Intro by Skip Cohen
I found this short post in Sarah Petty’s archives from years ago. What amazes me is that so many of you are still making the same mistakes.
The issue isn’t just a hard copy business card, but everywhere you put your contact information, including your website and blog. We live in the age of instant fulfillment and when a customer wants to contact you they’ve got virtually no patience. So, whether it’s your website/blog information or a formal business card, give them a number to call, an email address and a postal address.
If you work out of your home and don’t have a business address, then you don’t need to share it, but don’t make it difficult for them to contact you. Phone lines are so inexpensive today – if you’re going to be in business then give people a way to call you. And, when they leave you a message call them back promptly!
Last on this list of my rant on contact information – make sure they know what you do for a living. You don’t need to make your business card a brochure, but at the very least let them know you’re a photographer!
I stopped at a delicious bakery in MO on the way to Memphis today. What a yummy treat instead of the normal interstate offerings. In the corner, there was a large wedding cake display on the top of a glass case. Inside the case was other wedding products, photos of cakes, etc.
There were several brochures and business cards neatly displayed on the top of the table. Out of curiosity, I picked up a business card from one of the stacks. The company was called ‘Something Elegant.’
There was a photo of flowers. I was trying to figure out if this was a florist, a photographer, the pastry chef or the place to call for the items in the glass case. Why would it seem unimportant to put WHAT this company does on their business card?
Although I agree, sometimes small businesses try to make their business card more of an informative brochure, it does help to tell what you do. I have seen others who don’t put contact information either. Sometimes it is so easy for the obvious things to slip by.
