Five Ways to Make Your Business Card Awesome (Part 2)

If you missed the first part (with the first two points), you can catch up here.  Let's continue on with some ways to make your business card awesome.

AWESOME BIZ CARD TIP 3: DON'T TRY TO USE YOUR CARD TO SELL YOUR SERVICES

Some people will take up the majority of the real estate of a business card – which is only 2 inches by 3 inches - with product information, lists, product photos, etc.  I've heard and read some experts advise doing this, and I do understand the logic behind the suggestion, but I'm going to respectfully disagree.

NO.  Just... no.

A short list of key products or services – on the back of the card – is just fine.

A line or two about what you do, that’s cool too.

A tagline and call to action?  Go for it.

Your picture? I’m a big fan of this, no matter what industry you are in – it really helps people associate your name and company with your face, and humanizes your business.

But before you start using your card as a replacement brochure, keep in mind that the purpose is for people to contact you, not to tell them everything about any possible product or service you might offer.

I have seen dozens of business cards trying to cram all of that information in that very tiny space, in six (or even four!) point type.  It all becomes unreadable and your contact information becomes lost in competing marketing messages.

So while it’s tempting to do this in order to save money, keep the extra information and marketing messaging under control and let your card serve its true purpose.

AWESOME BIZ CARD TIP 4: ONLY ONE PERSON PER BIZ CARD

It's not unusual to see a business card where two people are "sharing" the same card (sometimes they even share the same email address).

While business cards aren't cheap, they aren't crazy expensive either.  Please, let’s stop using one card for more than one person.  If you and a friend have a business together, you should each have your own card.

It’s especially difficult when there are two people on the card with the same gender (or both have gender-neutral names) and you can’t remember the name of the person you met specifically (it may have been at a big event, for example, where you met lots of people and you're having trouble associating a face with a name). 

I have run across this many times now, and I think it’s just a cost-savings thing, but please, if you want your business card to be awesome, it must be about an individual - YOU.

I’m not contacting some faceless corporation and it doesn't matter who responds - I want to contact you and it does matter who responds.

Please, let's get a business card for each person who needs one, thanks.

AWESOME BIZ CARD TIP 5: HAVE FUN AND EXPRESS YOURSELF

Ok, yes, I've just laid down a bunch of rules on you, so you probably believe that I think that your business card has to be boring to be effective or communicate clearly.

I’m here to tell you that isn't true – you can clearly communicate the key information and still have a sharp business card that will uniquely identify you and what you do.

Here’s a few ways to do it:

• Instead of landscape orientation, use portrait.
• Try an unusual shape or size: if you are selling electricity, maybe your card could be in the shape of a light bulb.  If you’re a Realtor – have one shaped like a house!  Try a round or oval card or a thin one (1 x 3).  I know this annoys some people out there, but in my opinion, if you can afford it, it's a great way to stand out. One caveat – I do not recommend an oversize or dimensions larger than 2" x 3", as they are hard to keep in what many people use for business card holders. Use the standard dimensions of 2" x 3" or smaller.
• Indirect imagery related to your product or service: let’s say you sell cars - what if you had a background watermark of an open road?  If you are an accountant, what if you have a background that looks like an old-school ledger?  This is one way you can be really creative and make your business card represent you and what you do but not interrupt the purpose of the card.
• Play with your head shot: instead of a boring business portrait, why not have one with special effects applied to it – think of the effects you can get with Instagram, for example. I strongly advise people selling services to include their picture on their card, because half of what you sell is yourself, not your service.

Those are just a few ideas.  Working with a graphic designer can bring forth a lot more.  That being said, remember, never let the design overwhelm the purpose - always make sure the Big Four (full name, company name, phone number, and email address) are clearly communicated on your card.

I hope you have found these tips useful – got an awesome business card? Share it with me, I’d love to see it!