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