Are You a Business Card Purist?

June 10, 2009 / Duane / 34 Comments

Business cards seem to be getting flashier and flashier. I’m seeing more and more cards that are covered in marketing messages, calls to action and sales pitches.

Your business card is NOT a sales brochure so don’t treat it like one.

Your business card should have your logo, web address and contact details – it doesn’t need much more than that.

It doesn’t need to fold out into an origami duck, it doesn’t need to be inserted into a CD drive, it doesn’t need to tell us about your 10% discount to new customers, it doesn’t need to play the national anthem whenever it’s picked up and it doesn’t need to taste of strawberries when you lick it.

Putting anything on the back of your card is a big no-no too.

At networking events and so on where I might meet a lot of people, I tend to make a note on the back of the card to remind me who it is and why I took their card, ie: “bald bloke from Manchester with the funny nose, interested in integrating their software with KashFlow”. I know I’m not alone in this.

I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve struggled to find a space to write anything on a card.

So please, keep your business cards simple. Don’t end up like this man:

About Duane Jackson

From childrens' homes to prison to business. Founded one of the first B2B SaaS companies, which he sold at the end of 2013. Read more here.

On Amazon: Four Thousand Days - My Journey from Prison to Business Success

Categories: Rants

Tags: business cards, Marketing, small business

http://www.itsaboutwebsites.com Paul

How about these:- http://www.itsaboutwebsites.com/sites/default/files/pictures/new_cards.jpg ?

You can pick which flavour you want and there is plenty of room to write on.
http://www.funkyinteriors.com Funky Interiors

LOL, 25 Years in the making! he is rather sad. The only reason you’d keep that card (that doesn’t fit in your wallet) is for the comedy factor! He should send one to Jeremy Clarkson to put in his ‘curboard of crap’ collection.
http://www.TaxAdviceNetwork.co.uk Mark Lee

Oh dear – has someone given you one of my business cards Duane? How odd. Just read your post and realised that it could almost be describing my card. oops.

I do agree that business cards that leave no room for notes are a big no-no. The same goes for those that are plastic or dark coloured and so unsuitable for notes. Like you I invariably write a few words indicating where and when we met and anything I’ve promised to do by way of follow up. So I need room to do this.

My card isn’t perfect (certainly not given your comments above). And yes it does more than convey the basic name, title, company and contact details.

It’s conventional business card size and the front is as you would expect – although there’s also a small photo of me – to help new contacts recall which of all the people they met to associate with the card. Whilst some people only collect a couple of cards a day, others collect dozens (especially if they attend networking events).

The back of my card has some space for notes and a list of other places you can find me on the web. There are my 3 blogs, my linkedin profile, my twitter name and my ecademy profile. Also my personal website – as distinct from the Tax Advice Network which is the branding on the card and of which I am Chairman.

Inside the card (yes, I’m sorry it opens up having been folded in half) there are 2 more sides. The inside left contains a mini profile of me and the inside right contains 3 distinct messages for Accountants, Tax Advisers and Taxpayers respectively.

Until recently I’d only received positive feedback – I will be making a few changes (next time round) although some how I still think you may not like my card – as and I when I get to give you one! 😉
http://www.enthusemarketing.com Tamsin

That video is the funniest thing I’ve seen all week!

Can’t say I agree with your ‘nothing on the back’ policy though…
http://www.mattchedit.com/ Matt Chatterley

Mine is a bit more interesting than the usual generic template – in that its colourful, and glossed on one side (back left plain and unglossed so that people can write on it, mind you).

But thats it. They’re still cheap to produce, standard size, and so forth. I wonder if to some extent this depends on the circumstances in which you give cards to people – I’m normally talking to them, and it’s simply a way to pass a portable copy of contact details, so that the discussion can be continued.

Maybe its a confidence issue too? Do super flashy business cards represent a belief that your people skills are not sufficient to make an adequate impression?

(I’m just theorising Mark, not having a pop at you!!)

Dunno. Either way, I think it’s pretty crazy how complicated some get..!
http://www.itsaboutwebsites.com Paul

The only downside with our cards is that you need a good cheap bic to write on them because they are laminated and as I found out, gel pens just rub off and smudge!

D’oh
http://www.ozzy.co.uk/ Richard Osborne

I agree that business cards are a not a brochure. As someone once said to me, if you have to put your full sales pitch on your business card then you haven’t done you job properly when you met the person you gave your card to.

That said, I tend to keep my cards (now) boggo basic on the front. My company name, my name, direct phone number and email address. That’s it.
One the back I have the company address and main office contact details, along with our one liner strapline.

I used to have a brochure card until a marketing consultant (quoted above) slated me in our first meeting!
http://www.insightassociates.co.uk Garry Mumford

I have to disagree Duane.

You would not leave a blank space in your brochure so people could right notes on it!! A business card is not a free notebook, it is a device to give the recipient information about an individual (and his/her business).

Like I said to you when you studied mine a couple of weeks back – it tells you what we do and sends some basic marketing messages. As well as all the key contact information. What is wrong with that?

How many times do you get given cards (especially at networking meetings) which tell you nothing about what the business does? Then you don’t remember!

Use the space I say to send key messages, then you don’t need to use it as a notebook as the information is already there!
http://www.telesperience.com Darran

Simple is best. If someone wants to remember you, they’ll do it because of what you said, and the tattiest of business cards won’t put them off. Glitzy/flashy/overproduced cards are the equivalent of a business medallion man’s jewelry. Just think Del Boy Trotter.
http://www.thebusinesscardfactory.co.uk Stuart Ebdy

I personally agree with you Duane. All a card has to do is show your name, what you do, and how to get in touch with you.
http://www.allieddetectives.co.uk Jorge Salgado-Reyes

My card is laminated and has a small sales message on the back. I don’t want you to write on it. You will either remember me because you need me or you wont. Either way not a problem.

That video is hilarious.
http://stuartwhitman.co.uk Stuart Whitman

I think this depends on what you do.

If you go to networking meetings and get lots of cards at once I can see why you would want write on the back some more info for later use. But, if you go to a 1-on-1 meeting or you’re a tradesman/consultant then showcasing your products / services on the reverse is great way to showcase your work.

I have a friend who’s a interior designer (http://paulcarter.co.uk/). He’d used blank business cards on the reverse for years so the last time he wanted some more I advised him to put a shot of a finished room on the reverse. Since he uses vibrant colours in his designs his cards really stand out. In fact it worked so well he phoned me a couple of weeks after the last lot were delivered to say someone had picked one up from a shop counter and he’d just got a £8000 order as a result.

I think the main thing is that you have a quality card as it’s probably the first thing that prospective clients get to ‘feel’ about your company. As you say you don’t need one that fits in your CD drive or is a different size to everyone elses but for god’s sake don’t get one printed at a motorway service station or worse still vistaprint with an advert on the back.
http://www.lambdafilms.com Ryan Stone

Mmmm, I’m not sure sure I agree either. Ours are thick stock, black and blue, with details of our services on the back. They stand out alot, and we’ve had great feedback because they look and feel like quality. At the same time I have seen rooms of business people sniggering at cheap Vistaprint affairs.

Just a point that isn’t mentioned, we attend a lot of networking groups, we’re quite a friendly bunch and our services are relatively unique in our area so we have a lot of people ask for a handful of our cards to pass on. Our cards are then being handed out to people who haven’t met us and don’t really know our services, and the quality of the card plus the list of services on the back does help alot of those people follow us up.
@MonsieurRouge

I think business cards should just have a name, company name, and contact details. Then, the person who recieves the card can write (if there’s room), what they remember about the person/company etc.

Aren’t there any companies that provide cards that have two cards attached, with a binding on the side or something?. This way, they would be the same size as a standard card, you could have one card as the business card with plenty of room on the front and back to have info about the person and the company, and another blank card for the reciever to write what they want on. As i’m sure Duane isn’t the only one who wants somewhere to write about a bald bloke from Manchester etc!
Derek Wright

See, after 4 years of uni studying design im still with the KISS theory, what do i need to know? Who are you? where you from? what do you do? and how do i get hold of you, as for the back section. A nice big logo in the middle with plently of space for note around it (or even make it a water marked logo) just as it fills an empty space.

Paper choice a nice card thats not going to fall apart, and keep it standard size please, other wise it wont fit in my folder. And Lamainated bits of paper is a no-no looks so unproffessional.

other than that its yours to do what you like with.
http://www.all-the-rage.co.uk Tom Duncan

Whitman nailed it. Cards do different jobs for different businesses and if you can get me a card that folds out into an origami duck it’s likely you’ll be the first person I call for all my future origami wildlife needs.
http://www.ampmgraphics.com Pauline Balfour

Hmm interesting read. We have two business card designs, one single sided for networking and one double sided card (general card) for other occasions. Quite simple designs on both.

Both work well. Really depends on your business and when/where you use them.

I personally prefer double sided, with a design that stands out.
http://www.bigkidsdidit.co.uk mcaulay

Am definitely in the “keep it simple” camp here. A business card should be a means of presenting your/your company identity and contact details…and that’s all.
I disagree with the opinion that a business card should be suitable for taking notes on entirely. It’s as suited to taking notes on as a fag packet or a beer coaster…that’s not it’s purpose. At a networking event, why not carry a small notepad to jot notes in? there’s much more room as that’s what it was designed for.
http://www.redeyemedia.co.uk Richard grove

For gods sake. This man needs to calm down and go easy on the hairspray. What an idiot. Made me laugh though
http://www.carvillonmarketing.com Michelle Carvill

White space, white space… what! No, never, leave the back ’empty’ – you don’t have to pack it with offers (although on the back of my Carvill Creative card I have the range of services we provide designed in a way that if you really had to write over it you could. And on our Logotastic cards we promote the two packages and a website offer. So a strong CTA. This way – we don’t have to hand people a card, and then a marketing postcard with the offer etc. It’s all on the card and there’s still space if one needed to make notes. White space tells me you went for the bargain basement print option – a key message, a call to action, a url, a testimonial, your ethos – use your space wisely! Your business card is a key marketing resource…
http://www.askm.co.uk Emily Coltman

I agree with Michelle.

I have two businesses and in both cases the cards are double-sided.

Otherwise the back of the card is good space wasted!!

M
http://www.mattchedit.com/ Matt Chatterley

@Richard Grove – Yeah. Someone needs to shout at him..

“PUT THE BUSINESS CARD DOWN AND STEP AWAY FROM THE CAMERA WITH YOUR HANDS UP!”

He definitely had too many jelly beans!
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http://www.greenlightcopywriting.co.uk Camilla Zajac

A good reminder of the importance of that small piece of card! Here’s what I think:http://www.greenlightcopywriting.co.uk/blog/copy-for-marketing
http://www.turtle-media.com/ Patrick Johnson

I have to say i am partially in agreement with M and Michelle. although not to a massive extent.

I am just re-branding my company because some bugger has pinched my logo and trademarked it apparently.

so i have the new name and all of the stationery to think about.

I’ve just finished the business cards and have designed them double sided. however the only thing on the back is my very minimalist logo sat in the bottom right on a white background. Plenty of room to write notes or a message if need be.

Leaving the back of your business card blank in my opinion is a waste of space for the millions of people who do not write on business cards. however the space is there if needs be.

The product at the end both looks great back and front and there is acres of space for little notes.
http://genystartup.com/ Tolu

very informative post Duane. I have actually has a client come in with a biz card that was like an envelope and folds open…on the inside is a full description of what his services are! Personally i feel like it makes a bad impression, makes you look desperate and a bit unprofessional.
http://www.enigma360.com Julian Philpott

Duane Jackson says it’s a big “no no” to put things on the back of your business card as he uses this space to write on. I’m afraid THAT is a huge “no no” especially if doing business in the Far East (Japan, China etc). It is considered hugely disrespectful not to look at the business card when presented with it (both hands) never mind WRITING on it! Although I’m a Westerner, I tend to agree with the sentiment. Don’t be lazy – write in a note book or use your BlackBery instead.
http://carhireuk.co.uk Car Hire UK

Well… I find the biggest no no to be the wrongly sized business card. i.e. the card that is so long/wide/oddly sized (delete as appropriate) that doesnt fit in your wallet, when placed there out of politeness. OH and those that look like they have had the corner bitten off by a mouse!
Jem

He soo needs to STOP sniffing the ink on those cards, he’s like an Evangelical Business Card Minister (with over 25 years experience and don’t you forget it)
http://www.homebusinessaccountant.co.uk Emily Coltman

Having seen two great business cards recently, in different shapes, I just had to blog about why I think they’re a fab idea

http://homebusinessaccountant.blogspot.com/2009/07/business-cards-with-pizazz.html
http://www.tongkatfitness.com Tongkat Ali

That’s not a business card it’s a leaflet! What a chump, 25 years? What a wast of time!
http://www.evans-graphics.co.uk Evans Graphics

I could not agree more, business cards should be clear, concise and good quality. It’s not rocket science.
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http://www.miltoncontact.co.uk Chris Thomas

As someone who both uses their own and designs cards for others, I am in a halfway house here

I believe the front should contain the contact details plus a simple strapline or description (couple of words) of what the business does. You often remember people by the service you might need or wish to refer.

On the back, I usually recommend a QR code, preferably with the contact details for immediate upload to a mobile phone’s directory (see http://www.miltoncontact.co.uk/qr-codes-book-MCL).

Ultimately, the business card also says something about the person or company who asked for it to be designed – It is your personal choice then whether you feel that it bodes well or not for a future working relationship

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