Do I need a fancy business card?
There are some myths I’d like to debunk.
The myth: It has to be splashy.
LightFoot Way (LF): It can be subtle. If you want to be heard, whisper.
The myth: It has to be sexy.
LF: It can be understated.
The myth: It can’t be too risky.
LF: It should know what it’s doing, and go out on a limb with confidence. Say it strong.
The myth: It should be all-encompassing.
LF: It should say one thing clearly and succinctly. You only get 11 seconds to make a first impression. By the time you get to sentence three, they’re gone.
The myth: It’s about getting noticed.
LF: It’s about being remembered. Who cares what it looks like if the feeling of what it was to encounter it doesn’t stick.
So, what does this all mean?
It means think it through.
Do you want to spend the money on that extra coat of varnish, if really what you’re trying to say is “less is more?” Do you want a design cluttered with facts and figures if what you really mean to convey is “we’re easy to approach”?
Most importantly, consider your brand.
Here’s how.
- Make a list of the things you want people to think when they see your card. How do you want your company to be perceived?
- Start with a broad swath of words and ideas, then pare. And pare again.
- Distill the message, and say it clean.
