Ask a Gen Zer, and they’d probably say a business card is an antiquated way of doing business. But what do you include in your thank you letters and other snail mail communication? Wait. What. Handwritten letters are considered too old fashioned as well? Welp. Maybe, but a lot of my business comes from the art of a handwritten letter.
If you are still a business-card-carrying entrepreneur, then let’s chat a bit. I have a binder busting at the seams with business cards. And when I need a resource for a client, friend, or just someone I network with, I drag out the files and start searching. It can be a painstaking process (Anyone interested in organizing these into business categories for me? Oh wait! I do believe I might know an organizer or two). However, if they incorporate a portrait of themselves onto the card, my life just got simpler.
Do a little test study for yourself, and see what cards stand out to you. If a picture grabs your attention like it does mine, call your favorite photographer and schedule a session. Maybe you don’t know one or have time to leave the office for a headshot. Well, you just might be in luck. Photography by Misty and her team are very well trusted in the Dallas/Plano/McKinney/Frisco areas for professional headshots, and we will happily pack up our professional gear and head your way.
A few little other things about business cards. Make the verbiage legible; remember many of us need reading glasses. My friends at LoneStar Vision hooked my husband up after he became incredibly frustrated even with readers. Come to find my man with perfect vision needed more than an aid for more than just reading. And, I really like the added sophistication of glasses. Bold and clear type for your name, phone number, email, and website are the basics.
Try to be concise. I skip the http:// and the www in front of my website and email. I believe most of the world knows the basic internet of things. Also, I capitalize the beginning of each new word in my email and website (and no the web does not discriminate between upper and lower case letters in websites and emails). For example: PhotographyByMisty.com is much easier to read than photographybymisty.com. Wouldn’t you agree?
Keep any business communication on brand? On what…? Ok, now the Gen Zers are really laughing. Keep it on brand, Man. It is much harder than it sounds. My friend Kim with Kim Schlossberg Designs can help you create and keep on-brand with all of your business endeavors.
While your image alone will set you apart from the competition, let’s take it a step further. There are so many options when it comes to business cards, and it’s the little things that help you stand out from your competition. For instance, my card is round. I can tell you a plethora of stories about my round business cards. The downside, however, is I have yet to find a company where I can incorporate some of the other super cool features. One of my favorite websites for really unique business cards, whether you stick with the typical 3.5x2 or choose another size is Moo. Choose from super thick cards with a color band, foil accents, raised lettering, and more.
Sure, you can cheap out business cards, but who remembers those? Stand up & stand out (and then deliver on your promises).
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