We all know the importance of networking. It’s something us young professionals have down. Well, sort of. How embarrassing is it when you’re at a social event and everyone is trading business cards but you have none to give? Oh wait, that was me. But now I know better. The value of business cards, I believe, is severely underrated.
Business cards are like a mini résumés to give out. They create a first impression and if you get creative enough, can catch the eye of potential employers. Here are few tidbits on how to use these cards to your advantage.
Be Different
Basic marketing commands that your product stands out of a crowd, but at the same time, appeals to a broad audience. That’s perhaps your greatest challenge when designing a business card to promote yourself. Use color and different sizes if you’d like. Just don’t go so over the top that your card takes away from the content.
Be More Specific
Your business card should clearly state what it is you do. But that’s not enough. When someone is thumbing through a stack of business cards 10 months from now, there needs to be a tagline that supports what you do. Make it catchy if you’d like.
Less is More
Think of your own reading habits. A business card holds your attention for a mere second. Not only does your information need to be presented in a clear and concise matter, but you better make sure the important info — no wait, ALL of the info — can be read and comprehended on the first pass. Even better still, give them a place to find all your important info in one place like LinkedIn. You don’t want to distract the reader with too much. It works just like any other written communication.
