Business Cards That do the Business

A business card makes a statement about who you are and whatyour business is about. It needs to convey the quality ofyour business and an insight into your personality.I have been handed business cards and the first thought togo through my mind was - "Cheap" A tacky design - lowquality paper - doesn't feel good in the hand and lookscheap to the eye. That then becomes my overall impression ofthe business.

Here are some ideas:

*Use colour - black and white is too boring but don't use"day-glo" colours - too cheap

*Put your photo on - it will help people remember you andmake that important human contact. The photo needs to faceinto the text, not away and be of good quality - not a "mugshot."

*Quality paper - my business cards are made from a reallydurable card, that doesn't get "dog eared" easily and aredifficult to tear up

*Put your logo on - make the logo small, you've a lot moreimportant information to put on your card. You don'tnecessarily need a logo but helps give you an identity. Geta graphic designer to produce one for you; however there issoftware you can buy for a DIY job. If you don't have a logoyou could utilise a drawing, caricature or a picture - aslong as you're consistent.

*Make it a standard shape - however you can use a fold-overwhich gives more space for text and looks different. I usedto have a card like a small tent card. I've seen it severaltimes standing on a customer's desk. It looked too good tothrow away.

*Do something different - have a card that stops people intheir tracks and makes them want to find out more

*Have benefit statements and/or your USP (Unique SalesPoint) prominently on the card - tell customers what you cando for them - how you can help solve their problems. Yourname and your business name should be much less prominent.

*Use both side of the card - if you have a photo, benefitstatements and all your business details then you'll needboth sides of the card. Business details can go on one sideand benefit statements on the other.

*Don't squeeze too much in - it can start to look messy

*Contact information - you business name, address, phone,email and website. I would avoid putting your mobile phonenumber on. You can always write it on for "special"customers, letting them know that you only give this numberto certain people.

*Your name - put your name on as you'd like to be addressedwhen a customer calls you. You don't need all the middleinitials. Also avoid all your qualifications, the majorityof people aren't impressed by all the exams you've passed;they only want to know if you can solve their problems andthey could even be put off by a whole string of letters.

*Make the text easy to read - don't use all capital lettersand not too many typefaces. Fancy fonts can look reallycheap

*Change of details - if your details change, don't scoreout the old and write the new stuff in - order new cards.Putting little stickers on with your new information isanother no-no; it makes you and your business look cheap.

Discover how you can generate more business without havingto cold call!Alan Fairweather is the author of "How to get More Saleswithout Selling" This book is packed with practical thingsthat you can do to - get customers to come to you . Click here nowhttp://www.howtogetmoresales.com