07.28.10: Updating Your Look...Don't Forget Your Business Card

By Lori Rhoades

Business cards have always been a part of traditional professional networking. In the past, simply including your name, business, address and phone number were enough. Then along came email addresses and domain names. Now there is yet more information to consider trying to fit on that tiny piece of real estate. Social Media.

As more businesses are including Social Media into their marketing mix, they are trying to find ways to promote those efforts. What better way than to add the information to your business card. Not only does it give the world another way to find/learn more about you, but it gives your contacts a feeling that you are "cool" or at least keeping up with the world around you.

When adding social media information to a business card there are a few things to consider: corporate vs. personal, icons vs. typography, etc. Different combinations work for different brands. You don't have to reinvent yourself to include the information, it should fit in with your existing look.

If you really want to get techy, you could include a QR (Quick Response) code on your card. The code could point to your company home page, blog, or a page that shows your contact information with options to save the information to the person's contact list or to call you on the spot. You could have only the QR code and an email on the business card then have the code point to a special incentive page if you want to track responses.

Whatever combination you decide to use, be sure the places you are sending the viewer to are not only branded to you and your company, but give the contact substantial information or a reason to come back and visit you.