Despite their size, a person’s business card is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can use simply because it is a reflection of your personal branding process and is typically the first thing people see regarding you and your business.  Additionally, having business cards goes beyond identifying what you do for a living simply because it is an identification tool.  You always distribute these to people whether they ask for them or not.  Simply stated, they validate what you are all about and are fundamental to the survival of anyone’s business.

It is critical that your business cards have all of the proper contact information printed on them – i.e. your name, the name of your business, an e-mail address, and a website URL (if you own one).  Additional information would include your motto or slogan which separates you from anyone else engaged in your particular endeavor, a phone number, city, state, and zip code.  By listing all of this information, you are giving the potential client or customer, all the contact information they need in order to follow up with you.

Here’s a critical issue that most people don’t realize.  If you don’t have a domain name with your e-mail address attached to that domain then you really aren’t branding yourself.  Domains and domain names are available for around $10 annually and these are critical for keeping your business cards brand-focused.

Additionally, business people today brand themselves and their product on their business cards by including their company logo.  Another aspect involves “social networking“, a technique that individuals use as part of the branding process.  For instance, if you are a member of Facebook, Linkedin, or Twitter, you would want to include this information as well, especially if you are using these sites for business networking.

7 Critical Aspects to Consider

• Black and White may be the standard but it isn’t very exciting and doesn’t draw enough attention. Conversely, you don’t want to go overboard with color either.  A splash of red on a black-on-white business card draws a person’s attention.

• Too many graphics defeat the purpose. Not only that, they distract a person’s vision away from the two key elements – brand focus and contact information

• Keep the font at a readable size. Remember that the older we get, the worse our vision gets.  If you want people to contact you, the size of the font is critical and should look more important than just being put on the business card as an afterthought.  Granted, your logo is an important aspect, but they can’t contact you if that is all they see.

• If you use a personal photo on your business card, keep it up-to-date. If your hair is greying or thinning (oh, say it isn’t so), then why would you want a 10-year old photo on your business card that no longer looks like you?

• Business cards that are not the standard size (2″ x 3½”) attract more attention. Just remember how critical being able to read your contact information is when you experiment with odd shapes and sizes.

• Use the back as well as the front of your business card. Why leave the back blank when you can put that blank area to good work by printing a message that enables people to remember you and what you are all about? Remember, you are investing in yourself and your brand!

• Avoid using websites that advertise free business card stock. You’re better off spending a few extra dollars and having custom business cards printed, rather than running the risk of being at a networking event and seeing other people with business cards that look just like yours.  Besides that, these websites typically have their name somewhere on that business card to promote themselves as well.  That’s why they are free.

Related posts:

1. Reflect Your Personality Through the Business Card
2. Developing a Brand Across Your Print Media
3. Three Steps to Creating a Strong Brand
4. Uniformity is Everything in Printed Copy
5. Benefits and Drawbacks of Laminated Business Cards