How to Create CD ROM Business Cards

Put images, video and other files on a CD business card.

CD ROM business cards offer the opportunity to add a resume, portfolio, video clip or any other type of file that can be stored on a CD ROM to your business card. There are two main components to creating your CD ROM business card: the visual aspect of the CD label, which is the business card itself, and the CD ROM content, which allows you the chance to make an additional impact on potential customers or clients. Because of their special shape, CD ROM business cards are generally ordered from companies specializing in shaped CDs. However, with the constant developments of technological equipment, you may be able to finalize creation at home.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Desktop publishing software

1. Obtain the physical size specifications from the company you will use to print your CD ROM business cards or the labels you will print yourself, as well as the size limits for any files included on the CD. CD capacities generally range between 25 to 125 MB of content.

2. Design the look of your business card (label) using desktop publishing software or any program that allows you to create high-resolution combinations of text and graphics. Include your name, the company's name, business and cell phone numbers; if applicable, plus an email address and website. Add a company logo and possibly background colors or images, but don't let the card get too busy. Information should be clean and concise. Include a single sentence that describes the contents of the CD or otherwise encourages the user to play the CD ROM content. Keep it short, such as "Resume and portfolio contained on this CD" or "View this CD on your computer for a 10-minute tour." Make sure to check your design for spelling and grammar errors. Shape media recommends keeping text at least 4-point bold font, or use 7-point fonts for text with effects such as halftones and reverse writing.

3. Export your design to PDF or other format recommended by your printer.

4. Save your resume, portfolio, video or other content to file types that do not require specific software to view, or save multiple types to make your CD ROM content as universal as possible. For example, save your resume to Rich Text Format (.rtf) or plain text (.txt), which can be viewed by any word processing software, or Portable Document Format (PDF), which can be viewed by anyone with Acrobat Reader, which is free for anyone to download. For videos, try saving in MP3 format, which can be viewed on Mac and PC platforms through free downloadable software or native software on most operating systems. Save images in .jpg format to conserve space or as GIF or TIFF files if high resolution is necessary.

5. Follow the instructions on the CD-ROM business card printers website to upload your files or print and burn them yourself by following the manufacturer's guidelines for your particular software and hardware.

Tips & Warnings

• When you hand out a CD business card, use the unusual aspects of the card to start a conversation. Potential clients are more likely to view the CD and follow up if they feel a personal connection with you, notes brand strategist Valeria Maltoni.

References

• Conversation Agent by Valeria Maltoni: 5 Tips to Optimize Your Business Card