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Free Website Content - Business Cards
Business Cards
By Sharon Housley
Networking is an invaluable opportunity, and
one that should not be wasted. In order to maximize networking,
it is strongly suggested that all business professionals
carry business cards. The business cards can be exchanged
during introductions, both as a convenience and as a memory
aid. In other words, business cards allow networkers to
further the relationship through future contact.
Business cards may include one or more aspects
of striking visual design, but should also contain important
contact information. Use this guide to make the most of
your business cards:
1. What to Include
All of this information should be included on a professional
business card: Name - This does not have to be your given
name, but should be what you expect people in business to
refer to you as.
Position - This is really optional;
many small business owners find themselves wearing many
hats, and may find it beneficial and/or less confusing to
leave their official title off the cards.
Address - Physical office location and/or
mailing address.
Website - Adding a website address to business
cards is now very common and expected.
Email - Email is also now a very common and
popular communication channel.
Phone - Include your business phone number.
Instant Messaging/ICQ Address - Internet chat
address.
2. Double Sided Cards
If your company is global, or your sales territory focus
is in a region where your spoken language is not the predominant
language, you might wish to consider using the backside
of your business card to include your information in an
alternate language. You can also use the back of the card
to provide more extensive information and details about
your products and services. Or, if you do a lot of local
business, you might want to include a small street map to
your office on the back of your card. There are lots of
things you might be able to do with all that blank space
on the back of your cards.
3. Conversation Starters
Savvy sales people often use their business cards as a conversation
starter. Of course, the card needs to be unique or unusual
in order to generate a dialogue. Some of the more interesting
cards I've seen recently were printed on micro-CDs, on magnets,
on translucent plastic, etc.
4. Standard Size
Even if you are aiming for something unique, you should
still not diverge from the "standard" business card size.
For managing their contacts, many people will create a business
card rolodex, or may have a hand scanner specifically sized
for business cards. So stick with the standard size -- otherwise
you may be excluded from their contact databases simply
because your card didn't fit!
5. Order Quantity
Quantity discounts apply to business cards. When pricing
printed business cards, check to see where the price breaks
occur; sometimes you can significantly increase the quantity
of business cards for very little additional cost.
6. Quality Matters
Flimsy cards that are paper thin, and cards with ragged
perforated edges, just scream "amateur". If you are going
to print cards yourself, be sure to use heavy business card
stock, and use stock that has "clean-edge" micro-perforations.
And "glossy" finished stock can also help boost the quality
perception of self-printed cards, especially if lots of
color is used in the card design.
7. Brand Cards
Your business cards should be similar to all of your other
printed promotional material. Business cards should contain
your business or product logo. Double-check the colors with
the printer to make sure the correct pantone colors are
used. This will ensure that the logo is printed using the
correct and matching color scheme.
8. Keep Current
Information contained on the business card should always
be kept current. Business cards with obsolete information
crossed out are very unprofessional. If any information
on the card changes or becomes obsolete, have new cards
printed to reflect the change, and throw the old ones away.
9. Change It Up
Textured business cards, or cards with scalloped edges,
stand out. Consider a wide variety of ways to make your
card jump out of the pack. The texture or color of the card
can also be utilized to ensure your card stands out.
10. Legible
Use a legible font that makes the text on the business card
easy to read. Avoid making the fonts too small. Use contrasting
colors, and avoid using porous paper that will allow the
ink to bleed and the text to blend into the card.
11. Spelling
There is little more embarrassing than business cards that
contain typographical errors. Proofread the cards multiple
times. Let me say that again -- proofread your business
cards! And have other people proofread them too, as they
will often be able to spot mistakes that you've overlooked.
Maximize the power of your business cards.
Whether you are networking, or just being personable, business
cards are a must in the professional world, and crucial
to business marketing.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and
podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll
http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
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This article may be used freely in opt-in
publications and websites, provided that the resource box
is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of
the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly
appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
Additional articles available for publication available
at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
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