Business Card Tips

Every business owner or professional knows they need a business card, just like they need an email address. However, sometimes, their business cards get the same attention to detail as their email address. Since your business card projects your business image, it should be as well planned and professional as your wardrobe. Long after you leave your client, the business card remains; it should continue to make a statement about you and your business or the company you represent.

Many professionals also use e-business cards to send with their emails and electronic communication. This means they need a design that is compatible with electronic devices and software. Some programs may have difficulty reading a very convoluted or complex design, which makes the card virtually unreadable. Keep this in mind when designing your business card; look up some of the business card scanning programs and find out what type of card design works best with them.

If you have a flair for design and know what you want your business card to say, you might consider mocking up a rough draft in Word, for example, and taking that to your local printer. Tell them you welcome their suggestions and input so that you get a professional design, and tell them the software with which you want your card to be compatible. Economize elsewhere, but have your business cards professionally printed and avoid printing them yourself from your computer. I usually outsource my printing to http://www.123print.com

This isn't a resume, so keep the wording concise. Use a personal selling phrase if you have one, such as a professional accomplishment that sets you apart from the others. Another popular trend is to have a personal webpage that lists your resume and accomplishments, and list the site address on your business card.

When your information changes, get new cards printed. It may seem expensive, but it could make the difference between getting the job or landing the deal, or letting the other person get it. Manually writing in changes on a business card is unprofessional and looks very tacky.

One size does not fit all. If you are pursuing several different avenues or career fields, you may need to have several different business cards so that the information is applicable to the position or product. This may also entail having several different personal web pages.

Distribute your professional looking cards freely, but with purpose. Avoid the urge to give your business card to everyone you meet, opting instead to distribute your card to those for whom it may serve a purpose. A follow-up email is a good idea when you have given your card to a prospective client or vendor. It lets them know you are serious about the contact, and may set you apart from others who do not.

Tips to keep in mind when selecting and designing your card:

• Use good quality, heavy card stock for your business card.
• Keep the design simple and professional.
• Keep the wording brief; this isn't a resume.
• Have your business cards professionally printed.
• Avoid rapid print companies; opt for a good quality printing shop.
• Keep your business cards current.