| p>The logo and graphic elements that you include | | | | ifneeded, without changing your fax number and |
| on your business card are quite important, but | | | | reprinting your cards. |
| having the right text and contact information on | | | | Email address -- Your email address is an |
| the card is equally important. Here are our tips | | | | often-overlooked opportunity to brandyour |
| about the elements to include: | | | | business. Instead of using a generic email address |
| Your name -- Consider whether you want to | | | | such as |
| include your middle name or initial,degrees or | | | | "" or "", purchase your own brandeddomain name |
| professional credentials that are unique to your | | | | to use as your email -- It's inexpensiveand easy |
| field. | | | | to set up, especially if you use to register your |
| Title -- Including a title on your card will help your | | | | name and setup the new email address to |
| potential clients to identify yourposition within your | | | | forward to your existing account. This makes |
| company. Including a title can also make your | | | | yourbusiness look larger and more professional. |
| company seemlarger. A reason to not include a | | | | Website address -- A website is a must in today's |
| title would be if you're a consultant, and want | | | | business world, even if it's asimple, one-page site |
| tomarket your solo nature as a benefit to your | | | | that gives a few paragraphs of information about |
| clients. | | | | yourbusiness offerings and your contact |
| Address -- Always include an address on your | | | | information. A website offers potential clientsan |
| business card, even if you areoperating a business | | | | easy, no-pressure way to both learn more about |
| out of your home. Including your address greatly | | | | your business, or to refer you tonew clients. This |
| increasesyour credibility and makes your business | | | | is also another way to take advantage of the |
| appear established. If you're concernedabout | | | | branded domain namethat you set up to use for |
| privacy, a post office box is a great way to go. | | | | your email address -- using it for your website |
| When signing up for a postoffice box, consider | | | | URL willextend your business brand further. |
| using a commercial mailbox vendor (such as the | | | | Tagline -- If you have a tagline, including it on your |
| UPS Store)instead of a box at the United States | | | | business card will contribute toyour branding and |
| Post Office. At a mailbox store, you are given | | | | memorability, and a graphic treatment of the |
| astreet address instead of the typical "P.O. Box". | | | | tagline (font, colorand any graphic effects used) |
| The store also accepts shippedpackages from | | | | can add visual interest to the card as well. |
| UPS, FedEx, and other carriers, so you won't | | | | License Numbers -- Include your license number if |
| need to give out yourhome address as a shipping | | | | you are required to display themby your industry |
| address. | | | | regulations (i.e., insurance or contractors), or if |
| Phone number (and toll-free number) -- Include | | | | your being licensedis a benefit that you offer to |
| your phone number and, if you dobusiness long | | | | your clients, or if it differentiates you from |
| distance, consider including an 800 or toll-free | | | | yourcompetition. |
| number as well, as anamenity for your clients. | | | | If you have room on the front, or would like to |
| Cell phone number -- This is an option to consider | | | | create a two-sided card, consideradding: |
| if you'd like to make yourservices available to | | | | A few bullet points about your business offerings |
| your clients around the clock, or if your business | | | | -- This provides you with anopportunity to further |
| often takesyou on the road. If you'd like to keep | | | | explain what you do. This is most helpful when |
| your cell phone number private, you can dothat | | | | your businessname is not specific, so potential |
| tactfully by offering to make your cell phone | | | | clients can identify what you can do for them. |
| number available to clients oncethey have signed | | | | Your photo -- The people you meet while |
| up for your services -- then your clients will feel | | | | networking will remember who you are. |
| special and knowthat you're taking good care of | | | | Putting a face to your business also makes your |
| them. | | | | cards more personal for potentialclients. However, |
| Fax number -- If you have a fax number you | | | | we recommend that you do this only if it's |
| should include it on your card. If yourarely receive | | | | appropriate, orsomewhat standard, in your |
| a fax, or if you don't know if faxes will be useful | | | | industry (for example, with certain types of |
| in your business, youcan try using efax ( This is | | | | coaching, orreal estate). |
| an online service that can provide youwith a free | | | | A "next appointment" area -- If you often make |
| fax number that will email all of your faxes to | | | | appointments with clients (formassage therapy or |
| your email account. Theyalso offer a paid service | | | | health care, for example), consider printing a line |
| that is available as an upgrade if the number of | | | | or two onyour business cards to make them into |
| faxed pagesyou receive per month exceeds their | | | | appointment cards as well. |
| free offering. That enables you to upgrade | | | | |