Manage Customer Expectations With Your Business Card
Filed Under Keep In Touch, Look The Part | 19 Comments
Sam Leader of Flying Solo offered this story on setting expectations for customer contact: she got an immediate—though automated—company email reply that promised someone would “get back in touch soon”. Months later she still hasn’t heard from them.
She notes her frustration isn’t because they didn’t reply, but because they failed to keep the promise they made. The first (and only) step she offers to avoid disappointing your own customers is
…review what channels of communication you make available. If your business card includes your landline, mobile and email, then you must be prepared to handle all interaction that follows.
Build a Better Business Card #02
Filed Under Build It Better, Look The Part | 12 Comments
Summary
Business: More Than Coffee! Lounge, Restaurant
Pluses: Strong and simple layout, suitably soothing colors, readable font and text, effective graphics
Minuses: Too much text, blank back
What’s great about it
I love the mood of this card. The flowing lava lamp background appropriately resembles cream being stirred into coffee. The logo is a series of coffee-colored arcs, loops, and swoops at the top, while the bottom is a solid band that grounds (no pun intended!) the design . It feels both refined and fun, sleek and a bit silly. Read more
It’s unavoidable. You’ll be attending a conference or seminar and be introduced to a “Director of East Coast Operations”, a “Vice President of Development, United States”, or a “CEO of Everything, Everywhere”.
So what do you, Master of Your Own Microbusiness, introduce yourself as?
Who the heck are ya?
You own your business, but doesn’t “Owner” sound inactive? “Owner” sounds like the business belongs to you but you don’t actually do anything—which is way far from the truth.
If you’re a solopreneur (like me) you’re doing it mostly by yourself. Does that mean you get all 27 job titles from Secretary to CEO, or do you have to settle on just one? Read more
Build a Better Business Card #01
Filed Under Build It Better, Look The Part | 5 Comments
Business: A Tangled Skein, Retail - Craft (Knitting)
Pluses: Strong and simple layout, affordable high-impact color, appropriate font and text, effective graphics
Minuses: Text lacks hierarchy, blank back
What’s great about it
I love the straightforward layout of this card. The business name is the “headline”, and is aligned to the right and gives their bright, whimsical logo an eye-catching place at the top left. Read more
90% Off Premium Business Cards at VistaPrint
Filed Under Coupons and Deals, Look The Part | 2 Comments
This coupon was included with my Amazon order for The One Page Business Plan for the Professional Consultant:
Their offer
» Offer expires April 30, 2008 «
250 Cards regularly $19.99, now $1.99
- High-quality, full-color printing
- Choose from hundreds of design templates
- Option to upload your own photo, logo, or design
- Shipping and processing not included**
- Default option is $9.15 for two week delivery
- Least expensive option is $5.45 for three week delivery
- Most expensive option is $25.19 for three business days
To redeem, go to: www.VistaPrint.com/amazon61
**I suspect that if you’re not in Maryland (where I am), your shipping and processing rates may vary
My comments
I walked through the premium business card ordering process and found we can customize color, font size and font type, and also rearrange the text layout. Also, there are discounted options for these high-impact features:
- Back side content like appointment fill-ins, calendars, and lots more
- Glossy paper finish
- Heavier paper stock
There are 5+ pages of business card and office product upsells on the way to checkout, and some were kinda interesting? Stuff like personalized pens that match your business card design, and a matching electronic business card to insert into emails.
Disclosure: I will not receive a fee for, or commission from, this post
Thanks to Microsoft’s Design Gallery, VistaPrint, and others, there’s no shortage of business card templates—quantity and variety aren’t a problem. The problem is: there are only a handful of truly eye-catching business card designs among the hundreds of templates provided.
Unfortunately, these gems will also appeal to other folks with good taste. Using a template risks distributing business cards that don’t uniquely identify you. Your business card is your silent ambassador and it shouldn’t be a twin to anyone else’s. Read more
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