How to create the greatest business card in the world… ever!
by Julian Gratton
Before I start this blog, I’ve set myself some ground rules. Simply because I know there are lots of blog postings, articles and galleries on the web dedicated to really funky and creative business cards. There is nothing wrong with these cards… it’s just that one of my biggest niggles about fancy business cards is that they don’t fit in my business card holder, or my wallet for that matter!
Ok that may be a bit old fashioned of me. But I like my business card holder. It serves the lovely purpose of holding lots of business cards that I can flick to in an instant. The only problem with it is that if the card is larger than 3.5 × 2 inches… I have to get the scissors out, or it just gets lost. And until someone invents a business card app for my iPhone, I’m going to stick to paper.
So we’ve set the rules. We’re working within 3.5 × 2 inches
Hugh Macleod at Gaping Void proved a long time ago that you can do a lot within a 3.5 × 2 inch piece of card. And if any of you have read or seen American Psycho, you’ll know that, for some, the business card is more than just your name, number and title. It’s a status symbol. Something that can open doors due to the beauty of the design and stock and of course the patter that goes with it.
Hugh Macleod has proved you can do some very creative things within a business card size.
These days, though, anyone can have a beautifully designed card on a very nice piece of paper with a watermark. What everyone can’t have, however, is a business card that creates impact and becomes instantly memorable, thus keeping you at the forefront of a prospective customer or business partner’s mind.
Having such a business card created is big business these days believe it or not. Companies such as ‘Adoré Business Card Psychology’ have even published a book that promises to help you “expand your business riding on the invisible force of human psychology”. Adoré highlight that “you can either design a business card that attracts business to you. OR, let your potential clients or customers throw away your business cards, denying you the moneymaking opportunity”.
It may sound like a little bit of an over reaction, but they do have a point.
So come on then smarty-pants… tell us how to create the greatest business card ever!
Ok, I have a belief. It’s quite a simple belief really, but it’s one that a lot of marketers share. That belief is people buy from people. And more importantly, people buy from people they like. Don’t believe me. Well, someone shares this view so much they wrote a book on it. It’s quite good too.
So whatever company you work for, whatever service you provide, always remember that when it comes to a business relationship. The relationship is with you and the company. Not just the company.
So by all means have a corporate card, but have a corporate card that says something about you as a person. Something that opens up a conversation beyond business. As anyone knows, the easiest way to remember a person is by knowing an interesting fact about them; like they support West Ham or they go Deep Sea Diving or they are a lifelong fan of Steely Dan.
The reverse of my business card
One way to do this is by having an image printed on the reverse of your card. An image that in no way bears any relation to the business you are in. An image that prompts the recipient to ask ‘Why?’ Giving you the perfect opportunity to leave a lasting impression on that person.
Take the reverse of my business card opposite. A picture of Peter Sellers that I took in New York a few years ago that also won me a photography competition. It’s been incredibly useful at starting conversations that have meant I have found a common ground with someone.
It’s not all about an image… words play a part too!
Company logo. Web address. Name. Position. Phone Number. Email address. Company address. Maybe some words about what we do. Sounds boring doesn’t it. No matter how nicely you set the type, play with colours or add a lovely piece of embossing. It’s still the same predictable pieces of information.
Now there is nothing wrong with being predictable. After all, a business card needs to be predictable really. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add words to make the card more memorable and personal to the individual carrying it.
Remember Steve Martin? He used to be really funny. Films like ‘The man with two brains’ ‘The Jerk’ and ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ were absolute comic classics. I once heard a fabulous story about Steve Martin that rather than sign autographs, he gave people signed business cards.
Now you may be thinking, yeah but that’s Steve Martin, he can get away with such a card. Yet there’s no reason why you can’t also inject a little personality into the words of your card and still get over the information people need to know. We took inspiration from Steve Martin’s card at Red C and created the one you see below… which is altered for every member of Red C’s staff.
What I like about the wording of both Steve Martin’s card and Red C’s card is that they make you smile. I can’t tell you the amount of times I have seen people smile while reading our cards… and I bet everyone who has a Steve Martin card shows it to their friends and they all remark what a funny guy he is (or used to be).
Take some time to think about your business and the people who are on your front line. In many ways, your business card will be the first contact some people have with your company, so it’s worth investing some time and thought into the words that go on your card to make them, and your people, more memorable. Rather like this clever card highlighted on Craig Edmond’s blog.
So there you have it.
It’s not about fancy designs or gimmicks or silly paper folds. Creating a memorable business card is all about injecting something of you into it. And if you’re an interesting person who has something to offer a prospective business associate… your card will tell the prospect this and they’ll remember you well enough to drop you a line.
If you’d like to have a memorable business card created for you… why not give Red C a call on 0161 872 1361 or click here
Tags: Adoré Business Card Psychology, American Psycho, Business Card Designs, Clever Business Cards, Craig Edmond’s Blog, Direct Marketing Agency, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Gaping Void, Graphic Design Agency, Hugh MacLeod, Manchester Advertising Agency, Manchester Design Agency, Marketing Agency, PPC Agency, Psychology of Design, Red C Business Card, SEO Company, Steve Martin, Steve Martin's Business Card, The Jerk, The Man With Two Brains
