Better Business Cards

March 13, 2007

I like to attend 2 to 3 local networking events each month, and I come home with 20 to 100 new business cards every time. I have a filing system for them, and I frequently check through my files to keep in touch with my contacts. After seeing this many cards, I have started doing some thinking about what makes a good business networking card and what does not. So if you actively network (and you should be if you are a small business!), here are some tips to help you make a better business card.

In no specific order, here are your business card tips:

1. Only print on one side. When you do networking, it is often helpful to jot down a note on the back of your card and hand it to someone, or to record some notes on the back of their card. About 80% of the cards I hand out have my handwriting on the back to make it personal and memorable - it’s usually a tip for them based on our conversation or a request for a telecoffee. If your card has print on both sides, this strategy will not work.

2. Do not get glossy on both sides, or put a magnetic backing on every card. Glossy cards are impossible to write on. (Glossy on one side would be OK if it works for your design.) Magnetic cards should not be used at networking events, because the last thing I need is for you to be demagnetizing my hard drive or my credit cards when your card gets placed in my briefcase. That is not a good way to make a first impression!

3. Include a short description of your business or services. I recently asked a woman at a networking event for her card because I thought what she was saying about her business was very interesting. When I got home and looked at her card, I could not remember what she did and her card was no help as it only contained a vague tagline and no website address. The standard business card with company logo, name, and contact info is not very useful in networking. What would be useful is a card with your company logo, name, contact info, and products/services/specials.

4. Stay away from cursive fonts unless it is crucial to your branding. Many business cards have 6- to 9-pt fonts. At that size, cursive writing and special fonts are often very hard to read.

5. Do not make nonstandard-sized cards. Many people have card cases, card wallets, or other means of storing and organizing their cards. Your oversized card is eye-catching … but it doesn’t fit into any of these filing methods and will probably get tossed somewhere out of sight. I often carry some of my clients’ or colleagues’ cards in my wallet in case I want to make a referral to someone I am talking to. If your card is oversized or otherwise too large, it’s not going to fit in my wallet and I’m not going to hand it out!

Filed Under Marketing, Networking
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