In an ever shrinking world, where everyone is connected via the web, independent business people are faced with a plethora of challenges. They must separate themselves from thousands of competitors, and second, they need to remain relevant. Business cards may seem counterintuitive, in a world where we can find seemingly endless information on our smart phones or computers. However, this old-school data exchange remains effective in making and continuing a good first impression – hopefully leading to more business, or even a job or career.
What makes an effective business card? For answering this question, I must turn to the most efficient business card I have encountered: The Joker’s card in Christopher Nolan’s film, The Dark Knight. The card, a joker from a normal deck of 52, is an incredibly effective business card because it efficiently gets The Joker’s point across with the following: simple contact info and an obvious declaration of exactly what his business is, all while creating a memorable moment.
I wholeheartedly believe the Joker’s sentiment also: “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.” So my essentials for effective business cards are as follows:
- Simple, straightforward contact info. Provide the easiest ways of getting in contact whether it would be an email, phone number, or social media site(s).
- Regardless of the form of contact, keep the options simple, view your card as a reflection of yourself, keeping in mind that no one wants to have to stare at a card for 5 minutes to figure out how to get in touch with you
- Make your business goals obvious. Someone should be able to pick up your card and immediately know what your business can do for them. I should be able to know immediately if you’re selling car insurance or farm animals.
- Show personality. An effective business card separates itself from every other card in the deck. Whether through shape, color, brand, logo, or a joke, an effective business card should declare its (and your) individuality.
- Always keep in mind the importance of simplicity and restrain from gaudy colors or illustrations; in this case less is usually more.
While there is no exact science to creating an effective business card, keeping it simple and obvious while working in your personality is a good place to start. So if you are an up-and-coming business person trying to become and stay relevant, keep these few tips in mind when constructing your card. Do you have any tips you follow when printing your card? Please, share in the comments below.
Until next time,
Yours truly,
Tommy Antonopoulos, Blogger for OfficeTime
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