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Business Cards
I get handed enough business cards these days that I probably need to start having them too. Any tips? Any other information I might want to consider including on there other than name/number/email/website? What about design? Anything to keep in mind? I know readability is important, but what else? And finally, should I bother shoehorning some sort of "job title" onto my card despite the fact that I'm wearing so many different hats?
Comments
All you need to know, right there. It still applies.
Such a fool, was I.
Luke, I'd be interested to hear if you had any pointers, since you're the professional entertainer around here and all.
If my goal is to simply give someone my contact information because I want to establish a relationship, I take THEIR information and send them an email. It is a much better way to start a dialogue, and they are less likely to lose it.
If my goal is to identify the source of goods I am selling, I include a business card with the business name, URL, and a short description of what the shop sells.
If your goal is just to give someone your contact info because they asked for it, then just get standard cards printed up with your name, the contact info you feel comfortable giving out to anyone, and a short line that describes what you do. Keep in mind these card may last you for awhile, so make sure it's info that isn't going to change for awhile. Don't mix your fields - if you want to have cards for several different unrelated skillsets, get different cards. Alternatively, leave a blank area on the card to write notes so the person who took your card can remember why they give a damn who you are. (This option is more efficient but less professional.)
If you want to be able to write on the card, get a card that is made of something you can write on. My shop cards are UV coated, so you can't write on them well. (I use mailing labels on them if I want to add info like discount codes for return customers.)
I don't have a business card. I just don't do much networking for employment in real life.
But what I do have are A5 postcards. I used to have lots of info on them, with phone numbers, email, websites, description, tag line, etc, etc. Then I decided to make a new design and strip out everything that isn't needed. Which phone number of Pola or me should I put on? Which email address? We performed at festivals, gala shows, cruise ships, etc... which venue should put first? The border might not be clear, but here is the card I made:
Our name, the name of our show, and a website address. If they want more info they can go to the website. The website has a similar look.
First I was unsure if this was a good idea, but EVERY time we handed out the card we got a compliment on how cool it looked. As an artistic show, the card itself was kind of an artistic statement.
If someone wanted an autograph we had plenty of space, and if we wanted to write phone numbers or email addresses, we could. Whatever you do, make sure you have plenty of white space on the card for people to make notes. Black cards, or plastic cards where you can't write with a biro, are a killer.
I wanted a card for my solo show too, so I took the same ideas and made this (not good quality jpg):
So that's it. Plenty of space, and it can work as a souvenir of my show, to sign for autographs, to write more info, etc. If people want more, they can go to the website.
EDIT: What are your guys' opinions on using QR codes on business cards? I like the idea of it in theory, but every design I've seen looks pretty awful.
I'm kinda down on QR codes in general now, possibly because RIT has decided that QR codes will become the sole means of communication with students.