Tips from my new & improved business card
Jun 13th, 2007 by Vikram Rajan
I’m not perfect; but I do lead by example: I watch how prospects respond to my marketing collaterals. I then update my materials to keep it current.
Your business card is THE MOST VALUABLE marketing collateral you have: More people see it. It’s what’s often given to referrals. It’s usually the first marketing piece anybody sees about you. It’s often the most lasting piece… in a card file (drawer, box), desk clutter, or scanned in.
Place your business card beside another professional in your field… does it stand out? Does it showcase what makes you different and better? Heck, can we even tell what you do by your business card? Does it have your e-mail & website address? Does it have an incentive to speak with you? Surely you have stay within your compliance regulations, but with some creativity and controls we can develop a design that reflects your personal brand of excellence.
Like a model house in a planned community, my business card showcases nearly all of the points I build into proper business card design. There is one minor flaw with my business card… can you figure it out?
Here’s the front of my business card. I’ve put a lot of thought into its form & function:
- First of all it’s vertical; that immediately stands out.
- You can’t tell by this picture, but the edges are round. It conforms to my logo, and adds to its distinctiveness.
- The colors are consistent: All the blue’s are shades of what I call “CoGrow blue.” Likewise, with the green.
- Colors alternate and are symmetrical. The white space also breaks up all the text.
- There are actually 4 colors on this side: My name is highlighted.
- I don’t like hifalutin titles, so I’ve left it out. I’m a founder, partner, and director…
- Instead of the usual Contact Info Labels, I used obvious icons: It saves space & adds to its design distinction.
- Why 2 websites? Because I didn’t want to clutter it all 4 types of websites that I preach! One’s corporate; another product-driven.
- My tag-line is understandable & relevant to my target Community’s wants & needs. Stay away from “Corporate Poetry” in your tag-lines, purpose & vision statements: K.I.S.S.
- And on the bottom, I’ve given you something for free…
- ALL THIS WITHIN YOUR 2 SECOND ATTENTION SPAN.
- I start off with the Catchphrase that I prefer (the front has the tag-line you prefer). Who else can help you Leverage your Personal Brand??
- How do I make money? In 3 main ways… but I’ve translated it into a smorgasbord of value that you can relate to. Pick the right foot for me to get into your door.
- My e-mail address is repeated here; in the same red as my name on the front. I prefer my e-mail address since it also conveys my website. Are you the CEO of aol.com? Do you run Optonline.net? Stop promoting their brand; promote your personal brand URL.
- To add depth & separation I included a simple design element: An abstract representation of my logo.
- It borders my target community, i.e. 5 types of experts I work with… it’s in a soft white shadow so that it doesn’t compete with the text above. It’s difficult to read in low light; but I’m not trying to be romantic.
- And yes, the blue background is a shade of “CoGrow blue.” (So are the circles).
Even with all these conscious elements, I didn’t achieve everything I wanted. There is one flaw that sometimes annoys the interlocuter (”person I’m speaking with”). What is it? Post your comments, improvements, and dare I say, critiques.
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Busienss cards are used in any networking situation and allow for follow-up and potential sale calls.
Hi Vik! Very timely info for me! Thanks!
SINCE YOU ARE GLOBAL, you left off your address, right? I notice you use a 516 “Long Island” #. Have you done toll-free #’s? What’s your feeling about them? I like 2 sided. What about cost? What is your take on investment here?
Thanks! Vito
how about a fax number?
I suppose people can clutter their card up with 20th century technology
With Adobe Acrobat (professional) & my tablet, e-mail is even better than fax.
1. What is a fax number? Is it like a rolodex or gramaphone?
2. You haven’t left much room for your ‘interlocuter’ to jot any notes on. I’ve always thought a business card comes in handy as a note card when at trade shows, on a plane, etc. It’s good to leave at least 1/2 of one side open (and NOT glossy).
yes, that is flaw I alluded
there is a little white space on the front; and its not the UV Gloss that prevents ANY ink from sticking to it. It would smear real fountain pen / rollerball ink… but ballpoints work fine.
Thanks for you comment.