Everyone is asking where to get there cards, well what do ou feel is most important to have on a card??

What should the bsuiness cards contain?? Should it have maybe a quote from someone or anything like that, you guys should get what I mean.

SIX

The most important things to have on your card:

Name
Magician (or what you do)
Phone number
Email address
Maybe a picture

Well one thing you have to determine is if you want your card to be a true "calling card" or more "business" card. There is a difference between the two and they both can work for you. It really is a matter of personal preference and what you want your card to do for you.

A Calling card is mainly a continuation of your brand message and brand identity as carried across all forms of your marketing. It may have your logo identity on it as well as your various contact information, website, phone number etc.

A Business style card is one that will have this information on it but will actually work as a way to generate business for you. It becomes more of a marketing vehicle and might include using the back of the card in some sort of way to give the person an incentive to take action to call you, go to your website etc.

Also, business cards do more than convey the information that's printed on the card. A card that's ugly, dirty, printed on perforated paper or full of corrections screams loud and clear that you're an amateur. No matter how many wonderful services you offer, if your card brands you as unprofessional, you lose business. A clean, creative, professionally printed and visually attractive card, on the other hand, conveys a positive first impression that lingers long after your initial meeting.

Still, a savvy businessperson knows that adding your unique marketing-oriented text to a business card in addition to contact information pays off.

One strategy is to add text that gives your unique specific customer benefits.

For example:

1) Easy to PAY "Credit cards accepted"
2) Easy to get AHOLD of "Requests handled within 24hrs"
3) Easy to get ADVICE or INFO. "Use our simple Information form."
4) "Present or mention this card for a free magic trick."
5) "Receive your first show at 25% off by requesting a promo kit."
6) "Log onto kyleandkellymagic.com for current discount coupons!"
7) "Free upgrade to our deluxe package by mentioning the number on this card"
8) The back of the card can be a useful calander
9) Survey, redeemable for a free gift - could direct them to a web page survey where they fill it out and get a free gift or discount
10) Punch card for frequent clients - acts as a referral rewards system
11) A fun optical Illusion or a magic trick or question where they can be directed to your website for more like it or for the answers
12) A calander of your upcoming public performances
13) The card could be a magnet and be used and seen on the fridge by the prospect
14) Could have a listing of most common measurement conversion chart - gives them a reason to hold onto it for their use
15) A list of your top 5 tips for a successful event

There are many more but I will leave it at this for now. These are all methods of being able to make your business card work for you.

Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with having your card be just a "calling card". If you have other marketing materials that have a call to action that you use, then a calling card may not be a bad way to go as it is a continuation of your brand identity. However, you could have your businesscard doing double duty by not only listing your contact information, but by having an effective call to action as well.

No matter which direction you go in, always remember that your business card is a direct representation of what you do, what you are about and the services you privide. Do not settle for second best or for a card that looks "cheap". A professional and high-quality card will say a lot about your services long before they even begin to read it. Make your card work for you.

Kyle

Hmmmmmmmm... sounds familiar. (Hehehehehe!) Woo Hoo! Great job Kyle!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Deano
<><

PS
SIX, a simple "search" here at the Café will reveal a plethora of discussion on calling cards, business cards and all the how's and whys of your question. Lots and lots of vibrant discussion here!

Thanks Dean. I learned from the best. =) I hope this information is of help to others in deciding what should go on their card to make it a marketing tool that best meets their needs and works to generate business.

Kyle

Check out "Here's My Card" by Bob Popyk. It may very well be the definitive work on business design and etiquette. Great stuff.

2 problems with business cards that magicians have. Almost all fall into these catagories.

Either they spend and worry far too much about it, or they are the exact opposite.

The significance of the business card is waning. It is not nearly what it once was. Yep still important, but NOT as huge as it used to be.

I use my business card all the time every time. It is one thing I have on me no matter where I am at. My philosophy is that they are doing me no good sitting in a box. The power is in handing them out. However, the REAL power is in asking for a business card in return. That is when you start changing your marketing from a passive format to a more active one.

Kyle

When it comes to things like this, I subscribe to two schools of thought.

1. Have a professional do it. Kyle is just that, he knows what he's talking about. I've looked through his portfolio and Kyle has the skills to backup what he's preaching. Most of us do not have his training in the graphic arts field. If you want your promotional material to look good, shell out the money and have it designed professionally. Unfortunately, in this day and age, everyone has access to a desktop publishing program and they think that any cheesy rabbit in a hat clipart will work. The same goes for your promo video and website.

2. Less is more. My business card is 2 sided. One side is entirely black with my logo in white; the other side is white with black printing, it reads... Pepka, sleight of hand magician, my website and phone number. I've seen so many cards that try to cram way too much information on it. If you want to include more than the basics, it should be on a flyer.

Thanks pepka. I appreciate that my friend. it is hard this day and age to get folks to understand that the first impression you often ever make on a prospect is in the materials you send out to them. If this is the case, why wouldn't you want thes ematerials to be designed in the best way possible?

The case is as you stated it. Too many folks have PC's and desktop publishing software. It is too easy to create artwork and get them done up that everyone thinks they can do it. What they forget to realize is that graphic design and communications through grpahical means is a learned skill and one that takles a long time to understand and to do well.

I take pride in the fact that I spent 5 years in art school getting a double degree in graphic design and illustration. Those hard 5 years were spent studying, learning and applying design ideas and principles to give me the knowledge I need to design print material that communicates the message of my clients the best that it can. Design is not about making something look pretty. There is so much more to it then that.

This is why I take pride in the designs I create for my clients. It is a process where I really find out what makes the person or service or business unique and then create graphics that communicate this message clearly to his or her marketplace.

Thanks again pepka for the kind words.

Kyle

No problem buddy. When I get tired of my current logo, you're the first person I call.

Thanks it certainly works for me. Be my pleasure to work with you on something in the future. Here is to a successful 2007.

Kyle

"IF" it is a BUSINESS CARD you want, then, by definition it's purpose should be to ADVANCE YOUR BUSINESS and not just announce you and your logo. (THAT is a calling card...)

BOTH are OK, but you MUST decide up-front what you want your (Business or Calling) Card to do for you.

"IF" you choose a BUSINESS Card, part of it's possible intended purpose is to work on your behalf as a pro-active marketing soldier working on behalf of you and your BUSINEESS bottom line outcomes. (SO, you have to KNOW what THAT is first!)

Kyle did a nice job of summing it up some. I WILL add that if it is a true "BUSINESS" Card, there is little or NO room for any sort of cute "trick" UNLESS it very specifically takes you BUSINESS to the next step in the BUSINESS process.

MERRY CHRISTMAS all!

I am at your service and In HIS Service,
Deano
<><

PS
It's OK to have more than one or two different cards to effect and exact different outcomes in your business growth. Which could certainly INCLUDE helping to advance your relationship, showing off your skills and the real BENIFITS those skills add to your business buyers bottom line...

Hope that helps!

Cards are CHEAP get lots and use them for everything.

I WILL ALSO add that a "true" BUSINESS Card is as important as ever "IF" done correctly, otherwise, as Danny said, it can be less than stellar.

Whoever said get it done professionally is SO right.

The proliferance of software to do it yourself does NOT IN ANY WAY give you the ability to use said software.

Sit me at a computer and you may as well have a monkey.

my wife is brilliant at it, although she can't do a double lift to save her life.

Get a pro to do it, PEPKA is right on.

Thank you.. Thank you... Thank you. Really. It is so hard for me as a professional designer to get that point across to people without them thinking I am tooting my own horn. If you want something done the right way, why wouldn't you hire a professional to do it.

If someone handed you a stethescope and some scalpels.. just because you had the tools would that mean you were experienced enough to do your own surgery? I know that is stretch but if you think about it the same thing applies. If you do not have the skills but you have the tools, it does not make you an expert at it.

In this day where everyone has a computer and everyone has desktop publishing software, it makes it so easy to create art in one way or the other. But just because you have these tools and it is easy to create something, does not mean that something is the best design that is going to brand you and communicate your message the best in your markets.

It is hard to see people try and do it all themselves. I see too many folks spend the money to make ytheir act really good, to make their show the best, to make their props and costuming to-notch. then when you ask them for a card or promo materials 1) they either have none or 2) it looks like their little cousion did it with a clip art program in 5 minutes.

People often forget that the first impression anyone gets of you and the services you offer is the materials you send or hand out to them. Why wouldn't you want to get them done the right way by a rpofessional.

Ok I am off my soap box for now. hehe

Kyle

Yeah but it doesn't mean the "professional" is highly qualified either. Make sure you hire a replicable designer.
my 2 cents.

Shane

Thanks for the help guys and Kyle how much do you charge for making a logo?? I am defiantely interested.

SIX

I want to said that Kyle did two projects for me. His work is top notch and hits the mark! He is very easy to work with. People are always telling me that they like my card. I am 100% happy with the work that he did for me.

I really loved the last project that he did. My twin brother and I laugh the very second that we seen what he did! It captured exactly what we wanted.


Best
Ray

One important thing is how we give out the cards. I never say "here's my card." I always use a 15 second "elevator pitch" when I hand my business card out. i.e. "Hi, I'm Peter, If you set up at a consumer show and like to see people walk by, then you don't need me. I specialize in increasing sales by attracting interested buyers into your booth." Just enough to get someone's interest and remember me.

Peter

Shane you are right. There are many designers out there that simply are not qualified either. Just like you need to check out a printer and make sure the printer meets your needs, you must also check out the designer and make sure they meet your qualifications and have the background in the area of design and the experience and work samples to back it up.

I personally have been in graphic design professionally for the past 13 years now after spending 5 years in college and art school earning a double degree in graphic design and illustration. I work professionally as a senior level graphic designer for a marketing agency in Philadelphia but I also run my own freelance design business. It is through the freelance design business that I realized I could use my talents in design and also entertainment to design materials that meet the needs of my clients and communicate what they need to in their markets.

Ray: Thank you my friend for your kind words. Working on your two logo and identity design projects was a real pleasure as you and your brother both allowed me a lot of creative freedom to create something really unique. I still to this day have people commenting a lot on the last logo I created for your brother and you. I am hoping they are working out well for you. My pleasure.

Six: I would love to help you out with your design needs. however I do not feel it is right or appropriate for me to post my rates and prices here inside a public forum. I think that would be against the rules and I do not want to personally offend any one. I am sure you can understand.

With that in mind though, if you or anyone wants to see samples of my work or to get price ideas for my packages, please just PM me directly or e-mail me at magic4u02@aol.com. I then would be happy to go into more detail about it with you and assist you in any way that I can. My pleasure.

PS: if it is ok with Ray... I might be able to post the 2 logo designs here as pictyures for you to see what he is referring to. However that is up to Ray.

Kyle