5 Common Business Card Mistakes

The easiest way to get your name in front of people is a business card. It amazes me how often this piece of marketing is overlooked; it’s not that people neglect to use biz cards, but more the lack of time and creativity used when developing them. If used properly, you can create an unforgettable glimpse of your blog. Here are 5 common mistakes that I notice most when I see business cards.

1. Ever heard of ROY G BIV? - You know, the colors of the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet? One of the easiest ways to give your business card some character is to add some color. Time and time again I see stacks of business cards that are black and white or blue and white. Spice up your card and add a dynamic color scheme that matches the theme of your blog or website. Not only will this correlate and create assimilation between your card and blog, it will also give you instant credibility. It makes you look more professional and thorough. A word of caution, don’t over-do the color so that your card is “busy” and hard to read or follow.

2. Making it All Business – People like to do business with “friends”. It’s much easier to make a purchase or form a business partnership with someone that you feel comfortable with and have established a relationship with. Don’t be afraid to add a picture of yourself on the front of your card. This can help people associate a great conversation or meeting that you had with your business. Furthermore, it’s another way to stand out amongst the busy crowd. I would suggest keeping the photo small, business casual, and fun (make sure to smile and laugh).

3. Thanks for the Postcard - We all know that differentiating our blog from the one next door is extremely important, but don’t overlook the size and shape of your card. Changing the physical shape and size of your biz card can work out well if done properly but if you go big, you more than likely are going home! The last thing that anyone wants to do, is carry around an awkward, over-sized piece of your advertising. Make sure that your card can easily fit into a wallet or pocket; ask yourself if you would carry around a post card all afternoon at a trade show or expo.

4. Novels are for the library - While the real estate on your business card should be used to the fullest extent, don’t write a book. Have you ever seen a billboard along the side the freeway that made you pull over and stop to read it? I didn’t think so. Keep your card simple with respect to text. Be short and to the point. Have a call to action or a clever slogan, but don’t try to sell your entire company mission statement. You have 5 seconds to capture your audience, not 5 minutes.

5. Gloss is for Lips- This is a personal preference. No not lip gloss, but glossy cards. I’ve never been a big fan of them. The biggest reason I don’t like the slippery, wet look on business cards is because you can’t write on them. Many times when I meet a potential client or business partner, I want to make a quick note on the margins or back of the card. This is especially true if I want to contact them in the future and need to recall our meeting. I suggest keeping the gloss in the make-up kit.

These are just 5 tips that I find are the most common blunders when making a business card. I could probably write a list of 20; stick to the basics, add a little creativity and you should have no trouble finding your way to pocket of potential blog customer or business partner. I would love to hear any tips or insight you might have to offer!