Ideas for Cute Business Cards

Your business card should attract the kind of attention you want.

After a long weekend at a trade show, you come home with plenty of great ideas for business deals and at least a hundred different business cards. You knew who you were taking a card from and why when you were standing there exchanging cards, but now you don't have a clue what most of these business cards mean. And an ugly thought creeps into your head about people just tossing away your business card because it is just as unmemorable as all the rest.

Memory Kickers

Anything that has your picture on it will help kick memories back into focus when people look at your card. People do business with other people, and a smiling face on a business card fortifies that personal connection. It also helps to have a clever photo or graphic depicting something you do in your business. Avoid the pre-penned clip art available with most business cards, and supply your own photos or drawings. Even if they are a little odd looking, they will stand out from the pile of other cards. In fact, the more unusual, the more memorable.

Unusual Designs

Your business card can be a demonstration of your product, so if you sell tile, have some tiles screened with your contact information. If you groom dogs, your cards could be shaped like dog bones. A printer can cut any shape you want, but it will cost more. Plastic, fabric, packaged food and randomly torn construction paper or colorful poster board with your contact information stamped on it in contrasting ink can be effective. You might even consider carrying a pre-inked rubber stamp rather than business cards. If you stamp a person's hand with your contact information, at least you know they won't lose it.

Non-Cards

Tchotchkes, those printed pens, mouse pads and paperclip holders handed out at trade show booths, are great ways to get your contact information retained and, hopefully, used by potential clients. The rule is that the item can be as odd looking as possible, but as long as it is useful, it will be kept. Wild, but useless, tchotchkes will be brought home to the kids or thrown away at the hotel.

Considerations

Your goal in using an unusual business card is to make an impression. The famous adage "any publicity is good publicity" is not necessarily true when it comes to business mementos. Your unusual card should still be in keeping with your professional image. It is quite all right to have balloons as business cards if you are a professional clown, but it is not a good idea if you are an investment banker.

References

• SmashingMagazine.com: Business Card Design Starter Kit: Showcase, Tutorials, Templates
• BrochureMonster.com: The History of Business Cards in Ancient Centuries