Over the years I have collected thousands of business cards. Most of them are almost indistinguishable from each other, even though the people handing them to me operate in a variety of professions. Some people underestimate the value of an effective business card. It should be an effective marketing tool, a way to be remembered, to be contacted and to help you stand out from all of the other accountants that your contacts and clients meet.
Other than those accountants who run their own practice/business most accountants don’t get to choose the look or style of their business card. Equally many accontants who do make decisions about such things may lack the resources to find out what approach is most effective.
Take a random batch of. say, 64 business cards you have collected from other accountants and arrange them in an 8×8 square on your desk. Which ones stand out? I’ll bet it’s none of the plain black print on white card ones; Do you want yours to stand out? If not, why not? If yes, ‘how much’? It can be counter-productive to have a card that makes people want to avoid you. But would you like them to show your card to others – because it’s different/better?
If you are in a position to influence such things here are seven top tips for the design of business cards. Some you may think are obvious. Others less so but all are a reflection of business cards I have seen;
1 – Think about what they are for and where/when they will be used. In many cases they will be received by other professionals, bankers and hundreds of people who will have only the card as a means to remember you. Will it be sufficient to enable them to recall who you were out of the hundreds of other people they have met? My card has a photo (head shot) of me on it – as I appreciate that people might not otherwise remember who Mark Lee is;
2 – Ensure the typeface/font size of the print is readable. There is no point squeezing loads of infomation onto your business card if no one is going to be able to read it;
3 – Ensure your card is of a professional weight. That’s a minimum of 335 gms. Many are 400 gms. You know how awful it is to get a ‘wet fish’ handshake? It’s the same with flimsy business cards. Your credibility is immediately lessened;
4 – Distinguish your personal contact details from the main business details of your practice. Don’t mix them up as this only serves to confuse. Your personal contact details will include your direct dial and mobile numbers as well as your email address. Some people deliberately exclude their direct dial or mobile numbers from the face of the card and add them on manually when giving the card to ‘special’ contacts. What you say in such situations will be crucial;
5 – If you are going to use both sides of the card do ensure that you leave room for the recipient of your card to make some notes on it somewhere. And ensure that any lamination doesn’t preclude such a sensible follow up activity. I know I’m not the only person to always note the date that I met the person and where we were. If there’s room I’ll also often add a note of what we talked about or any follow up actions I have promised.
6 – Your card should reflect your image. Few accountants will be comfortable with the same style of card as would an artist or graphic designer. Some larger firms have introduced ‘modern’ cards that the older members are evidently apologetic about or embarrassed to pass out when they meet people. If ‘modern’ isn’t your style then don’t try to pretend it is. Not everyone wants a ‘modern’ accountant. But they all want someone they can trust and who isn’t trying to be someone or something they are not;
7 – If you want to stand out from the crowd ensure that your business card contains sufficient information about what you or your firm does. Are you ‘just’ “Chartered Accountants’? Do you want people to remember what you do or what qualification you have?
Do you have any other valuable ideas or suggestions? Please add them by of comments to this blog.
Yes – I have taken my own advice although I’m not in practice as an accountant. My business card reinforces my online branding. It’s a bookmark (!) and contains my photo and has the same colouring as the banner at the top of this blog. There is also room for notes. If you’d like to see one just send me an email and provide your postal address. Mark(@)BookMarkLee.(co.uk) – remove the brackets which are just there to stop spam.
Like this post? You can now obtain my 10,000 word ebook containing loads more marketing insights, short-cuts, tips and advice aimed specifically at accountants. You can buy the book or download a summary for free here>>>
I noticed a huge increase in the return of business from a few small changes i made to my business card.
The first one was to take away all of the colour and go black and white. This stands out to the potential client, in a world of colour B&W stands out a mile.
The second, and most important is to have a tag line on your card that is BENEFIT lead. Instead of ‘Psychological Magician’ on my card I have ‘Unforgettable Entertainment’, instead of ‘Accountant’ you could have something like ‘Finance Resolutions’, this is more benefit centred and you will see a HUGE difference in the respnse you get. People aren’t looking for an Accountant, they ARE looking for someone to sort out their finances.
My advice on the business card is – don’t have one.
Have a pen and a blank piece of paper.
Make sure you get their E mail (from their business card or using the pen and blank paper).
Follow up in a couple of days with an E saying how you enjoyed meeting, give your contact details clearly, point them to your website and say you are available for SEX (or words to that effect) at any time.
The whole experience will be more memorable for you and them…
For many the business card is the icebreker – it an excuse for talking to someone. So although previous comments are good my advice is that you must be proud of the card and feel it says about you what you want others to know. Chartered Accountants is fine if that is what you ae happy with. AS Mark Lee’s articles says dont be embarrassed or apologetic be proud. If you want to see poor examples just look at those issued by Bank Staff….
Help!
I have an office manager who must be in absolute control and insist on printing our cards on Avery paper.
Both flimsy and perferatted edges. YUCK!
No explanation will suffice.
Her position:
“Not cost effective”
“Cards dont make the sale”
“When I get cards, I use them for the information, not the quality”
I respect her opinion but as the only “SALES GUY” in the office, I feel better with a quality card. I’ve even offered to pay for my cards but my company wont allow that either.
Do you have any advice?
Signed,
~Mr. Wet Fish