Laura’s Blog

I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met at events who moan, “Ohhh, I forgot to get business cards made!”

They smack themselves upside the head for not having the foresight to bring along those tiny-yet-essential pieces of card stock to exchange with everyone they meet.

What info should you include on your business card?

Some people prescribe to the “less is better” method; others like the “more is better” method. Just remember, whatever information you print on your card, it has to be easy to read (please, no 6-point type!)

You don’t have to squish everything on one side of your card. It usually doesn’t cost much extra to get cards printed on both sides.

You’ll want to put your contact info on the front of the card, and reserve the back for an overview or promo of your core products, services, and/or programs.

For the front of the card, I recommend:

• Business name
• Business tagline
• Your name
• Your title (or a descriptor of what you do)
• Your professional-quality headshot (no blurry selfies!)
• Primary website address
• Key social networks – channels you use regularly and on which you are actively growing your following
• e-mail address
• Business address
• Phone number(s) – I use my Google Voice number here, as I don’t like to make my personal cell number public
• Fax (if applicable)

And on the back…

The back of your card can include any of the above info, or:

• Graphic logo that brands you/your business (I recommend hiring a graphic designer to create an eye-catching logo)
• Images of your product(s)
• Bulleted list of your primary products, services, and/or programs
• Link to your podcast, blog, or other key media to which you publish regularly
• Photo of you (make sure it’s professional-quality)
• Inspiring thought
• QR code

Card sizes & shapes

• Print your business cards the standard size. From time to time, people give me oversized or oddly-shaped cards that I can’t fit in my business card pages without folding them. This is irritating, so I usually throw the oddball cards away. Some people give me miniature cards that are barely larger than a postage stamp. These are so small that they easily get buried or lost. To be on the safe side, go with the standard size.
• Print the copy horizontally, instead of vertically. It’s okay to put a vertical image on the back of your card, but the writing on the front should go horizontally across the long side of the card. Again, for folks who organize their cards in business card pages, it’s much easier to access and read the information when it’s in standard format.

Need business cards designed, printed, and shipped?

We custom-design business cards, and we’ll have them professionally printed and shipped to you.

Contact us with the following information:

1. The number of cards you want to order (500, 1000, etc.)
2. Whether you want single-sided or double-sided cards
3. Full-color or black-and-white
4. Matte or glossy finish
5. Square or rounded corners
6. Attach a high-resolution copy of your logo and headshot
7. List the exact information you want on the front and back of the card
8. Your color scheme and font preferences
9. Whether you will be paying via check or credit card (via PayPal).

Once we receive all of the above information, we will provide you with a price quote that includes design, printing, and shipping.

You will sign an agreement and submit the full payment for your order in advance.

The design process

• When we receive your contract and payment, our professional graphic designer will create a proof of your card’s design. You will review the proof. If changes are needed to the colors, fonts, text, and/or positioning of elements, you will request them in writing.
• You will receive a revised proof, which you will review and request any additional minor changes.
• You will then receive a final proof, which you will approve for printing.

Upon approval, we will order your cards from our preferred vendor, and they’ll drop-ship the cards directly to you.

Please allow for a 3-4 week turnaround for design, revisions, printing, and shipping.

Ready to get started? Click here to contact us.

Laura’s super-secret strategy for organizing business cards

When I attend events, I bring along several sheets of Dunwell Business Card Sleeves. Each clear sheet (made to fit in a 3-ring binder) holds 20 standard-sized business cards.

When someone hands me their card, I write notes to myself on the back of the card to remind me of who the person is and where/when we met, and then I slip the card into the card page. When I get home, I add the full card sheets to a binder and label each sheet with the name of the conference.

Whenever I need to contact someone I met, their information is at my fingertips.