If you can get by, you can add to the next order. I forgot to include website in my business card, but included the email. I believe its pretty much straight forward to understand what needs to be put before the domain name. Any suggestions or do I need to order new cards. Hey, nice article! I believe business cards are an amazing tool for small businesses. In fact I have recently started a business of my own where I help companies get more sales and conversion through business cards!
I am really excited about helping people bring in more sales. If anyone wants to check it out and learn about it you can email me at givemebusinesscards gmail. I would give the link to the website but I don't want to post my link on someone else website. Hi Diana - Cell phones are definitely optional. It depends on how accessible your employees need to be and how accessible you want them to be. I see a lot of mobile numbers on business cards from sales people but there are also more cells listed overall.
As a small business, should we put an employee's personal cell phone number on his business card? We don't for sales people as we purchase their phones and they get a business number. This person is an operations director and is in the office most of the time. They occasionally travel to see customers. What do you think? Kimberly - Thanks for asking. Totally personal preference. If you are in a relationship-focused business, a picture can work--it's just something I rarely see and, when I do, it's almost always for Realtors.
And most of the headshots are almost always not great. I notice you dont advise including a photo, unless you are sell real estate. Why do you say that? I am an attorney at a small law firm civil litigation and the owner uses a photo on his business card, but I dont really care either way. I just care that its professional, appropriate and to-point. This ins interesting Great Ideas for Designing business card Thanks for sharing this information..
Web Development India. Thanks for closing the loop. Given all of the reasons you pointed out, that definitely sounds like your best alternative. I know I struggle with them. But maybe I'm "older people. In the end we decided to put both on the card. Many of our clients are older people and our eyes aren't getting any better. For the reasons you pointed out, it makes it a little more user friendly, especially for those who aren't accustomed to or can't see those tiny letters under the numbers on their phones.
And with the vanity number, it's still memorable. A question for the ages. I think you are both right. As a consumer of vanity numbers, I know I find myself finger picking, squinting at the phone, and repeating the alphabet out loud. Vanity numbers are memorable and catchy, but personally I always spend a lot more time trying to decipher the numbers.
If the vanity number is super important, I would suggest starting with just that number. These won't be the last batch of business cards you'll ever print, so you can always compare response rate when you spell the number out. Thanks for the article, Shawn. My business partner and I have redesigned our small business in the past week.
New name, new website, new logo and instead of using our personal cell phones, we purchased a vanity number which will transfer the call to us individually or simultaneously depending on the extension the caller hits. The last part is where my question is We're in the process of designing new business cards now that we have the new logo from our graphics designer. We're debating on how the phone number should be presented.
I feel that having the vanity number and the number spelled out is too much clutter and defeats the purpose of the vanity number. My partner feels that having the number spelled out makes it simpler to use. Again a wornderful and great post you have here. I also shared this content on my blog if you don't mind. You definitely don't want to do anything illegal when it comes to business cards.
If they need to include an LLC number, definitely something that should be on there. Possibly in bold. Hate to tell you this, but as a proofreader and editor, I found an error in the paragraph under "Business Card Best Practices"-it's "breathe" not "breath".
If you correct that, it would be better for you. Happy to help. I'm not sure why LinkedIn doesn't push that more. I use the link shortener a lot when I'm referring someone to a shared connection. Thanks Shawn - your excellent advice has pointed me in the direction of simplifying my linkedin address which I didn't know you could do to uk.
What a star! I was going to mention messy urls in the first comment but didn't want to get into the weeds with boring details. That's definitely a concern. At some point, it's easier for someone to just search for your name than it is trying to retype a complicated and lengthy address.
Do you have the option of simplifying your profile url? I know I did that at one point which made it a little cleaner www. Thanks Shawn. How about the format of the LinkedIn link - mine for example is uk. Hi Kevin - Yes. If you want LinkedIn to be one of the primary ways contacts connect with you, then it makes sense to include a link. Savvy networkers will likely look to LinkedIn either way--but that's likely only a small fraction of the people you'll meet.
Including a prompt might be just want they need to take action. I'm not a huge fan of quotes in general so I'm a little bit biased. That's the good thing about business cards--they're generally inexpensive which means you can play around more than if you were doing a large run of brochures. Shawn, how do you feel about humor on a card. A humorous quote on the back or tagline. Nothing outrageous, just a touch of humor. My gut says "go for it".
It's who I am, life is short. My head says "no way", too risky. My client base are blue collar business owners who don't always appreciate a corporate approach. It's a sticky wicket for sure. We are getting some traction with a few clients, it takes time.. I personally have just started deeper research and plan to use the app on my phone more this week You can get a sidebar banner for your site that has your circle profile image and a feature for people to add you to circles right there on the banner like the facebook LIKES button on sites this site has one lower right sidebar.
Yes, I am looking at mock-ups now with the icons only and it makes so much more sense. Jeff - So you're asking if it makes sense to include the social media icons without including the direct links to the social media profiles?
Of course you can do that although it can also make sense to include the direct links to make it as easy and clear as possible for people to find you. Overall, it depends on how you would like people to contact you. If you'd prefer they call, that's the focus.
If you want them to visit your website, point them in that direction. Curious to your opinion on Social Media Icons with no addresses. Like my company can be found in 2 sec on any social media site as I own my company name for all I've seen it done and appears to be clean looking Thanks, Jeremy.
That definitely seems to be the exception and not the norm. For every 10 businesses I hear from that are using or have tried QR codes, maybe one can point to data that shows they're actually being used.
The use of a QR code is extremely beneficial. I have had several very large clients use my QR at conferences and then pitch them the next at a meeting directly related to them seeing my website from the QR.
You might need a separate carrying case for those. If you're ordering from Moo, consider using the link at the end of the post pointing to ready-made business card designs. They're an affiliate. No pressure. I am going to try the new Luxe Card by Moo at 32pt : - I'll likely order only a small amount as I only hand out per month at most.
I think my moo cards are 16 pt and even then, the quality difference is noticeable--you can see it when people hold the card for the first time. I totally agree about skimping. I always buy 24 pt or higher, its such a small cost yearly to leave a decent impression. Well, Malaysia will always welcome you, if you decided to drop by again to give talks, perhaps? All great points. There's a need for what QR codes do--bridging the physical and virtual world.
It just seems like there wasn't enough education when they first came out to really reinforce the value. Having to download something to scan is another barrier. Employees who aren't able to encourage participation seems to be another hindrance in my experience. Furthermore, I'm from Malaysia and I do accept project from foreign country. It would cost them for the call, as well as the timezone differences would make it harder for them to call. QR codes is rather look "fancy" to have and show that "wow, you use some technology thingy My card would rather easy to understand what business am I in.
So, yes, I'm using "psychology" to let people feel that I'm doing business, and I really mean to do business with them. Furthermore, is a very common perception that the receiver would think you only provide those service that listed. Thanks for sharing the data. Your data is really telling. It's not that they scanned the code and didn't find what they were looking for out of never scanned it. The QR code is to link to my website and I did a statistic to track.
It was something you were concerned about and--as you pointed out--having cards with the wrong location could also cause concerns for some folks. In fact, when it comes to business cards nothing looks work than scratching out a phone number or address--at least for me. Don't list an address. If you don't have a storefront, it doesn't serve much purpose beyond giving the appearance that you are legitimate. Hi Shawn, that was quick! I haven't got the cards yet. Usually people dont ask because my address has always been there.
However this time as we were thinking of moving again I thought I would leave it to the client to find my address on my website. However I feel I should have kept it on the cards to be honest. We have only moved around in the same state. Thanks for the question, Matthew.
You could. Some people still like to see a physical address even though so much information is available online. Have you had customers ask where you're located? Do you move around in the same area state or region? Or are you all over the place? Hi Shawn. I run a cleaning company and for the first time have left the address off.
We move a lot you see and its a pain having to reorder with new address. Do you think I will lose credibility without an address on my cards? Monique - The answer has a lot of moving parts. If you know an intellectual property attorney, I would suggest contacting them first so they can walk you through your options. This is applicable to www. I'm sure they'd appreciate one card vs. You could always make a mockup and share it with a few of your best customers and ask for feedback We do have separate cards now and there are no issues.
It was an idea we are throwing around, but not completely sold on it. I am afraid it is too busy and will take away from the design of our card. I am not sure how this will make it more convenient for customers. Maybe we should keep the separate cards. Very helpful. If I'm a customer and I get a card with both names on it and two email addresses, two phone numbers, etc.
It could also be a pain on your end to answer the phone if the call is for the other employee. Are you using separate business cards now? If so, how is it working? No, we each have a cell number and email address. We do have a shared email address, but we don't use it that often. Customers usually copy both of us on emails or either contact the first one they met.
We do handle different aspects of the business, but can discuss either with clients. That's a great question, Julie. How do you handle contact information? One central phone number? Email address? Tell me more. What is your opinion on having two peoples names on one business card?
We are a small company and always together when we meet with clients. Joe - Just to make sure I understand--are you asking about an image of a sunrise on the business card? If so, that would depend on your brand and the images and messaging you'd like to be associated with. Shawn - Again thank you so much for your valuable tips. What do you think of putting a real sunraise background?
I would definitely consider adding a tagline or descriptor. See if you notice any difference in number of leads from in-person networking events and tweak accordingly. It reminds me of a local business. The name of the company was XYZ Construction. He had a vehicle cling and said people always thought he built decks--which was totally not his focus.
They just assumed construction meant "residential construction. Shawn - thank you for your reply. So my question is should I put for instance "Real estate" underneath the company name? Joe - Thanks for the question. Are people confused or unclear when you give them a card? My answer depends on the name of your business, whether you have a tagline, and most importantly if you get the sense that people aren't making the connection.
Hi Shawn, I need your help and your suggestion on this. I own a real estate LLC company for town homes , and on my business card I put the company name, and was wondering if I need to put something like real estate under my company name? Thanks in advance. Custom Printing Business card is a critical marketing tool for any business type. They contain business information about you and your company. A Business Card gives the basic information of your business to your potential customers in a simple and compact way.
Thanks for the comment, Marc. I agree in theory but I've yet to have anyone show real numbers from scans of QR codes on a business card from any of my conversations.
And believe me, it's something I talk about a lot. I agree with everything except the QR code. Okay, Shawn, thanks for the replies. Other readers should let us know if they remember anyone in a very positive way because of their cards and follow up for that reason. I don't know about that. Depending on the business, a cheap card could form a negative impression that costs you customers.
Well, I notice that I'm impressed by an impressive card but I can only think of one case where that led me to remember the card long term. And I wd have remembered that organization anyway. So I don't think an well done card is going to get you any more mileage than a cheap one.
Some sociologist should do a study. Business cards should be extensions of your brand that convey the appropriate message about who you are and what you specifically do for your business in an unforgettable presentation.
Before you consider the information you want to include on a business card, you should make sure your card includes your logo and company tagline. Your business card should accurately convey your business identity to prospects through the use of a combination of colors, shapes, and wording. Everyone who holds your business card should be able to instantly recognize your brand, and not just when they see the card but wherever your brand appears.
You want prospects to recognize you whether they see your brand on a website, newsletter, video, physical shop, or studio. This may seem like an obvious step to take, but the truth is that many individuals get these details wrong on their cards. For instance, if you want to add a personal touch to your business cards , you should include a popular nickname that you go by.
In this article, we discuss how to create a business card that can make a lasting impression, including what elements to put on a business card, and provide templates and examples to help you get started. There are many digital tools you can use to market yourself to employers and clients, but having a physical business card is still an important networking tool for professionals.
A business card is important because it:. Though the information you include on a business card may vary depending on the design, a business card should include information that identifies who you are as a professional, the company you work for and what your position with the company is. While it is unnecessary to include every element on your business card, consider which of the following elements are the most valuable for making your business card stand out to your professional contacts:.
Every business card should include your name, the company name and contact information. The primary purpose of your business card is to help people remember you and to be able to contact you when needed. Contact information can include your phone number, mailing address, physical address and email address. You can choose whether to include information for several different contact methods but always include at least one.
Someone looking at your business card should immediately be able to identify what your company does and what your role is within the company. You can make this clear by including your company's tagline and your position or title on the business card. If you are a freelancer or small-business owner, identify what you do before including your title.
If you are the owner of a business, include your title of "Owner" in addition to the specific professional role you serve in to identify all that you do for the business. Besides basic contact information, you can also include the URL for your website or social media profiles, but choose the URLs you use most frequently to best use the small space of the business card.
You can include a website URL to your company's website home page, about page, contact page or another landing page. You can also include the URL to a digital portfolio to showcase your work. Pictures and logos can add a visual element that makes your business card more memorable. You can use a picture of yourself, a sample of the work that you do, a company logo or a personal brand logo. It is important to ensure the picture you choose is clear and easy to see in a small size.
White space is any space on your business card that does not have text. The amount of white space your business card has is an actual element of your card. Use white space to keep the design and structure of information simple and easy to read. Have enough space to effectively separate the most important information and make it stand out to the people viewing your card.
Determine what settings you plan to use your card in and what goals you hope to achieve by providing business cards. This can help you decide between a professional business card, a personal business card or a business card that serves another purpose, such as your association with a volunteer or non-profit organization.
The standard business card shape and size is a rectangle that is 3. You can design a rectangular business card to have a horizontal or vertical format. But you can also choose a unique shape or size to help make your business card stand out, such as a circle, pentagon or another shape. Using a business card template can help you determine what information to include on your business card and the format or structure of that information.
0コメント