If your business cards induce even you to yawn, you’re probably right in worrying they end up in the trash more often than not. The problem with most business cards is that they are standard, boring and have no way of standing out in the crowd.
So, how do you take your business cards from blah to brilliant? First, you have to use a professional paper printer. The online sites may seem like a great deal, but the quality of your cards reflect your business and this is one area where you do not want to skimp.
First up, you should know what your business cards are ultimately supposed to achieve. They are your in hand profile and contact information – think of it as LinkedIn on a piece of cardstock. This is your life support system – if people know how to reach you, and why they should reach out to you, they are more inclined to make that move.
So, before you do anything else, decide what your best and most accessible for of contact is. Your card needs to have at minimum your name and phone number. Your address is optional unless you have a brick and mortar location you want people to visit.
What isn’t optional is an email address (preferably one linked to a website with a professional domain). You can also include your social media “handles” if you do a lot of business networking on Facebook and Twitter. A photo or logo completes the professional look of the business card.
The next objective is to tell people what you do. Your job title may help here – “Jane Smith, CEO of Social Strategy Solutions” – but you should probably add a line to explain the benefit you bring to the table: “We handle your social media so you don’t have to.”
Finally, you have to make your card memorable enough to hang onto. A Long Island Printer should be able to meet your needs by providing just the right cardstock, colorful printing, and even oddly shaped or sized cards. For example, a veterinarian could have a card shaped like a bone; an IT expert could have one shaped like a computer mouse, and so on.
Service industries can include space on the back of the card to fill in the next appointment – whether it is for lawn care, hair coloring, or your next chiropractic session. You can even have a coupon on the back of your card for a percentage off of products or services.
Most important of all – don’t let your new business cards sit in a drawer. Get out and get them out there – hand them out anytime you get a chance and you’ll be surprised what opportunities will present themselves. (One successful copywriter routinely hands out her card in line at the grocery store!)
Don’t let yourself be trapped in the outgoing trash along with your boring business card. Up your game and get serious about your business by calling your local Long Island print shop and ordering new cards today!