When it comes to Myspace, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, friends aren’t hard to come by. But connecting with those contacts in the real world can prove to be a bigger challenge.

Profile cards are business cards for your online persona. Instead of, including your business information or home phone number, you might include your Myspace address, name, age, and profile photo. When you’re at a party talking to someone you’d like to get to know better, hand him or her your profile card.

illbuzz.com

Bands or musicians find profile cards to be an invaluable marketing tool. Slip one inside every CD purchased at a live show, and you’ve got a great pool of new Facebook friends or Twitter followers. Let fans know they can find new songs or exclusive interviews at your Myspace page, creating an instant call of action.

Bloggers can include their personal website, slogan and contact info. Pass these out to your contacts and friends who are likely to recommend your blog to others.

Crafters and artists love the versatility of profile cards-they double as product tags when you write the item’s price on the opposite side.

Models, actors and other performing artists love the informal feel of a profile card. When you meet someone who’s more of a peer than a superior, slip them your personality-packed profile card so they can follow you on Facebook. Forget the professional business cards unless you are sending out headshots or showing up for a casting call.

Average Joes like profile cards, too. From your little sister to your book club buddy, many people find profile cards more approachable than professional business cards. And if you don’t own a business website, it just makes more sense to have people contact you via one of your social networking profiles. So choose your favorite way to connect, or include two or three sites. Have fun putting your personality into these cards while you make some real-world contacts.