Business cards are our everyday life, starting from the 17th century, when in Europe business cards served as an invitation to visit. Even in the digital age, the business world is unimaginable without them, a tiny piece of paper that can be hidden in the palm of your hand, but with great power.
We at enivo have created a series of articles covering the trends, opportunities and tricks to get your customers to treasure your business cards.
What business cards to make?
Let’s start by finding out how many sets of business cards you have? One? Two? There are no rules or laws that require this, although it is common to have one set.
But remember, when creating any product, it is right to take into account who will be the target audience and its needs. We invite you to use the same condition on business cards!
For example, the language of the target audience – it is important to put each language on a separate set of business cards – definitely do not use a double-sided business card for this purpose. Why? At the first moment, it seems that it creates an impression – I am from an international company, or we have cooperation partners in different countries, or I know several languages. Let me break this assumption down, from this point of view – I am an entrepreneur or a representative of a company traveling abroad to represent my business, but I do not have the means to print a separate package for another language! In addition, the other side of the business card can be used more creatively, with higher sales returns, which we will talk about in future series of articles.
Therefore, we invite you to plan several sets of business cards for your employees. For example, give as a gift before a business trip or after one year of work.
Some business consultants recommend at least two sets – one for image and one for sales. For image business cards, choose higher quality material and coating, while the sales business card should be brought to life with the conveyed message.
Additional business card sets can be more informal, deviating from the style books. Use these sets to create emotions, for example when contacting potential employees for the first time. Remember, any communication that involves or evokes emotion gets half the return and engagement.
The front of the business card
The front of the business card is usually reserved for the company’s logo, name, surname, and contact information.
To make business cards easier to understand, structure and review the information you will put on them. For example, for business cards intended for the territory of our country, do not separate the mobile phone and the landline – it is still possible to decode it by the first digits. Delete the fax number if you still have one on your business card!
If you have been working in your industry for several years, add experience – this will help position you as an opinion or industry leader, creating additional value to what you have said.
Every company has an email that acts as a “black hole” where everything comes and goes. It starts with info@.. If you have such an e-mail, it is better not to put it on your business card. We recommend that the company allocate separate e-mails and use them for different purposes – for example, work@ or sales@, or orders@, etc.
Another tip – it is not necessary to indicate your full name on business cards, if, for example, you have a second name that you don’t use every day – don’t put it. A business card is not an identification card, where all personal data must be indicated. The business card helps to determine the style of the conversation in which the communication will continue, so indicate the name by which you want the cooperation partner to call you.
Try different combinations, of course, remember not to overcrowd the business cards with all possible information.
Posts for business cards
For those employees who most often make the first contact with potential or existing cooperation partners, put unusual positions. They will encourage questions and can serve to start the first conversation and help the customer remember your company better.
Here are interesting examples of positions:
- Guardian angel – for the customer relations manager;
- I am looking for talents – recruitment (the bravest can try – Headhunter);
- Spokesperson for information systems – IT engineers, managers, etc.;
- Business dream catcher – business developer;
- Software ninja – programmer;
- Manager of first impressions – office administrator, perception staff;
- Success story manager – customer manager;
- Digital master – website creation or digital marketing manager;
- Financial maestro – senior accountant, financial analyst;
- Igniter of idea bulbs – customer manager, creative manager;
- “Ooo!” moment creator – event organizer, marketing manager;
- Professional handshaker – company manager.
A brief summary
Try different variants of business cards, test how they work, printing business cards is a minimal expense!
- Do not print two languages on double-sided business cards, this creates a cheap impression and does not use the potential of the other side of the business cards.
- Use several sets of business cards – both matching the brand’s style book and more informal in evoking emotions.
- Don’t clutter the front of the business card with unnecessary information – forget about fax numbers or your middle name if you don’t use it every day.
- Try different informal job titles, they can help generate interest with whoever you give your business card to. Just as well, someone can share it on social media and get exposure for your business.
- When going to a meeting, take different types of business cards with you, you can never predict which contact you will meet – formal or informal.
If you make customers smile or want to learn more about your company, the business card will have already sold for you.
In the next series of articles, how to use the other side of the business card.