Have you given any special thought to your business card? It is so easy to stay with the boring. The tried and true. The problem with the tried and true however is that it isn’t memorable. It also doesn’t communicate your creativity. People don’t pay top dollar for a me-too firm. They’ll pay for much more for a one of a kind unique design that is well thought out and spot on to help them meet their goals for their website.
Your business card can help to make you and your firm stick in your prospect’s mind. This is especially true after a networking event where your prospect has collected multiple business cards and has to then sit down and categorize them based on need. If your card has a professional, creative look to it it can communicate to the potential client that you’ll approach their website with that same creativity.
I also recommend that you get made full color business cards with your picture on them. That way, by looking at the card they will remember the conversation they had with you in person and it will help them to continue the hopefully positive feelings your first contact gave them. When including a photo on your card make sure to smile. People respond better to attractive people than to people with average looks. If you haven’t been blessed with good looks you can make up for it in part by making sure to look inviting in your photo. Smiling people are much more likeable than someone who has a serious face. It builds the know, like and trust factor.
Using templates can save time.
Whenever you start a design it can be easier to start with a template. You might want to check out these 40 template ideas as a start. The more out of the box creative your business card design is, the more it is going to cost you. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether it makes sense for you and your firm to make that investment. Personally, I got a lot of my business through face to face contact via networking and door to door sales. You have to do what makes sense for you. If you get or intend to get most of your clients via the internet, a business card won’t be as important.
Given the low cost of business cards I believe that every web designer / developer should get some. You can get 500 business cards made for around $30. A ridiculously low investment for their impact. Even if you pay up to $100 per 500 it is still inexpensive.
I’d love to know what you think about business cards? Do you see them as essential? Unnecessary?