Cards on the Table

It may be the only thing people take away from a meeting with you. Get it right.

Your business card says a lot more about you and your business than you first might think, so it is paramount that you get it right. Doing a great job need not be expensive but don’t penny pinch. What you hand out to people is very often the second thing they see about you, the first being you. How exactly can your business card give not only the right impression, but also a lasting impression?
Let’s look at a few key areas that can help:
First impressions count
The actual fabric of which your card is made maybe one of the first things to get noticed as the person you have given it to can now feel it between their fingers. Thin card does not feel like top quality stock. If you have handed out a card of low quality, what do you think the person may be thinking about you at this stage? It’s a bit like a limp handshake, a little off putting.
The actual design layout of the card, your logo or other image should be balanced and look both professional and unless you are a corporate, show your business’s personality. Your printing company will usually be able to set the design for you, but if in doubt, do spend the extra few dollars to get it professionally designed and send the file to the printer.
Font style, size and colour
If your target market is over 40 years of age, it is no use handing out a great looking card with a font so small that people need their reading glasses to read it. It is actually good manners to read someone’s business card when they hand it to you, so don’t make it difficult for them to do just that.
Stay clear of awkward style fonts that are difficult to read, and make sure that whatever colour font you choose goes with the background colour of your card.
Your professional headline
When you hand people your card, can they tell exactly what it is that you do from it or does it just say ‘Director at Your Company’? This is particularly important if you attend a lot of networking events or give cards out at functions where people may be meeting quite a few other people.
What exactly is it that you do? My card says ‘Professional Speaker, Trainer and Consultant’, because that is exactly what I do and when my card gets mixed in with everyone else’s after the event, I want that person to remember me and not be forgotten. It is handy when they look back in their business card holder some months down the line; it instantly jogs their memory.
Is it eye catching?
I always invest the few dollars more to have a gloss finish because it matches my brand well and, although the card is the regular shape of a normal business card, two of the four corners are rounded. The card is royal blue with an image spreading across the whole of the front with my professional headline and strap line only on the front. The rest of my contact details are on the back, which is simply plain royal blue gloss. I think it looks a little like a glossy credit card rather than a business card, but it mirrors my brand and you can instantly see what I do. Someone once told me that if nobody comments on your business card, you need to re do it. Do people regularly comment positively about your card?
Your contact details
With more and more people switching on to social media, what better way to promote your Facebook or Twitter pages than on the back of your card. You could include details for:
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• website
• blog
• email
• telephone.
If you don’t use your fax machine anymore, leave the number off your card, as you don’t want it to look too cluttered. Your QR code is another thing to consider adding if you are using it.
Now be proud of handing your cards out and wait for the compliments!
Linda Coles
www.bluebanana.co.nz

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