The Secrets of a Successful Business Card

Have you ever had a business card handed to you with only the company name and number on it, and when you go to call the person, you’re not sure who you were talking to?  Chance are you threw the card away, or made an awkward phone call trying to track down the mystery person  This article is going to help you so your business card doesn’t get tossed in the trash like these poor examples.

One of the first things that should be on a business card is the name of the person handing it out.  This makes the individual seem more important and professional.  In this area you can also include the job title and if the person is the manager or owner of the company it is good to include those details on the business cards also.  In a large business it is very important to put and individuals name on the business card so the recipient will know who to contact.  The name of the individual as is usually printed in large, bold lettering so it sands out.

Business cards always include the name of the business or organization.  This text is always in large print and bold as well.  It is good to include your business or organization’s logo on the business card as well, but nothing to flashy that will detract from the business name or that of the individual.

The physical or mailing address is typical to include on your business card.  If your business is based online or only has a mailing address you do not need to include the physical address.  Having both a physical and a mailing address on your business card can be confusing to a viewer so make sure each of them are clearly labelled if you include both on your card.

It is very important to include phone numbers or contact numbers on your business card.  Usually they are listed in order of voice, fax, and cell.  Remember, do not include numbers that are not preferred as a method of contact or are likely to change.  Your contact numbers should include the area code or country code as well as an extension number if applicable.  You can use periods, spaces or other characters to separate the numbers but be sure to be consistent in the method you choose.

If you have an email address it would be a good idea to include it on your business card as well.  Today people use email as the quickest way of contacting each other.  This is essential if your business is web-based, however there seems to be a generation gap with regards to using email as a communication tool so be prepared to alter your communication method for users who still prefer a traditional phone conversation.  Including the web address is a good way for customers to view additional information about your business without taking up the time of your staff, and having a website, while not essential, also aids in lifting the image of your business. Think of it as a user-driven sales environment, where your prospective customers can control how much, or how little information about your business they would like to be exposed to.

A tagline or description of your business can be a useful if your business name doesn’t clearly say what the business does.  This can also give a snapshot of the culture and mood that your business portrays and will allow your potential customers to identify with your business on an emotional level and decide if your services are what they are looking for in this regard.  Your tagline should position your business and service offering clearly and with substance and panache.  Doing all these things will result in a business card that is retained and gets your more inbound leads!