Business Cards

What to Include

A business card seems pretty basic, and for most people in the working world, it is. The typical card includes your business logo, name, title, phone number and e-mail address. They might also include a web address, fax number or physical mail address.

But if you’re in business for yourself, you should think about putting even more information on your card. Remember there are two sides, and many more things you can add to your card:

• Tag line, motto or
• Short description of what you do, if not apparent from your business name
• A picture or description of your most popular product or service
• A special offer (20 percent off with a discount code)
• A free product (visit the website to download a free ebook)
• How-to tips related to your business

Some of these might not sound like your usual business card items, but there’s a reason for this. You want people to look at your calling card and to keep it. If they can connect you and your business to something that was useful to them, they’ll be more likely to keep your card and call you when they need what you offer.

Design for Success

Business cards usually have one of several basic layouts. Usually the logo for your business is at the top, with your name and title or business name in the middle. Other information, such as your contact information and web address, will then be around the edges or directly under the logo.

If you want to look at some basic templates for designing your card, check out this site, which features designs you can print yourself from Microsoft Word or XP.

Spend some time working with the design of your card and the colors you plan to use, if any. This will be the first thing that many people see related to your business, so you should take the time to make sure that you’re presenting a clean and professional image.

Printing Your Business Cards

There are several cheap printing options. The first is to buy perforated business card stock at your local office supply store and print the cards on your home computer. Many people go this route when first starting out, but you shouldn’t.

The reason is that these cards look like you just printed them out on your home computer. The paper is perforated, and the cards come out with little rough edges where they used to be connected to the sheet. Anyone who receives one of these cards will know that you’re just starting out and that you weren’t willing to spend the money to have someone print your cards.

Another popular option is an online print shop like VistaPrint. This is a service that offers all sorts of printing options for small businesses. Most people hear about them because they offer free business calling cards (you pay shipping).

It sounds like a great deal: you pick out the design you want, insert the information you need and they print and ship. It’s a brilliant idea because it comes with a catch that most people are willing to accept. VistaPrint puts an advertisement for their service on the back of each of your cards.

Now, a business card is a great way to advertise, but it’s supposed to be your advertisement, not your printer’s. Everyone who receives one of these cards will get the impression you’re not serious about your business.

The other problem is you can’t use the back of the card for your own information. VistaPrint does offer a more expensive option that will allow you to print on the back for an additional charge. VistaPrint also offers promotional materials including postcards, holiday cards, letterhead, magnets and brochures.

Or you could go to your local copy shop and have your cards printed. If you go this route you will have to design them yourself (or use one of the templates from the site mentioned above). The upside is you may get your cards faster.

Using Business Cards

Every contact should get a business card. If you have a storefront, slip a card into every customer’s bag. If you offer a service, send one with your invoice. Post cards in community information centers or bulletin boards at grocery stores or coffee shops. You never know where business might come from. Set a goal to distribute 20-50 a day.