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5 Pet Peeves about Business Cards by Linda Hollander, the Wealthy Bag Lady
October 2011
1. CROSS-OUTS WRITTEN OVER IN PEN. The most egregious mistake! If your phone number or email has changed, please print new business cards. Don't use a pen to cross out and write the current information.
2. CONTACT INFORMATION IS MISSING. A card with no physical address brands you as a teeny tiny micro-business. If you're a home-based business, I don't recommend giving the address of your house - but there are alternatives. Private mailbox rental locations are great because they also accept packages. You can get a post office box, or use a friend's office as a physical address. When I read your business card, I also want your phone number, fax, web site and email address. Without your email, you look like a dinosaur. If you have a web site, don't just list it - give people a reason to go there (free report, articles, tips, etc.)
3. MORE THAN 3 PHONE NUMBERS. Too Much Information. Choose the best phone numbers to reach you. I don't list my cell; I forward my calls to my cell phone if I'm out of the office. If you've read my book, Bags to Riches, you know that I'm not a fan of the combination phone/fax. If you're serious about your business, invest in a dedicated fax line.
4. FONTS THAT ARE HARD TO READ. Fancy fonts for your logo are great, but please choose a standard font for the contact information on your business card. Arial and Times Roman are clean and convey credibility. Another common mistake is colored type too light to read. I've seen yellow type on a white background too many times to count. One more point: the difference between a professional designer and a hack is the use of negative space. A beginner crams too much information on the card, creating clutter.
5. NICKNAMES. The name on the top of the card says Elizabeth "Betty" Jones. I have no idea what name to use. Am I crossing the line if I use your nickname? Is Betty only for your close friends? Which name do you prefer? Please pick one name and use it on your business card.
ALWAYS carry your business cards. Your business cards won't work unless you do. (If you meet people who don't have their business cards, ask them to write their contact information on the back of yours.)
More Information
Bags to Riches: 7 Success Secrets for Women in Business
Another Tidbit
| from How to Create Your Own Luck | |
| Savvy businesswomen know the importance of networking at conferences, meetings, and other professional functions. But according to Susan RoAne, author of How to Create Your Own Luck, a willingness and ability to strike up a conversation with a fellow passenger at an airport or a stranger while waiting for an elevator are chief among several distinguishing traits that set successful people apart. "When you talk to someone you don't know about little things, you find things in common and develop a connection," says RoAne. "That's when you may learn about a job or other business opportunity." People who seem "lucky" in business and in life also exhibit an openness to possibilities, says RoAne. "Being closed works great in poker, but unless you let people know what you're interested in, they can't possibly offer you leads, information, support, or contacts. Other traits include a willingness to ask for or offer help, and being able to make gracious, timely exits without burning bridges." |
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Chester County Women (CCW)
ph: 610•453•7215
alt: facebook: chester county women
INFO