Your Business Card - Memorable or Mediocre?

You've just returned from a good networking event, and you're going through the several business cards you've collected. Like a professional, you're writing notes on the front or back of each card while the event is fresh in your mind.

One card, however, stands out from the pack. It's unique, memorable, tasteful and professional all at once. The conversation you had with this contact stands out, and you remember it vividly. Your notes about this person are clearer, and you make a mental decision to call this person first.

Your business card says a lot about you, and lingers long after your meeting is over. What does yours say? In today's hyper-competitive business world, any edge you can give yourself is important, and few are cheaper than the little extra it takes to own quality business cards.

Here are some ideas on what you can do to become more memorable in that 3?" x 2" space:

Every business card should contain these basics:
o Name and title
o Company logo
o Company name and address
o E-mail address
o Web site address
o Phone and fax (including Area Code)
o Cell phone (if needed)

Consider using a photo. In the digital age, photos are becoming cheaper and easier to produce on business cards. The photo can be of you, but it doesn't have to be; for example, if you're a builder, you might include a photo of a breathtaking custom home you've designed and built.

Die-cut business cards are memorable because they're of a slightly different shape than the rest. They're still the standard 3 ?" x 2" size, but with a distinctive cut. Talk to your printer about the options available to you.

The backs of business cards are often unused and overlooked as a place to put valuable information, such as a personal benefit statement or a list of reasons to choose your company over the competition. On the back of my card, I've placed the definition of my company name, The 800-Pound Gorilla, and I get a positive response from it on nearly every exchange. (If you'd like to see the front and back of my business card, just send an e-mail to bill@The800PoundGorilla.com with the word Business Card in the subject line.)

In terms of size, most people prefer the standard size to the newer, oversized cards. Many people still put their business cards into a booklet or plastic business card file that is sized for a 3?" x 2" card. Oversized cards can become a nuisance to these people because they will not fit, and unless they trim them down, these cards will not make it into the booklet.

Be careful to use a card stock that accepts ball-point pen, as people will want to write notes about you and your meeting on the front or back. Some card finishes are difficult if not impossible to write on, and may be a negative in the long run.

Business cards are your mini-billboard. Don't miss this golden opportunity to distinguish yourself with potential new prospects right from the start.

Bill Guertin is Chief Enthusiasm Officer (CEO) of The 800-Pound Gorilla, a high-energy sales and business improvement company based in the south Chicago suburbs. He is the author of Reality Sells: Bringing Customers Back Again and Again By Marketing Your Genuine Story, and is a sales trainer for many ticket sales teams from the NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, and Major League Soccer.

Bill conducts workshops, seminars, retreats, and delivers several keynote presentations each year on sales performance, creative marketing, and service excellence. To learn more, visit http://www.The800PoundGorilla.com or http://www.RealitySells.com