Your business card can say a lot about you and your professionalism. Picture this: You are a real estate agent looking to engage with clients and stand out from the crowd in any way you possibly can. You meet a client at an open house, have a great conversation about the house and the neighborhood They then ask for your business card, you hand it to them, and they get this confused look in their eye as they gaze upon your business card. Weird wording, messy font and bad presentation--these are their takeaways. The client says thank you and throws said business card away when you aren’t looking. All that effort for nothing. Having a great business card can boost your profile while a bad business card all but ruins your chances of impressing potential clients. Here are the five things to Consider when designing and sharing your next business card.
1. Don’t be too wordy
While it may seem odd to not include everything pertaining to what you do in your business card, less is more in this case. Too much information makes the card come off as messy, unfocused, and unoriginal. You should prioritize your name, your job title, your company name, and your contact information. By keeping it short and concise, you will keep your new potential clients more focused.
2. Substance over style
We have all been given a business card and used it to at least write down information pertaining to it. Now imagine trying to write on it when you realize it is glossy. While it may look better, people write on each other's business cards all the time, and when you remove that ability to write on it, you put yourself at a huge disadvantage if that card doesn’t allow people to write down vital information they need. Plus, a non-glossy business card tends to feel better to the average individual. This also goes for color design: the more neutral the text color is, the easier it is on the eyes.
3. Grammar, Grammar, Grammar
It may seem almost second nature to some, but you would be surprised how many business cards get printed that haven’t been properly spell checked or proofread for grammatical mistakes. There are few feelings more frustrating than spending all the time and effort to design the perfect card, only to find an easily avoidable typo. That will cost you money that you probably won’t want to respend on reprinting the card.
4. Don’t bombard your client instantly with a business card
The art of knowing what to say and when during a business conversation is crucial to success. When you introduce your business card too early in a conversation with your clients, you can come off as pushy and impatient.This can annoy the client, which you want to avoid at all costs. Use a slow and steady approach when you are wanting to show off that slick new business card that you have worked very hard on. The best tactic is to wait for them to ask for your card. That way you know they are interested.
5. Be one with your design
Consistency is a major key to the look of a business. When you think of Re/max, for example, you think of the colors red, white and blue with the hot air balloon. Your business card design should reflect your company image. You don’t want to have a card that looks absolutely nothing like your business. This can distract your clients and in general, it looks unprofessional.
You should strive to make your business card the best possible representation of you as an agent, in addition to representing your company. Taking these steps can help establish your public image when you come across new clients, and ultimately, it will get your name around town in no time.
Have a comment, tip, or concern?
Thanks for reading Elite Informer! Here's more where that came from.