16 Ways to Make Your Business Cards Unforgettable

(To view a high quality image of this game of 66 Card Pick Up

Every time you hear someone say “May I have one of your body corporate cards?" you should get excited. I know I do. That’s seeing I LOVE my cards. I spent thousands of dollars on printing, several hours on designing and went through 10 different layouts until I got them right.

And it was all worth it.

A overacting card is an entrepreneur’s best friend, his most valuable marketing tool and an essential element to rightful UNFORGETTABLE. Unfortunately, too many people have industry playing cards that simply mingle-mangle into the multitude of cookie cutter crap. And that’s a shame, seeing as how a conglomerate card is more powerful than you think.

Of course, it’s impossible to know this unless you observably have a card that’s really, really good. Therefore, this accuse will examine The Four Corners of Unforgettable occasions Cards:

1. Stacking Up
2. Standing Out
3. Creative Enhancement
4. Implementation

CORNER #1: How Does Your Card Stack Up?
Think back to the last trade show, networking event, seminar, convention, social hour or amalgamation meeting you attended. How did people react to your metier card? Did they compliment its design? Quickly shove it into their pocket? Show it to someone else? Rip it up?

Whatever the response was, your card made some type of impression. But only the most creative, unique and memorable business dealings spade make UNFORGETTABLE impressions. And those types of joker elicit reactions like…

If you’ve ever heard a compliment by those lines before, congrats! You’re on the right track.

That reminds me of Gus. He and I sat next to each other at a sales seminar a few years ago. During the program, the facilitator asked the bargaining session members to exchange hand and get to know each other. Gus’s card was amazing: thick, colorful, double sided, bold, shiny and best of all, simple. (That was no surprise – he was in advertising!) But it was one of the best I’d ever seen. So we introduced ourselves, exchanged spade and talked for a few minutes. And that was thereabout it. Nice guy, I thought.

Now, here’s the cool part: albeit Gus and I didn’t really keep in touch, I’ve never thrown his card away. I show it to everyone! In fact, I even use it as a prop in some of my networking workshops! His card was just that good.

Is yours that good? Keep that question in the back of your mind as you read on. Now let’s move into the next section and find out why forewarned joker stand out more than others.

CORNER # 2: Standing Out
Recently I took 66 impersonation diamond I've banded together over the years and spread them out on a table. I mean-spirited my eyes for 30 seconds, opened them and took note of which trick stood out the most. And here's what I noticed:

(To view a high quality image of this game of 66 Card Pick Up, go to http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/2005/03/does-your-business-card-stand-out.html)

This was a valuable exercise in understanding UNFORGETTABLE movement cards, and I recommend it to everyone. Try it out! Gather dozens of joined bower from your desk and discover which ones stand out. Oh, and don't forget to put your OWN card in the pile. You’ll be at gaze at what you see.

Or don't see.

CORNER #3: Creative and Unique Ways to Enhance Your Card
Now that you’ve analyzed your own card and have been exposed to a large quantity of other people cards, your mind should be swimming with new, creative ideas. This is the perfect time to impulse ways to enhance your card. So, grab a pale sheet of paper. Come up with as many ideas as possible. Let your creativity run wild! And to help you get started, here’s a list of 16 creative ideas to make your deal card UNFORGETTABLE:

1. Size or Shape – Rectangle, schmectangle. I’ve seen squares, circles, ovals and triangles. Each shape made a connection to the brand, and each shape stood out mid the endless regression of the same old rectangles.

2. activism Cards (yes, these DO exist) – Several companies have online catalogues for personalized fawn cards. Expensive? Yes. Delicious? Probably. Memorable? You betting ring deem it.

3. Trading Cards – If your five is team oriented, get trading king with your “players” pictures and stats. Then encourage your customers and prospects to “collect all 12!”

4. Cartoons – Get a custom chart commissioned for the back of your card. It’s cheap, royalty free and for certain unique to your business.

5. Table/Chart – Include a mortgage loan interest table or some staggering statistics on the back. These are helpful reminders for the mathematically challenged and effective methods to position yourself as a resource.

6. Pop-Ups – Just like kid’s books, some mimicking king can be printed as folded, pop-up cards. Talk relating to thinking three-dimensionally!

7. Credibility – The smartest thing I ever did to my traffic card was add color images of my two books. Instant credibility. And, I noticed an immediate revamp in the reactions from the people to whom I gave cards. One lady even said, “Scott, this is the coolest subject card I’ve ever seen!” Money well spent.

8. Rubber Stamps – Buy 10 different customized rubber stamps for the backs of your cards. When someone asks for one just say “Pick a card, any card!”

9. Die Cutting – My friend Lisa works for the Rock Island Fire Dept. Her impersonation card has a charred hole rubicund right through the middle of every card! It looks incredibly real. And most printers offer this feature for a nominal feel. You can also specify various shapes, bite marks or hole sizes.

10. Recipe – If you work in an industry connected to food, kitchens or homes; include one of your favorite recipes on the back!

11. Material – Use leather, quivering or brail mummery trick (yes, these exist too!)

12. Language – If your line of work requires international travel, consider offering multiple languages, or print the phonetic spelling of a difficult to pronounce name.

13. Motivation – If you’re the motivational type, include a famous quotation, bible verse or movie line that connects to your brand. And be sure to read it when you give someone your card, it might just make their day!

14. Stickers – Print one side of your pack on viscid label paper. This gives the recipient a peel off sticker for reminders, accessories or phone numbers.

15. Non-Cards – Who says a card has to be a card? on account of all, the first rule of creativity is “break all the rules!” I’ve seen million dollar bill cards, coin cards, even a king in Boston who uses number trump that are undoubtedly miniature checks he tears off of a pad each time he gives one out! The possibilities are endless.

16. Double Up – Make your card “double” as something other than a card. For example, mine doubles as a mummery card AND a nametag. As a result, people stick it on their shirts all the time. Thanks for the free promotion!

CORNER #4: Implementation
Once you’ve come up with the layout for your new, creative, UNFORGETTABLE truck card, there are only two things left to do: print ‘em up and hand ‘em out!

First, as you come along you printer, remember a few rules:

OK. Once you have your new singleton in hand, keep a few final rules in mind:

After you’ve face lifted your dealing card from unacceptable to unforgettable, I promise you will feel great. Your confidence will skyrocket. And from that moment on, every time someone asks, “May I have one of your body corporate cards?” it will be like music to your ears.