Does your business card really represent you?

Although it might seem like overblown hyperbole, a business card is really a window into the soul of your company. That's because a business card not only tells prospective clients exactly what it is your company does, but provides them with a visual sense of how you do it and - more importantly - how well you do it. Here's where it might be helpful for you to pull out your old business card, take a good hard look at it and try to figure out what others might be seeing. Is your card poorly designed or cluttered with useless information that makes it hard to read? Is there anything on the card that jumps out at you and grabs your attention, or is it just another one of them standard business card you wouldn't think twice about tossing in the trash if someone had handed it to you? Of course, no one wants to give out a business card that is overly flashy or loud just for the sake of making an impact. That would be ridiculous. But unless your goal is to come across as just another faceless entrepreneur, you need to make sure your business card is doing you and your company justice. Keep in mind that on a functionality level, all business cards should be legible, informative and reflect you unique business personality - regardless of whether you are a certified contortionist with a runaway circus or a chartered accountant. Easy-to-read fonts that are no smaller than 10 points are a must. Including your name, telephone and fax number, e-mail address and company web site are also musts. But anything other than that is really up to you. If you're in the construction business, using a thick, credit-card-like card stock - instead of the flimsy paper variety - might give clients a sense of your solid workmanship. If you're running a daycare, a glossy card with rainbow-coloured graphics may work better for you than a black and white text-heavy card. That type of business card would probably work better for a mortician. Although no one knows your business better than you, figuring out just the right personality for your business card is something you might want to discuss with a graphics designer. Thinking up four or five adjectives that best describe your company might make it easier for them to incorporate those traits into your business card design and make sure your business card isn't sending mixed messages.