Finally! My new business cards arrived from Vista Print.
http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=637916501872
I have to say I love this company and their products. I have about 500 free reasons why! I ordered my business cards, nothing fancy, just a basic business card with my information and the picture of a computer on the front, and a list of my services on the back. For two boxes of business cards I only paid about $20.00 with shipping….but here is where it gets fun…..
They also sent me
25 sheets of matching letterhead….FREE
140 matching return address labels…..FREE
100 promotional postcards…FREE
1 stamp with my name, business and web address….FREE
1 matching sticky note pad with my information….FREE
Nice huh?
I do find that business cards are important to have. I also believe that the ones you print off your own PC will only work for so long before you have to pony up and buy actual cards. I include my business card in every query I send, letter, etc. I hand them out whenever I meet someone who could potentially need a writer one day. Basically, business cards are your mini advertisement for your writing.
Here are some things to include on your business card:
Your name
Your web address
Your email
Your business phone number (I use my cell phone)
Your title (mine says Freelance Writer….but you can put “blogger” or “copywriter” etc.)
On the back…..
It costs more…but I feel it is worth having more info on the back! Be sure to include what you specialize in. for example, my cards say:Specializing In:
Articles
Brochures
Data Sheets
Flyers
Greeting Cards
Newsletters
Press Releases
Resumes
Then on the very bottom it has my web address again. If someone picks up my card, they know exactly what I do….not everyone knows what a freelance writer does or why they need them. Most people assume that since I am a freelance writer, I sit at my beach house and write romantic novels all day! They don’t realize everything a freelancer can do.
If you don’t have business cards, GET THEM. Start out with just the ones you print off your computer to get a feel for how often you will give them out and to whom. Don’t ever miss an opportunity to give out your mini advertisement. I was in a job interview for a marketing firm to work as a writer, and struck up a conversation with the guy next to me. He was applying for a different job, and commented on how he had been looking for a month for a new job. What did I do? I whipped out my business card and told him to call me if he wanted me to look over his resume. Before I made it home, there was an email in my inbox from him asking me to not only review his resume, but to rewrite it.
When you go through your first computer printed set, go ahead and make the commitment to purchase professional business cards. While you’re at it, try Vista Print.
Happy Writing,
Tina
