No matter your industry, having a refined business card will allow you to stand apart from the crowd. Unfortunately, some professionals will rely on their business card as a last ditch effort for conversation without actually putting much effort into the card itself. We believe that by presenting a strong business card you can wordlessly inform your partner that you are purposeful in your action and word. Take a look at some basic tips to see what to include on your business card to update it to first class!
Appearance
The first thing someone is probably going to notice about your business card is the actual card itself. When considering your card’s appearance, we recommend that you consider the standard colors used by your association as well as your association persona. Are you playful and lighthearted or perhaps formal and practical? As for the card itself, typical business cards are sized at 3.5” by 2.”
While you shouldn’t feel limited to this size range, it’s important to remember that some business card holders will only accommodate the standard size. A popular option in recent years has been to increase the density of the card to create a stronger impression amongst traditional cards. Considering these details will go along way to showcase your association with this first impression.
Association Information
When first examining what you want to highlight about your company, try starting with these essential topics first to provide a strong foundation.
- Association Name
- Association Logo
- Association Tagline or Mission Statement
- About Us website address or customized landing website address
You can organize these details in a variety of ways by playing with whitespace placement, using the front and the back of the card, as well as vertical or horizontal placement. A final note about including a website page: We suggest that rather than listing your standard homepage, you consider customizing a landing page that details more information about your association and the benefits you provide. This small detail could go along way to help people find out more information about you at a faster rate.
Personal Information
What would your business card be without your own personal information? Make sure to include the follow details so that people know the best way to reach you.
- Name and Title
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Active Social Media Account(s)
We cannot emphasize this enough: Be accurate in your word and not what “sounds” better. You want to use your business card as an extension of yourself, so make it authentic and reliable to your audience. Make sure to use the name (or nickname) that you most often use in your work day as well as include social media accounts that best represent you and/or your association.
If you still feel nervous about presenting your business card, it never hurts to practice your elevator pitch and see how you can incorporate your card into your conversation. We recommend thinking of your business card as a CTA (a.k.a. call to action) that tries to provoke an immediate response from your audience. This return can be to receive their business card with yours, to circle back up at another time, or network on social media. Either way, try to view your business card as a vehicle to further your connections in your industry.
Getting your association’s name out there can be a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be! Take a look at our Small-Staff Guide to Association Marketing to see what other actionable items you can start doing now to begin recruiting new members today.
