There are so many hacky metaphors a person can write to demonstrate the importance of indie business cards to your craft business. Business cards are like a good handshake: An important introduction. Business cards are like clothing: They provide a first and lasting impression. Business cards are like women: their mere existence is all it takes to get Patrick Bateman's bloodlust rising.
As lame as those first two metaphors might be, though, business cards are important. This is especially true for craft business owners, whose indie business cards might be among dozens a potential customer picks up at a craft fair. Here are some tips to make sure your indie business cards provide all of the follow-through it can muster:
- Decide what the card's purpose will be. Are your indie business cards representing you, or your craft business? Give top billing to the thing you want people to remember, whether it's Jane Doe or T-shirts sExtreme! (Incidentally, will someone please name a business “T-shirts sExtreme?”)
- Show what you want people to remember. There's a reason why people take indie business cards. Okay, it might be because they think you're cute, but more likely, it's because they like your work. So show it. I've been to way too many craft fairs where I've taken cards from artists I've liked only to have no idea who made what when looking at the cards later on.
- Define what your craft business does. Succinctly, but uniquely. “Stained glass pendants and earrings” is better than “Elegant jewelry.”
- Give the right amount of information about your craft business. Do you really want to give your home address out to everyone? And if you're not a phone person, don't put your phone number. Although introverted me can't understand it, there are strangers who will always call you before they try to email.
- Think about printing. If you're a screenprinter, handmade indie business cards are definitely memorable. But if you don't have a sweet setup, avoid printing cards on your home printer. It's not that much money to get cards printed professionally, and they look so much better. In the past, I've used Overnight Prints and Vista Print, both with good results.
- Get help if you need it. If your card-design skills are lacking, enlist a friend.
- Avoid anything seen here, and you'll be halfway to fine.
Photo: Four business cards I picked up at a craft fair a couple of years ago that still remind me of the goods. Ray-Min obviously makes bags, and the bags on the card are representative of the company's styles. Deadbird makes wall art with pictures of animals, the illuminated paper parasols are from a girl who creates paper parasol lamps, and Tad Works crafts the fuzzy things seen on the card.
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