What’s your business card? Plain filter or a triple-shot, decaf, frosted latte?

“What does your business card say about you?”

1. BUSINESS CARD LOOK – what format is best?

• Landscape v Portrait? For my copywriting business, a Portrait business card might be made to look like a Bookmark….or would that be too gimicky?
• Single v Double-fold? Double-fold allows for more information…but does it then begin to look less like a business card and more like a mini-book?

2. BUSINESS CARD FRONT – what information is essential?

• Names – company & personal
• Title – although ‘Director’ doesn’t tell you much; should it be more specific?

• Address – interestingly, some felt an address was not needed.
• Accreditations/Qualifications – depends on the industry….but where do you stop and does it make you look stand-offish?
• Strapline – essential for me (but then I’m a copywriter), indulgent for others
• Social media icons – some felt these were necessary, I tend to presume everybody is on Linkedin (though they do add colour)

• Networking groups –  include these?
• Charities – likewise?

3. BUSINESS CARD BACK – should it be blank or full of information?

• Full of information v Blank ? Make use of space OR leave white space to write upon?
• Testimonials – one card had it on the back, which I thought was a great idea; should it be on the front though?
• Have a heading ‘Notes’ above the blank space – this becomes an ‘invitation to write’
• Creative formatting? It struck me that as a copywriter, I could draw a line down the middle to make it appear like the spine of a book, and have say a Testimonial on the left-hand side, and a Notes space on the right-hand side – voilá!

• QR codes – the room was divided here, with the printer amongst us warning about details such as print quality and the need for a QR code bigger than a postage stamp….I’m with the printer myself!
• Include books – if you’re the author of a book which is a key selling/marketing point for your business, include this fact on your business card