What does your Business Card say about Your Business?

I attended a business networking event few days ago and i had the opportunity to network with some small and medium scale business owners. I got to exchange business cards with these entrepreneurs while looking forward to do business with them.

The networking was not that extensive, we just had some few minutes to pitch to one another our products and services, so no one would be very sure of doing business with the other party. But we still exchanged business cards. This means if you ever want a chance to win a client from that party of business owners to yourself, they have to contact you through your business card.

So i got down looking through the cards i had with me to see which business excites me incase i had to deal with any one of them for my personal benefits and on behalf of my clients, today or in the near future. Honestly, i wasn't quite moved emotionally to contact each one for business. This bland experience of non-excitement was worrisome to me. But Why? When it was clear that these business cards are the main tool the business owners used to promote and project their businesses. The cards ought to be the main channel for proper and fruitful networking with other business owners. Then why did i feel so unexcited? It was clear these business cards were missing something - They were missing the USP - Unique Selling Point (or rather unique selling proposition).

Lets take a look at one example, while disregarding the graphic design and focusing on the essential details (names and other details have been changed)

JSSA Security and Protection Services

John Samuel
Director
234(0)7013456793
@johnsamuel

Security Guards, Armed Escort, Training, Consultancy

(at the back)

BBMPIN

Office Address

info@jssecurities.com
www.jssecurities.com

Like most business cards, that is how the traditional packaging is. Just provide channels of contact, name of business, address, website, email, and list of core services or products.

Now can you see in that business card above, it is missing the USP, the selling point that can trigger passion and emotions in the receiver of the card.

Now lets rewrite the card like this:

JSSA Security and Protection Services

John Samuel A.
Director
234(0)7013456793
@johnsamuela

[size=14pt]"We Passionately Protect the Important Things in Your Life"[/size]

Security Guards, Armed Escort, Training, Consultancy

(at the back)

BBMPIN

Office Address

info@jssasecurities.com
www.jssasecurities.com

You can see we have added one line of the USP in the card. Now how did you react to it? Did it stir up something inside of you? If you had this card with you, the usp would likely make you think about having security for the important things in your life, and there is a likely hood that when you need security services you would contact jssa securities. The USP can be more bolder than all the words and should have a larger font to give it a louder "voice".

Now you also need to know that you can pass a business card to another person. Imagine if you shared your business card which includes your well crafted USP in it, and people keep passing it around, there would be a high chance of securing clients as compared to the traditional type of business card designs that removes the focus from a well crafted USP. The one we are used to tells you to just put in your business details and you are fine

If you already have your business cards that has all the necessary information about your business but no USP yet, then redesign it and include a WELL THOUGHT OUT USP. If you are about creating one then don't disregard this powerful point which has a great potential to grow your business.

Thanks for reading

I have none, but I wonder what our politicians, USPs would be... "Eating the National cake since 1999" perhaps

That is well taken. Thank you wella. But the USP of Buhari for now is "TRAVELLING ROUND THE WORLD"

My biz name, address info and my phone numbers...... good job good work is better than a card people will find you if your work is good thx

Nice one Op

I think what consumers and clients need is the basic information not a super story...but naija credit cards sha


a real estate agent once gave me her card and it had a website on it and after typing it did I just found out that it didn't exist. even my barber did the same and added. org but I no see anything

Noted... And thanks for the info.

Will do just that.

Nice

Very valid observation.

As a brand specialist, most times when working on such brief, the clients tend to water down the creatives you put into their designs. They prefer to go along with what they have been used to and been seeing.

Only some audacious ones allow you free hand to do your thing.

BLWeb:
What does your Business Card say about Your Business?

I attended a business networking event few days ago and i had the opportunity to network with some small and medium scale business owners. I got to exchange business cards with these entrepreneurs while looking forward to do business with them.

The networking was not that extensive, we just had some few minutes to pitch to one another our products and services, so no one would be very sure of doing business with the other party. But we still exchanged business cards. This means if you ever want a chance to win a client from that party of business owners to yourself, they have to contact you through your business card.

So i got down looking through the cards i had with me to see which business excites me incase i had to deal with any one of them for my personal benefits and on behalf of my clients, today or in the near future. Honestly, i wasn't quite moved emotionally to contact each one for business. This bland experience of non-excitement was worrisome to me. But Why? When it was clear that these business cards are the main tool the business owners used to promote and project their businesses. The cards ought to be the main channel for proper and fruitful networking with other business owners. Then why did i feel so unexcited? It was clear these business cards were missing something - They were missing the USP - Unique Selling Point (or rather unique selling proposition).

Lets take a look at one example, while disregarding the graphic design and focusing on the essential details (names and other details have been changed)

JSSA Security and Protection Services

John Samuel
Director
234(0)7013456793
@johnsamuel

Security Guards, Armed Escort, Training, Consultancy

(at the back)

BBMPIN

Office Address

info@jssecurities.com
www.jssecurities.com

Like most business cards, that is how the traditional packaging is. Just provide channels of contact, name of business, address, website, email, and list of core services or products.

Now can you see in that business card above, it is missing the USP, the selling point that can trigger passion and emotions in the receiver of the card.

Now lets rewrite the card like this:

JSSA Security and Protection Services

John Samuel A.
Director
234(0)7013456793
@johnsamuela

[size=14pt]"We Passionately Protect the Important Things in Your Life"[/size]

Security Guards, Armed Escort, Training, Consultancy

(at the back)

BBMPIN

Office Address

info@jssasecurities.com
www.jssasecurities.com

You can see we have added one line of the USP in the card. Now how did you react to it? Did it stir up something inside of you? If you had this card with you, the usp would likely make you think about having security for the important things in your life, and there is a likely hood that when you need security services you would contact jssa securities. The USP can be more bolder than all the words and should have a larger font to give it a louder "voice".

Now you also need to know that you can pass a business card to another person. Imagine if you shared your business card which includes your well crafted USP in it, and people keep passing it around, there would be a high chance of securing clients as compared to the traditional type of business card designs that removes the focus from a well crafted USP. The one we are used to tells you to just put in your business details and you are fine

If you already have your business cards that has all the necessary information about your business but no USP yet, then redesign it and include a WELL THOUGHT OUT USP. If you are about creating one then don't disregard this powerful point which has a great potential to grow your business.

Thanks for reading

You seems to be mistaken business card for sign post. The basic function of business card is to provide for the subject matter and the contact details, not the business details.

The USP is not necessary/compulsory to be stated on a biz card, as biz cards are not use to advertise what you do. It is rather used to provide your contact details after a possible advertisement/marketing of your business.

On the other hand, I'm not condemning having the "USP" on the card, but personally, I won't advocate having other details apart from the contact details of your firm and yourself.

Just my personal point of view!!


Please correct me if you think I'm wrong.

h

Is this FP or BP
Hot tea served?

Nairaland. com...we love tonto dike, any kind of news involving snakes, bukola saraki and recently linda ikeji, call us on 0800lalasticlala. a TRIAL will confuse you.

Yes,dats True USP can still b ur mission statement e.g a fashion designer can write 'looking Decent is our Priority.
Nt Only Dat Ur Business Name Must Also Correspond 2 Ur Vission Statement E.G For Fashion Designer One Can Write 'looking Decent Fashion Designer'.Thanks

I love this, I want a copyright of this article from the OP



Some people will still be commenting rubbish instead to appreciate it, when you pay 4 seminar and you are been taught of this, you would know the value of this piece.


Great Work.

Ghost447:
You seems to be mistaken business card for sign post. The basic function of business card is to provide for the subject matter and the contact details, not the business details.

Nah. He ain't.
His point? Throw in a catch - the USP (unique selling point) - in your marketing collaterals.

Gud

Ghost447:
You seems to be mistaken business card for sign post. The basic function of business card is to provide for the subject matter and the contact details, not the business details.

Why did you think so.

I observed this trend has less comment,reason is because majority of our youths are unserious In lyf wen it comes to reasonable topics,reason they've bin whr they are,and will remain whr there are unless they Changed. THANKS O.P NICE POST.

Yes business card really say a lot about
businesses


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Nice info..

Spot on.

99% of business cards handed to me gets tossed in the thrash months after.

The sooner folks begin to package the business card as a seductive little ad, rather than as a means to record contact details, the sooner it adds more value to the business

lightheart:


Nah. He ain't.
His point? Throw in a catch - the USP (unique selling point) - in your marketing collaterals.

That may be so for market business, but certainly not for some specific professions.

Ghost447:
That may be so for market business, but certainly not for some specific professions.

Like which, please?

Good Morning... Nice post OP,
I do graphics and I have designed so many business cards, trust me none of my clients have given me a USP, even when I try to infuses one, they say please just leave it like that. Thanks For the Information.

Have a good Day

Sincerely have have tried many business card severally but non work me... the best business card is excellent job delivery. am in to painting and note the pics below is not wallpaper but painting