Get A Good Business Card

Many of us don't give a second thought to our business cards. We rely on the company we work for to just give us a box of whatever design they have.
I understand that many of us might not think we have control over our cards or even that it matters.
In a practical sense it absolutely matters!

If you think about it, whenever we meet someone either in business or socially we often exchange numbers. Parents exchange information to schedule play dates, recruiters hand out cards to prospective candidates, salespeople hand out to prospects, politicians hand out cards to constituents, job seekers to prospective employers. There are lots of times you are handing out your contact information. Whenever you hand someone your information the first thing they do is look at it. Make that impression memorable.
Something that stays in their mind.
An image that brands you and tells them what you do and...
WHY THEY SHOULD KEEP YOUR CARD!

If you can design your own I encourage you to do so.
Use pictures, logos, bright colors and designs. Make it something that shows your personality. Which of the cards above do you think were ones I made as opposed to corporate ones given to me?

If you can't design your cards, try to add your own branding phrase that makes you stand out. On one of the cards above you'll notice that my branding phrase "A Heck of A Nice Guy" appears. I didn't design the card, but when they asked me what I wanted listed for my title I asked them to include that phrase.
That generated more response than anything else on that card.

If you can't do either of the above, write something on the card. Cards that have a few words written on the front of the card get remembered more often than not in my own experience.

In Japan EVERYONE has a business card. They are usually very exquisite with beautiful designs. There is a ritual to handing a business card to someone. Part of it involves taking the card and putting it into a pocket as close to your heart as possible. That symbolizes that you held what the person had to say and their identity of value and appreciated them.
Make your business cards personalized and see who holds you and what you have to say of value.

Need more Advice on your business card:

6 Ways Your Business Card Can Still Pack A Big Punch:

http://everetsblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/6-ways-your-business-card-can-still.html

Thanks!
Ev
A Heck of A Nice Guy