A business card does more than pass on your email address or phone number to the client. These cards are considered an effective tool to drive customers into a business. Thus, you must know which details to add and avoid to build a good impression on the recipients.
Many people add both their real name and nickname on their business cards. However, it might be inappropriate if your client calls you by your nickname rather than your name. So, using a nickname on your business card won’t be wise.
You can add the nickname if it is related to your business or will help you to increase sales. People only add relevant information on their business cards. Therefore, including your nickname isn’t always necessary in the professional field.
Casual names generally sound unprofessional in most cases. We will make this statement by giving you a clear example. Let’s say your real name is James Corden, and your nickname is “Jimmy”, which is too unprofessional sounding for business cards.
Let’s learn the details you must add to a business card, including the nickname:
Where to Include Your Nickname in a Business Card?
Don’t add your nickname at the top of the business card; that’s incorrect. You must always add your first name and then the nickname on the card.
Remember to put quotation marks or parenthesis when including the nickname so that recipients can understand which is your real and which one is your nickname.
Next comes your middle initial (if any) and ends with your last name. Suppose your name is Samuel, your nickname is Sam, your middle initial is L, and your last name is Jackson – This is how it must look:
– Samuel “Sam” L. Jackson
When Should You Add Your Nickname to the Business Card?
Modern companies don’t have a formal dress code, and they let their employees wear the clothes they are comfortable with. This informality has extended to different business areas as well. Employers call associates or staff members by their nickname instead of their real name.
They allow the employees to add nicknames in their metal business cards with their actual names. This trend is becoming popular day by day in modern firms. The thing about actual names is they are common. There might be 2-3 employees in the office with the same name.
What if your manager calls you by your name and another employee with the same name answers him? Adding a nickname on the business card will be useful in such instances. Let’s say your name is Timothy, and one of your colleagues also has the same name.
However, your nickname is “Tim”, and your co-worker’s is “Timmy”. Thus, nicknames are more distinctive than real names. So, we recommend adding a casual name to the business card along with your real and middle name.
Which Information You Must Add in a Business Card?
Modern business cards help to expand your name in the worldwide market. It strengthens your brand and develops connections with the targeted clients. Digital business cards also build legitimacy and increase customer engagement.
Many people include their website URLs or social media handles in their business cards. Some add a QR code to these cards, which directly opens their business site when scanning from a phone. It helps the recipients to explore the products or services they offer. They will book an appointment with you online if they like your products, increasing the customer conversion rate.
Here are the details you must include in your business card:
1. Picture
Many employees look for the answer to whether they should add their face to the business card. This is mostly asked because there is no space for a 3.5 x 4.5 cm photo on a paper business card. However, you will get enough space to include a picture on digital business cards.
It can be assumed that you have attended too many business conferences and events. Remembering you by only your name will be difficult for anyone whom you’ve met once in these meetings. So, adding a photo will help them to remember you easily.
Consider including a live photo in the digital business card to stand out. Besides, a live video at the card’s top will make it look more interesting to the recipients.
2. Contact Details
Are you creating a digital or paper business card? Don’t forget to add your contact information. The main purpose of a business card is to connect and engage you with customers and clients. They can’t contact you if you don’t include your phone number or email address.
However, including all the contact addresses might be a problem with paper business cards. This isn’t an issue in digital business cards. You can add unlimited contact details to these cards. Here is the contact information you must add to your business card:
- A valid phone number
- Email address
- Office address
- Messaging apps you use for business purposes
- Your company’s social media handles
3. Website Name
Your website must be included in your business cards. It is the only way by which recipients will know more about your business or the products you deal with. However, copying and pasting the whole web address into the business card is unnecessary.
Don’t include “http:/” or “www” in your digital business card, as it isn’t necessary. These extra characters will consume a lot of space in the card and cause problems when adding the important details. Add your website name right after including your contact information.
4. Company Name
The company’s name is added to most paper business cards. However, it does not include digital business cards. Is your business name added to the company’s logo? Don’t write it on the business card if the name in the logo is large enough and visible.
Writing the marketing slogan right after the company name will also be a good idea. This slogan will help the recipients to identify what your company offers.
Alternatively, you can add a paper or digital business card description. Let’s say if you work in an ABCD law firm, it handles criminal defence cases. Write “criminal defence” after your business name on the card.
5. Job Title
Putting your name isn’t enough; you must add your job title to the business card. However, people make mistakes when writing the job role in these cards. Matching the job title on your business card with your official position is unnecessary.
Only some have an idea of every job role. Thus, you must only add your job’s main function or responsibilities you handle in the business card. It will help the recipients to have an idea about what you do in the company.
Here is an example of how you must add the job title to the business card,
– John Smith, music editor
Another important thing is ensuring your job title isn’t misleading to the recipients. For instance, you shouldn’t write “CEO” on your business card if you’re the only employee.
How to Design Your Business Card?
Avoid using dull white-coloured business cards; it won’t help you to drive sales. Use a card with bright colours to draw attention to the recipients. Choose a font size that is easy to read; a 12-15 font size is perfect for a business card.
Don’t add too much information to the business card. Use high-quality paper to create your business card. Stop using large business cards or cards with unusual shapes. Consider getting a standard-size business card where the necessary details can fit easily. Never add excessive decorations on the business card; keep it simple.
