How to have the Best Business Card

8 Easy Things You Can Do

How many business cards do you throw away in a year? More importantly, how many of your business cards get thrown away by other people?

The truth is, business cards are one of the cheapest forms of advertising. So much so that many people don’t take them seriously. Nowadays, people just want to find you online. Let’s face it, if people Google “magician entertainment” they instantly get more than a single business card would ever give them.

However, if done correctly, business cards are still one of the best and most effective forms of advertising. The question is, are you doing it correctly?

What does your card look like?

If you already have a business card, go get it…if not, grab one that someone handed you recently. Look at the card. If the average person was holding your card in one hand and a competitor’s card in the other hand, what would make that person call you instead of your competitor? If you can’t answer that question, we need to fix it!

8 Things you can do to your card!

Our goal is to always look for something that will stand out. But more importantly, we’re trying to convey the quality of our work. If our business card looks like it was printed at home on a cheap printer, how does that make your business look? Quality plus difference can be way more effective than you think.

One time, I handed my card to another magician who said, almost complaining, “This really doesn’t look like any other magician’s business card”, to which I replied, “Thank you!”

1. Size does matter!

99% of business cards that people give you will be the same size. For just a few dollars more, you can get a card that’s 25% bigger, and a different shape…and a lot thicker. When you hand people your card, what if they said, “Wow!” before they even looked at it?

2. Color…duh!

Ok, no need for a long explanation. This day and age, a color business card is pretty much common place. We are far passed the days of white cards with the black writing. Color is a very cheap upgrade.

3. A picture is worth…money!

I want to see what your card is talking about. If you have a #1 landscaping company in your city, don’t show me a clip art with some dumb cartoon man mowing the grass. Show me some green grass with beautiful flowers under a blue sky on a sunny day. Make me interested.

Also, humor is not a bad thing. Funny pictures can be a great visual.

4. GET RID OF CLUTTER!!!

If a business card has a specific purpose, then you need to keep other information to a minimum. Your name, your company name, one sentence on what your company does, and your contact information. I have seen business cards that I would swear the person was trying to see how much information they could fit. Keep information to a minimum!

Also, if your services are primarily for one location, state the location. When I started out, I was primarily a magician in Charlotte, NC. I made that very clear. If it’s regional/multiple close areas (e.g. Raleigh, NC magician), including a map with a highlighted area can be good.

5. What contact information is necessary?

First, let’s talk phone numbers. How many numbers do your potential clients actually need? I had someone give me a business card that literally had FIVE phone numbers on them. Two cell numbers, an office number, home number, and a fax. Do you think for one second that people are trying all of those numbers just to reach you? Do you have any idea how unnecessary that is? Your potential clients need ONE number…the easiest for you to be reached during business hours.

Now, it’s ok to put your cell number on your card, as it might be your business number. Just don’t label it as your cell. Cell numbers and home numbers can give the appearance of desperation. Don’t let them think that you’re available 24/7.

Next, unless you have an actual storefront or business that people come to, you don’t need a physical address. That, like a fax number, is something you can give a new client over the phone if they need it.

This last one might surprise you. Don’t put your email address! This has two valuable results. One, being that it removes clutter. Second, it either encourages people to call, or it gets you more website visitors. How? If someone specifically asks how to email me, I tell them they can do it directly from my website. Score! More web traffic. And, what’s on my website? Loads more information about what I do…magic shows for events.

So summing this section up, I would put one phone number and your website on the card. Get rid of the clutter!

6. Don’t make someone put on their glasses!

Since we’re keeping information on the card to a minimum, we can afford to make the font bigger. I’m not kidding when I say, the average person can read my contact information from 15 feet away. If my card is sitting on their desk, they don’t even have to pick it up. As a friend of mine said, I don’t want people to have to take the time to look for their glasses. Make it extremely easy for people to read your card.

7. USE THE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The back of the card is incredibly valuable real estate. Client testimonials, client list, a top quality picture like we talked about earlier…all things that would make the back of the card worth looking at. Or, what if the back of your card simply had a code for 10% off your services if used before a certain date? Seriously, make the back of your card something powerful.

8. The reason for them to call…

Finally, have a call to action! Believe it or not, sometimes, people don’t exactly know what to do. “Do I need to go to your site?” “Should I send you an email.” “How do I book you?” These are questions that I’ve heard NUMEROUS times over the years. Answer the question in writing! “Book Your Corporate Event!” “Call to book Charlotte NC magician, Bryan Saint!” “For more information, visit www.Website.com.”

Quality is not as expensive as you think!

My cards are insanely good quality and I pay less today than I did at the beginning of my career. And because a good business card is so inexpensive, there’s no reason not to have an outstanding one! It’s a great feeling to hand out a business card and someone say, ” Wow! That’s a great card.” I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Joel Bauer. While talking about business cards, he said, “Your business card should be so good, that even if they don’t like you, they won’t throw it out.”

Shameless plug

Want me to speak about this to your company? Book me for a custom corporate keynote. I love an opportunity to speak to businesses about how to stand out!