What Does Your Business Card Say About You? - Making A Great First Impression!

Interesting article in USA Today that I read this week that I've also read about on Scott Ginsberg's blog. Think about this: What does your business card say about you? If you work in a company that requires you to conform to the corporate standard, obviously you don't have much choice. For the rest, what are you doing to stand out in a crowd of many?

A few suggestions from me that may or not be found in the above articles:

Use wild, interesting colors. Do you want to see a red card, or a white card? I choose red.

Use as little information as possible that is boring, and as much information as possible that is interesting. This means your fax number and mailing address are likely irrelevant, and what your value differentiating factor is is likely very relevant. Instead of "designer" how about "Designer to the Stars?" To quote the book title by Paul Arden, It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Think You Want To Be. Put what you WANT your job title to be. Be creative, and talk about what you do, because that's REALLY what you are.

Try to make an instant impression with your business card. Again, the color is the thing that makes people sit up and take notice. And don't forget to make a personal connection. See tip 5 for more on this

Be sure your name, phone number, e-mail address and website are listed on your card. If you don't have a website, why not? I strongly encourage you to get a website, even if you use a template company like I do at http://www.1and1.com You can get a site up in under 4 hours if you can use Microsoft Word, so do it now!

Don't just give out your business cards to everyone: be partial to who you give it to and make a real connection with the person getting your card. Why should anyone remember your name or what you do? GIVE THEM A REASON TO REMEMBER YOU! Try to make a connection as quickly as you can, so you can share what you're both passionate about as much as possible to deepen that connection. Connected people are people who you can help, and who can help you. Keith Ferrazi, author of Never Eat Alone, has a great article here on the importantce of making this connection.

Don't put every way to reach you on the card, but don't be afraid to write it on the card if you've made a particularly solid connection. Putting all contact information makes nobody feel important, but hand-writing a special way to reach you makes people feel like you're reaching out.

In conclusion, take the time to make it a great business card. Good is not good enough anymore!

Until next time, make it a great week!

Phil Gerbyshak
http://makeitgreat.org
414.640.7445

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Google News Updated : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:05:39 GMT Thai PM buys time with referendum plan - Reuters BBC News Thai PM buys time with referendum plan Reuters - 4 hours ago By Darren Schuettler BANGKOK (Reuters) - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has bought some time with a referendum aimed at defusing street protests, but it will do nothing to resolve Thailand's fundamental political conflict, analysts say. Video: Locking horns over politics in Thailand -- 05 September 2008 AlJazeeraEnglish ANALYSIS: Thai demonstration raises democracy issues Monsters and Critics.com AFP - Times Online - Aljazeera.net - Inter Press Service all 3,754 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:33:48 GMT So What If Sarah Palin Used a Speechwriter? - FOXNews BBC News So What If Sarah Palin Used a Speechwriter? FOXNews - 1 hour ago By Betsy Newmark Disdaining Sarah Palin’s speech last night because she had a speechwriter is one of the lamest criticisms of her performance last night. Video: Inside the Tent: Reactions to Sarah Palin's speech Part 4 ReutersVideo Panel Reviews Palin, Previews McCain RealClearPolitics Baltimore Sun - Detroit Free Press - New York Times - Los Angeles Times all 4,224 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:03:46 GMT Partisan Reception Greets Palin as VP Pick - ABC News CTV.ca Partisan Reception Greets Palin as VP Pick ABC News - 2 hours ago Sarah Palin is receiving a highly partisan reception on the national political stage, with significant public doubts about her readiness to serve as president, yet majority approval of both her selection by John McCain and her willingness to join the ... Video: Joe Biden On Palin's Speech CBS Obama Camp Turns to Clinton to Counter Palin New York Times Boston Globe - AFP - Evening Bulletin - USA Today all 1,899 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:18:50 GMT State falling way behind No Child Left Behind - San Francisco Chronicle Modesto Bee State falling way behind No Child Left Behind San Francisco Chronicle - 6 hours ago California schools, required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act to lift more students over a higher academic hurdle this year, instead stumbled and slipped back, as nearly 1400 fewer schools met test-score targets. Only 48% of California high schools meet federal standards, even ... Los Angeles Times Middle schools lead county's API scores The Salinas Californian Visalia Times-Delta - Record-Searchlight - Modesto Bee - Register Pajaronian all 106 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:41:11 GMT Jobless rate soars to 6.1% - CNNMoney.com Macon Area Online Jobless rate soars to 6.1% CNNMoney.com - 59 minutes ago Unemployment surges to 5-year high as employers cut workers for eighth straight month, bringing '08 job losses to 605000. By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney. Unemployment Rate Hits 5-Year High As Economy Continues to Shed Jobs Wall Street Journal Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.1% New York Times TheStreet.com - Forex Pros - Reuters - RTT News all 36 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:05:45 GMT McCain honors NH soldier in convention speech - Boston Globe BBC News McCain honors NH soldier in convention speech Boston Globe - 1 hour ago ST. PAUL, Minn.—In his speech to the Republican National Convention, presidential candidate John McCain paid tribute to a New Hampshire soldier killed in Iraq. Video: "Change is coming," McCain tells convention - 05 Sept 2008 AlJazeeraEnglish US media mixed on McCain speech BBC News Marin Independent-Journal - Memphis Commercial Appeal - Today's TMJ4 - Detroit Free Press all 1,008 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:43:54 GMT Haiti doubles hurricane death toll; US extends storm watches and ... - International Herald Tribune Boston Globe Haiti doubles hurricane death toll; US extends storm watches and ... International Herald Tribune - 51 minutes ago AP WILMINGTON, North Carolina: Tropical storm watches and warnings in the United States were extended from Georgia to areas just south of New York City on Friday as states along the Atlantic braced for Tropical Storm Hanna, which killed at least 137 ... Southeast states brace for Tropical Storm Hanna The Associated Press Hanna heads to Carolinas; Ike not far behind CNN International guardian.co.uk - StarNewsOnline.com - Greenville News - New York Times all 2,807 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:14:26 GMT Rss Feed Reader Website Traffic Promotion

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