New Business Card Ideas
A reader responded to my article about law student business cards, and she asked some very thoughtful questions. In fact, there are some good ideas here for everyone to consider.
Business card and address
First of all, should your business card contain your address?
Let me answer that question with a question: Does it need to?
When you’re designing a professional business card, you should always remember the purpose. You want people to be able to contact you. How are people most likely going to do that? Probably via email or phone. Who needs a physical address!
The obvious exception is a store or other place of business that needs people to come to it. Their customers need to know where to go to shop or eat.
But most professionals (including law students and college students) primarily use their cards for networking. If somebody needs your accounting services, they’ll probably call to set up an appointment. They usually won’t just pop in.
Leaving off your address saves space and it also saves money. While many people are on the lookout for free business cards, you can spend a little extra on some slick cards that you won’t have to replace every time you move.
Student on the card?
The reader’s next question is whether or not she should put her law student status on her business card.
My response: yes!
Business cards should have your job on them. When you’re a student, that is your job. You can’t put “lawyer,” since you’re not a lawyer yet. But you can indicate that you are a law student. The same goes for college students and other graduate students.
But how should you indicate your student status?
Try this: University of Timbuktu, ’09
I think this clarifies for your state in life and what you’re looking for. At the present, you’d be interested in an internship or part time work. And you’re hoping to establish contacts for the future.
More business card questions?
I love writing about business cards. If you have a question or thought, send it my way.
Photo by Randy Cox
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5 Responses to “New Business Card Ideas”
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About Andrew Flusche
Lawyer, bicyclist, husband.
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June 11th, 2008
One of the things that a student should do is to get a GrandCentral (google service) number (http://www.grandcentral.com/) that remains with her/him for lifetime and can ring any any phone number(s) one assigns to and can take voice message also (http://www.grandcentral.com/home/features).
This way, when they graduate their phone number still remains valid just like having a Gmail or Yahoo mail etc, accounts.
I would say that this can be true for anyone to keep contact alive for “lifetime” in these days of job downsizing/rightsizing or whatever!
Jay Shah
732-410-6163 (Grand Central number)
P.S. At present you can get the GrandCentral number only by invitation from a person who already has it until Google opens up for others. Of course you can reserve a number request.
June 12th, 2008
@Jay – Thanks for the great suggestion. Perfect! But I thought GrandCentral wasn’t allowing any invites right now. Do you know how current users can invite people? I have an account, and I’d love to share the GrandCentral joy!
June 15th, 2008
Years ago, people use to have calling cards printed. From what I understand these just had the person’s name on them and you’d leave one when you went calling on someone. I think that idea would be pretty useful today when people change jobs multiple times.
One reason to put your address on might be to help the person remember you later on. If they have a stack of 100 cards, the city and state might help them remember where they met you.
June 20th, 2008
@Mark – I like your thought that addresses might help people better remember you. Maybe for people who are worried about moving, they could just put their city and state. That would provide more details for contacts that you meet and make the card flexible.
June 27th, 2008
Very nice information about business card. Different size of a business cards so we can distribute in professionals. We have design a business card.
http://www.uvcards.com
Thanks