What Your Business Card Says About You

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

Business cards are an essential part of your marketing and brand awareness.  One could argue they are the most important aspect of your marketing, second only to your website.  Every where you go, any time you speak about your business, any time you introduce yourself, you are giving your card to someone ( or you should be 😉 ).  What does your business card really say about you and your business?

I understand we all need to start somewhere, and ordering the free business cards is great when you are just starting up and have not fully establish your niche, (I shudder at my first business cards and lack of professional logo!)  But once you have established yourself and understand your niche, you need to recognize it is time to take it up a notch and show the world who you are.  It is so disappointing to be speaking with someone, be interested in their company and then receive a bad business card.  It completely changes the way you see their company.

Just like an invitation is a wedding guest’s first glimpse of the wedding, your business card is often the first glimpse a potential client or affiliate has of your business. Just as a wedding invitation should properly depict the style and formality of a wedding, your business card should properly depict your style and type of clientele.

A business card should communicate your contact information, company brand, style, if you are innovative, modern or classic and the level of clientele you work with.

Components of a great business card:

• Professional logo
• Nice design
• Quality paper/stock
• Directs to a professional website
• Business URLs
• Proper representation of the scope and calibre of the company
• Shape

We have focused on the importance of a logo before, so having a professional logo goes with out saying.  We have focused on the importance of a good website.
*If you are using a gmail account or a free URL for your business, get proper business URLs before you make business cards.

Paper/Stock
Business cards can be printed on a multitude of different stocks: Cardstock, plastic, linen, coated, metal, magnetic, cotton, bamboo, wood, chocolate, cookies, pearlized, clear, etc.

The quality of your stock, should be a direct reflection of the quality of wedding you wish to work with.  If you get your business cards printed at a discount stationer, using one of their templates, do not expect to book 6 and 7-figure weddings.  Likewise, if your goal is to work with couples on a budget to help them stretch their wedding dollar, don’t pass out letter pressed business cards on thick cotton or bamboo.  If you print your business cards at home you are conveying the message that you have a hobby, not a business.

If you are specializing in weddings, why not have a Wedding Stationer create your business cards? Have the cards laser-cut or letter pressed, just like a high-end invitation.

Design
Show your flair and choose a design that does not fit the business card cookie cutter.  Have portrait rather than landscape cards, use calligraphy or abstract fonts.  Show your personality.

There are many great graphic artists who can create a business identity package for you.  It does not have to cost you a lot of money, there are many wonderful graphic designers, who specialize in business identity, ready to be hired on Elance.com.

Shape and Size
Business cards do not have to be the usual 2-inch x 3-inch cards most commonly seen.  Stand out from the crowd and have square, circle, mini, larger, rounded corners, etc.

Look at all these shapes available at MorningPrint.com:

Whatever you choose to represent your company, remember that is exactly what you are doing, representing your company.  Before you order those business cards, ask yourself, “What does this card say about me?”