Business Cards
When setting up your freelance business, it is important to project a professional image. Now that you are no longer with an established company, you will need to build up your own client base and look after your own PR and image, as well as all the normal office work. For better or for worse, presentation matters a lot. How your business presents itself is the only way for clients and potential clients to know what you do and what kind of company you are. One of the most common ways to get your company's message across is with business cards.
Advantages Of Business Cards
Having a business card is regarded by many as the difference between a serious, forward thinking company, and someone doing work out of their spare room. By having them available to hand out to people, wherever and whenever you meet them, a number of things are achieved.
Firstly, you are able to court clients in any situation. Picking up the kids from school? Perhaps your daughter's new best friend's parents' work in your field! Simply slip them a business card, and a business relationship is started.
It is a simple and easy way to impart large amounts of information: cellphone, email, work number, without the bother of having to spend five minutes exchanging numbers. In today's busy society, handing someone a card saves valuable time and stress in any number of situations.
More importantly, it projects the image of seriousness and professionalism that every business wants to maintain. It sends the message that your business is established, has multiple clients and that you do not have time to waste with information gathering.
Exchanging cards is one of the clichés of the corporate world, so being able to do it confers a certain legitimacy onto your enterprise. Indeed, if you meet potential clients without one, people will begin to wonder about working with you. And of course if you do any business with Japanese companies a business card is essential.
What To Put On Them
There are so many different ways of contacting people these days that it is hard to know what to put on a business card, and what to leave out. Too much information makes the card look crowded, and can put across the image of disorganization.
Your work cellphone and office number are musts, as well as email. Fax has become less important since the invention of email, but you may want to include it anyway, since faxes are considered legal documents, whereas emails are not. Both your name and your company name, displayed prominently, at the top or in the middle, lets people know who you are. What you do is also essential, if it not already obvious from the company name. Aesthetics are up to you, and a rare chance to express yourself! Most recommend that cards be kept simple, with clear bold colors, and maybe a logo.
What Now?
Any good printing company can have these made up to your designs, usually within 24 hours. If you don't have time to go into a shop, they are available online for $5.00 for 250 very simple generic business card to around $100 for a specialty designed printed on both sides.
Get your cards printed up as soon as possible, and start handing them out. Once you begin to do this, you will begin to perceive yourself as the go-getting business person you know you are, and with any luck, clients will beat a path to your door!