional material. You don’t even have to leave your home or office, hop in your vehicle, and make your way down to the printers; all you have to do is follow the simple instructions available and wait for your freshly-designed business cards to arrive in the mail!
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With a new year here, you can take advantage to incorporate a new approach to your promotional efforts.
5 Reasons for New Business Cards
- Include a mini portfolio/resume. Pay a little extra for printing on the backside of your business card. You can use it to add publications your work has appeared in, or share your skills, etc.
- List the social media sites you can be found on. More and more companies and individuals are realizing the importance of social media. Grow your network by letting others know where to find you.
- Update your website or blog links, emails, phone number, address, etc. Have you moved to a new address — whether your physical home or your virtual domain? If so, update your clients or readers with the new information so they can reach you easily.
- Revamp your image. Is your business image old or boring? Or does it feel that way to you? Improve it by splashing some new colors (or even a new logo) on your card!
- Put a fresh spin on your tagline. Is your tagline too long? Too generic? Be unique. Be bold. Be brave. Speak from your heart. Share your heart with the world! (After all, there’s a superhero inside of you!)
If you’re not as creative as you’d like to be; if you’re not fond of the ideas you come up with; you can always hire someone to design a logo (or your entire business card) for you. This is a new year so get out there and sell yourself – you can find the courage!
Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for The Craft of Writing Fiction – or contact her to write for you.
What do your business cards say about you? Are you going to start 2010 out with new cards in hand? Or, are you still unsure about the benefits of having them?
Photo Credit: omar franc
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Awesome article Michele – I like the idea of using it as a mini-portfolio.
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Thanks, Katherine! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Business cards aren’t something we always think about when we’re busy meeting deadlines, searching for new assignments, or trying to juggle real life with our Internet business, but they’re certainly important for networking, creating a word-of-mouth buzz, and more!
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I’m a firm believer in the power of the business card. Last year I splurged and decided not to go the cheap Vista Print route. Instead I had custom designed cards – they worked well. They stood out and even became a conversation starter.
If you would like to see what they look like, check out Randa Clay’s write up: http://randaclay.com/design/show-and-tell-business-card-for-deb-ng/
At BlogWorld someone stopped me and asked if I was Deb Ng. When I confirmed he asked if he could see my business card because he heard so much about it. When I returned home, he called me and I helped him with a project. So people notice an the splurge paid off.
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[...] What Does Your Business Card Say About You? at Writer’s Roundabout [...]
Deb’s cards are gorgeous, but my wallet insists I stay with VistaPrint for a while longer, LOL. I like your ideas, Michelle! I need to update my cards, since I no longer do publicity or consulting. There’s an age-old debate about whether or not to put ‘writer’ on your business card…but I say, why not? It’s what I do to make money.
@Deb Ng: Those are some sleek, gorgeous cards you have there! Awesome.
I love your story about all the buzz for your business card design. And isn’t that awesome that he immediately knew about your card when he discovered who you were?!
Thanks for sharing, Deb! And thank you for the link love. Much appreciated.
*smiles*
Michele
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I do LOVE the fancy design options. They’re a great way to create buzz. But sometimes, all it takes, is having something handy to say, “I don’t have a pen on me but this is me and you can reach me at these details.” I have two sets of business cards, one for “Rebecca, the writer” and one for “Rebecca, the webtech”. But I don’t hand them out as much as I could.
Recently, I’ve been asked to design business cards that match the websites I’m designing. It’s a fantastic idea to have your business card match your design of your Web site and it’s one of the ways you can leave an impression and be memorable.
You can get as creative as you like with your business cards. If you’re just getting started you can go for simple, inexpensive cards that really just say, “Hey, this is me”. As your business takes off you can choose to invest in cards that can will extend your brand. You might also want to start with the less expensive options if you’re not sure how often you might give out cards or if you expect to be giving out LOTS of them.
One of the things I remember from my trip to a writer’s conference in L.A. is that it’s a good idea to have cards on hand to give out as you strike up conversations and meet people at these sorts of events.
I LOVE that idea, Rebecca, and actually do have a card that matches my freelance site (with the highway) – I get lots of compliments on that one.
As for the health site, I went with something I designed myself at Vista. But after reading Deb’s response and hearing her success with a custom card, I’ll definitely be considering going the extra mile…
Thanks for chiming in, Rebecca!!
*smiles*
Michele
Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl shares: Emotional Eating, Food Labels, and Judgments – Oh, My!
[...] What Does Your Business Card Say About You? at Writer’s Roundabout [...]
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I’m also one of the firm believers that business cards are really still necessary even in these days of iPhones and whatnot.
You just can’t beat the advantages business cards have to offer.
Also I always hear Vista Print as one of the best printers around. Has to be true if you always hear about them.
I think to have good business cards to give everyone is really important to generate more clients. Just give them away, I mean they are cheap and could land in the right hands.
A very professional looking business card is really very important in promoting your business. It makes good impression among customers..,;
That’s very true, Audrey and I love your attitude, geschenke. It really is that easy.
Today, for example, I was at the park with my daughter but I’d taken my laptop and mobile broadband with me so I could sneak in a little work while she played. Another mother approached me asking about mobile internet. We chatted shortly. I mentioned that dealing with Web Design and Technology is actually what I do for a living if she needed more help than my short explanation. I gave her my business card and invited her to drop me an email if she had any other Web Technology questions I could help her with. It was so easy to reach into my bag for a card rather than try to write down my details in a way that she’s remember their purpose later.
The trick now is in finding MORE ways to give our cards. I have a friend who, from time to time, leaves business cards on car windscreens or drops them into letter boxes. Quality business cards can be printed so cheaply these days that giving them out in such quantity is a fantastic idea.
Really enjoyed this article.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Business card is itself is an unique identity of a company or an organization.For this purpose only it should be designed in such a way that can able to attract the people.
Each article I have read is well written and to the point. I would also like to say, not only are the articles well written, but the lay-out of your web-site is excellent. I was able to navigate from post to post and locate what I was looking for with ease. Keep up the great work you are doing, and I will return many times in the near future.
Thanks Darryl.
I’m glad you enjoyed your experience here. I hope you’ll take the time to share your thoughts and leave a comment on other posts you’ve read or read in future.
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i always make my own business card through adobe photoshop and ms word, they are satisfactorily made though*.: