culled from:ealmenrealstyle.com
1. Understand the purpose of your business card
The way a business card looks as well as the information written on it is very dependent on what the owner wants it to do.
A more established businessman may be more
selective as to who gets information regarding his phone number as well
as his job title. He may choose to just place his email and the words
“business owner” instead of his actual position.
selective as to who gets information regarding his phone number as well
as his job title. He may choose to just place his email and the words
“business owner” instead of his actual position.
This particular format may violate the
basic rules of having a business card. Other people may also think that
any format is acceptable as long as the card serves its purpose.
basic rules of having a business card. Other people may also think that
any format is acceptable as long as the card serves its purpose.
Job seekers should put in mind that it is
not a good idea to give out the business card associated with your
former company. A better strategy is to have new business cards made-
ones that highlight a few of your special skills. It is certainly not a
good idea to squeeze one’s resume in that small space but you still want
enough information on there to create a positive first impression.
not a good idea to give out the business card associated with your
former company. A better strategy is to have new business cards made-
ones that highlight a few of your special skills. It is certainly not a
good idea to squeeze one’s resume in that small space but you still want
enough information on there to create a positive first impression.
2. Keep your business card simple
2. Keep your business card simple
Make sure that your business card is
readable. Stay away from card formats that have so much clutter that it
makes it impossible to see where one piece of information starts and
ends.
readable. Stay away from card formats that have so much clutter that it
makes it impossible to see where one piece of information starts and
ends.
Use a readable font as not everyone has perfect vision. Research says that ideal fonts to use include Helvetica, Myriad Pro, Glasgow and Karat.
A 12 pt is an ideal font size but never get
below 6 pt type as this will present problems for those with faulty
vision and creates – in my opinion – the need to fill the card with
unneccesary information to fill space.
below 6 pt type as this will present problems for those with faulty
vision and creates – in my opinion – the need to fill the card with
unneccesary information to fill space.
By keeping your business card simple, you can clearly illustrate who you are, what you are doing and what you want to achieve.
3. Make sure the contact information in your business card is accurate
A business card with inaccurate information is useless.
It is worth repeating that if you’re in
between jobs, never give out your old business card. The information
found there such as your job title and even your email address may
already be inaccurate. It doesn’t send the right impression.
between jobs, never give out your old business card. The information
found there such as your job title and even your email address may
already be inaccurate. It doesn’t send the right impression.
Make sure that your business card has your
current contact information – not your email from your last company or
your old address in Colorado. Include several options on how people can
reach you – some people prefer using the phone still for talking
current contact information – not your email from your last company or
your old address in Colorado. Include several options on how people can
reach you – some people prefer using the phone still for talking
Never scratch out old phone numbers in old
business cards and write new ones in their place. This just shows a
lack of preparation and gives the impression that you may not be serious
in your goal.
business cards and write new ones in their place. This just shows a
lack of preparation and gives the impression that you may not be serious
in your goal.
4. Keep your business card professional
One factor in being professional is your
email address. You may be one of those people with funny or unusual
ones. Keeping this kind of email is a personal choice of yours but
finding something like sexyguy57@hotmail.com doesn’t exactly send the
most professional message.
email address. You may be one of those people with funny or unusual
ones. Keeping this kind of email is a personal choice of yours but
finding something like sexyguy57@hotmail.com doesn’t exactly send the
most professional message.
Emails that are under the Gmail outlook
umbrella are acceptable but stay away from emails that are convoluted,
spell and sound weird and are difficult to remember.
umbrella are acceptable but stay away from emails that are convoluted,
spell and sound weird and are difficult to remember.
Another way to keep your business card
professional is to make sure that it is clean and free of smudges. Don’t
make it seem like your business card has lived in your back pocket for
ages.
professional is to make sure that it is clean and free of smudges. Don’t
make it seem like your business card has lived in your back pocket for
ages.
It is also a good idea to develop a system for handing out your
business card. You may want to get into the habit of placing your
business cards in your right pocket and keeping the business cards of
those you meet in your left jacket pocket. That way, you’ll know where
to reach in case you need to hand out a business card of your own or
stash someone else’s away.
5. Have at least 50 business cards on you at all times
It can be a very costly mistake to suddenly run out of business cards in the middle of an event.
Don’t let that guy be you.
A way to avoid this is to plan and prepare
ahead. If you are going to a conference of 2,000 people then bring about
500 business cards with you.
ahead. If you are going to a conference of 2,000 people then bring about
500 business cards with you.
Another useful tip is to place a good
number of business cards in strategic places- such as in your jacket’s
pockets. That way even if you forget the stack that you originally
prepared for that event, you’re not totally out of business cards.
number of business cards in strategic places- such as in your jacket’s
pockets. That way even if you forget the stack that you originally
prepared for that event, you’re not totally out of business cards.
A great thing to invest in is a nice
business card case. Not only will this make it easier to remember to
bring one’s business cards but it just keeps them in good shape and
maintains a professional image.
business card case. Not only will this make it easier to remember to
bring one’s business cards but it just keeps them in good shape and
maintains a professional image.
Don’t forget to also keep some business cards in your car so they can be ready to grab just in case.
Lastly, keep about 5 or so business cards
inside your wallet, preferably in a small case. While these may look a
little beat up compared to your usual pristine set, they are so much
better than not having a business card to give out at all.
inside your wallet, preferably in a small case. While these may look a
little beat up compared to your usual pristine set, they are so much
better than not having a business card to give out at all.
