| A properly prepared business card is one of | | | | - There may be security reasons why you |
| the business tools many people overlook. For | | | | might not want your photo on your card. |
| a small investment usually less than $30 for | | | | |
| 500 cards you can tell the world that you are | | | | - Photos can "date" you or your product. |
| and what services you can provide. Your | | | | |
| business card is a silent salesperson, so | | | | - Photos can personalize you and make you |
| what will it say about you?When planning a | | | | more accessible.It is perfectly acceptable to |
| card it's important to consider your message. | | | | have multiple cards. You should consider |
| Your card will be what people reference or | | | | having both a professional and personal |
| use to remember you. It needs to be | | | | business card. My husband, a retired Marine, |
| professional, legible and contain the | | | | has a somewhat risqué but funny business |
| necessary information. Some exceptions would | | | | card he gives out to Marines he might meet. |
| be a humorous card if you were a clown or a | | | | Another example would be if you were looking |
| comedian and a juvenile card if you were | | | | for a job you would want to differentiate |
| involved with children's services. In any | | | | your work, address and contact information |
| case it would still need to cover the | | | | from your home information. You may also have |
| essential points in its creation.Spend some | | | | a sideline business that you would want |
| advance thought to layout and how to capture | | | | identified separately.Business card |
| all the necessary information in such a small | | | | essentials:On the front: |
| space. Draw out a template and try different | | | | |
| versions and placement of information. You | | | | - Name, Title, Company name & logo, |
| can also use some of the online websites that | | | | mailing address, phone and fax numbers, E |
| have sample business cards templates readily | | | | mail address, website & cell phone number.On |
| available. (You will probably need to order | | | | the back: |
| from them to use it.)Tip: Fax your card to | | | | |
| yourself. This is a good way to see how | | | | - Who you are what you do, your mission |
| legible you have made the important | | | | statement, your vision, services you perform, |
| details.In some cases a folded card might be | | | | skill sets you have, awards you have won, |
| acceptable. It is important to recognize that | | | | associations/memberships.TIP: Make sure one |
| many people don't like cards that are a | | | | side of your card is always in English. If |
| different shapes and size (especially ones | | | | you plan to travel or do business in a |
| that won't store conventionally in a rolodex | | | | foreign country, it's a good idea to invest |
| or a business card organizer.)Some questions | | | | in a translation of your essential details |
| to consider when preparing your business card | | | | for the other side of the card. If you do a |
| | | | lot of international travel especially |
| 1) Who will receive your card? Hopefully | | | | countries that have security risk it might be |
| everyone you meet. You should always be | | | | worth downplaying your title. Do NOT have a |
| prepared to give out your cards. I am amazed | | | | card that shows that you are someone of great |
| at the number of people who attend business | | | | importance.General writing tips: |
| functions and come without their cards. | | | | |
| Students are notorious for not having a | | | | - Stay away from unusual fonts and |
| business card. It is an essential part of job | | | | different fonts on the same card; |
| hunting.Tip: When attending a function that | | | | |
| the exchange of cards is expected, wear | | | | - Make sure your card is legible and |
| something with pockets. Keep you own cards in | | | | credible; |
| your right pocket and the cards of the people | | | | |
| you meet in your left.2) What will they do | | | | - Make sure the information is well |
| with the card once they receive it? Store it | | | | organized and makes sense in the layout; |
| in a Rolodex, add it to the database, and put | | | | |
| it in a stack with a rubber band around it? | | | | - Make sure your name is large enough |
| My personal favorite for services I use | | | | that people can read without glasses; |
| around the house, vet, pharmacy, cleaners, | | | | |
| etc., is the refrigerator magnet business | | | | Don't rely on one card to do it all.Plan |
| card. They are all readily accessible. They | | | | your cards as carefully as you would a |
| are a little more expensive, but those are | | | | resume. Be proud of your card. It's a |
| the cards I use most.3) Under what | | | | reflection of you. Business cards are an |
| conditions will your card be used? In an | | | | inexpensive yet essential selling tool. Be |
| emergency (if you need a plumber) you would | | | | prepared to give out your card in any |
| want your card to jump out of the | | | | circumstance and for heaven's sake "Don't |
| stack.Exotic or unusual cards are clever but | | | | Leave Home Without It."Discover the easy way |
| not exactly suited to the business | | | | to make yourself stand out from others. How |
| environment. Exceptions being if you can | | | | to become an expert in your field; How to |
| identify on your card some service you | | | | write a better resume; How to write a |
| perform like embossing, hot foil stamping or | | | | personal press release; How to accomplish |
| product you sell, specialty papers or if you | | | | things no one else is doing and to get people |
| happen to be an exotic dancer. Bright colors | | | | to think about you in ways they have not |
| are not a good idea unless you are involved | | | | thought before and much more including |
| with color in your business paint, flowers, | | | | critical checklists for those important |
| decorating, etc. Specialty effects such as | | | | business meetings.This indispensable workbook |
| vignettes and shadowing get lost in such a | | | | will show you specific ways to accomplish |
| small space. Keep it simple and not | | | | your personal branding goals and launch your |
| distracting. I recently got a card on an | | | | career into the stratosphere. We have done |
| opaque material and I simple could not read | | | | all the work for you with guidelines, cheat |
| what was printed on it.Many people now | | | | sheets and easy-to-use templates to customize |
| include their photos, this is especially | | | | for your own use.So don't put off building |
| touchy feely. But if you are involved in the | | | | your brand any longer. Don't wait till your |
| photographic business like Eastman Kodak or | | | | associates get your promotion or raise or |
| are a photographer this is a great idea.A | | | | even a better job.Order Packaging Yourself |
| couple of things to consider about photos: | | | | now @ you find that the strategies and |
| | | | tactics in these materials don't work for you |
| - Some people judge services by the | | | | or in your business, we don't feel like we |
| person's appearance. | | | | should keep your money. We want you to try |
| | | | them for 30 days with zero risk. |