Build Your Brand – What Should Be on Your Business Card

One of the most important things to send with your shipments is your business card.  What should be on your card is a hotly debated issue and you will read lots of articles on what should be on it.  There’s nothing wrong with doing a little research to see what Etsy recommends and what other people recommend, you certainly don’t have to take my word for it.  You can do that easily by performing a basic Google search.  But for today, I’m going to tell you why you need a business card for your polymer clay business and what I feel should be on your business card.

WHY YOU NEED A BUSINESS CARD:

I have made many purchases online, especially handmade purchases online.  What makes me so sad is when I receive an awesome product and there’s no business card inside.  A business card is very important.  Here are a few reasons why.  

• The first one is the most obvious, your business card is a reminder of where the item was purchased!  There have been many times when I have opened a package and not only is there no business card, but there is no invoice either.  If your buyer is someone who buys on a regular occasion online, they may not remember who they bought that awesome item from.  Your business card is one of the few ways to remind your customer who they bought from and where they can return to purchase another awesome item.  
• The second reason is that many people will keep your card with the item they purchased from you.  If you have all your important information on that card it will allow them to come back, again and again, and again.  And that’s what you want, a repeat customer.

WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR BUSINESS CARD:

There are lots of things you can put on your business card.  But there are a few things that should be included.

• Your Shop Name – Whatever name you have registered as your business name . this is the name you should use.  Whether it is just a first name, first & last name, or joint names (ie: Emma & Alex).
• Your Website – This is the single most important and most valuable piece of information. Everything else can be left off of your card, but not this. The address you want to include is where people will go to shop. Not your blog, links, or facebook page. No. Where people will go to buy from you.
• Your Brand or Branded Image – In the case of my business card, Spex has our branding image & logo. So I feature him on all our branding, logos, and headers for our shop. Remember that your brand is something that people will see and instantly recognize you by. You want this to stick out, be noticeable, recognizable, and build trust and continuity.
• One Social Network – One social network of your choice should be displayed on your card, whichever following you are trying to grow or where you have the most presence. This is optional. If you have a website where your social media presence is linked, don’t worry about listing a social media site on your card. Likewise, if your social media accounts match your shop name, you also don’t need to worry about listing them.
• On the Back – It’s not necessary to put anything on the back of your cards unless you want to.  I have “Thank You” printed on the back of my cards so I can write a note with my cards, or just leave them plain.