putting your best (card) forward
DESCRIPTION
What's small (usually), rectangular (mostly), and can make or break your organization's first impression for less than a penny each? Your business card! Here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of this important yet often overlooked tool. Get inspired by unusual design, learn how to use your card wisely for marketing and networking and discover which business card blunders you should avoid at all costs.TRANSCRIPT
putting your best (card) forward
what we’ll cover:
business card basics
business card etiquette
put your cards to work
design ideas & inspiration
basics (you already know this stuff)
portable legible correct right details plain is ok dark on light
basics (you already know this stuff)
take them everywhere hand them out put them on display collect other people’s keep them organized act on them
Fine. Now what?
it’s all about
the details
business card etiquette
focus on people, not cards ask for their card first; don’t wait to be asked offer solutions, not sales follow up if you promised
put your business card to (net)working
(mark up cards as you get them)
-Charlene Marmer Solomon, “Overcoming Business Card Phobia” Black Enterprise, 1994
put your business card to (net)working
(mark up cards as you get them)
put your business card to (net)working
(capture the information electronically)
put your business card to (net)working
(follow up if you promised to)
put your business card to (net)working
(continue looking for what others need)
put your business card to (net)working
(keep in touch…LinkedIn & FB might help…)
put your business card to (net)working
(…and there’s Twitter, too…)
put your business card to (net)working
(you’ll gradually turn “weak links” into strong ties)
put your business card to (ad) work
(make your card do double duty)
put your business card to (ad) work
(make your card do double duty)
put your business card to (ad) work
(make your card do double duty)
put your business card to (ad) work
(personal cards can even lead to a job)
So let’s get inspired!
business cards can be little
white space is nice
yes, a card-shaped video!
traditional forms are now optional
it can represent your values…
…and be really cool, too.
freebies can function as cards…
…but match the freebie to the target market
so are there rules anymore?
(your name isn’t even necessary…)
you bet!
(…except when it is!)
other blunders to avoid
(so you got this card for free.
how’s your cash flow again?)
other blunders to avoid
(have up-to-date cards at all times)
other blunders to avoid
(keep it with you at all times!)
other blunders to avoid
(don’t look just like everyone else)
Now It’s Your Turn to Play!
resources
Here’s My Card
by
Bob Popyk
resources
http://tinyurl.com/ccplbusinessdatabases
resources
http://digg.com/search?s=using+business+cards
resources
design-by-bid websites
your business questions answered @ ccpl
805-6930
IM: http://tinyurl.com/ccplhelp
@ccplbusiness