Hi everyone, I posted a business card template a few weeks ago and it needed a lot of changes, so here it is... I have a new webtemplate which I am currently editing...

Here is my card...


Front - http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4053/front3y.jpg
Back - http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7759/back3o.jpg

And my new webtemplate to go along with it, this is the raw,unedited version

Website - http://templates.entheosweb.com/template......329.html

Thanks again for all the help

Chris

Well, you have me confused. The back looks like it should be the front while the back seems redundant and doesn't tell me what type of business you are in. It looks like a calling card rather than a business card. What is it that makes you better than other magicians, you claim to be extraordinaire. That is better than those who claim to be 'master magicians' though. My unworthy opinion is make the back the front and make the back at least some detail as to what type of magician you are. For what it looks like now it might as well say "Hi, I'm a reallllly good magician, better than others, call me Chris!".

Is the template just an example of someone elses site? Either way I don't like it, print too small and why would titles be in English and the body of it in whatever that was?

Hi santa, that is a template, I replace it with ym info, the body is something called loreum ipsum which is a latin webdesign language just showing that you can put text there

'ello Chris,

This all looks very pretty, but the card designed doesn't tell me anything unique about you. You say magician, and you have a hat and a wand. If I were an agent looking at this I'd think J.A.D.M. (Just Another D*** Magician).

In my personal opinion, the word "Extraordinare" doesn't tell me anything other than you think you're great. So what we're left with is a generic card that tells us nothing.

And I don't mean you have to list all kinds of junk on your card. You have to be different, which isn't easy, I admit. Your card has to say something about YOU specifically aside from "I do magic". A logo that matches your personality, a tagline, an appropriate, interesting graphic that hasn't been used by thousands of other magicians.

And your website does match your card, which is good because it matches, but its bad because it's equally as uninteresting and personalized. Even WITH all of your info put into it, I think it would be just as generic as the card.

It honestly feels like you found generic templates and plugged your name and info in them. If this is what you did... don't do that. Because it will look just like it and people are smart- they'll realize it.

If its not what you did and you created these on your own, then you need to put ALOT more personality into them. No one wants to be J.A.D.M.

I would agree about the generic comment.
I still don't know who you are, what you do, nor what benefits you have to offer me if I were a client. I would encourage you to think more on this aspect.

Make the back of your business card a mini- flier.

The Magician Extraordinaire text is a bit hard to read as it is smashed together, harder I dare say at actual business card size.

I prefer the graphic 3D look on the BACK to the similar graphic on what you call front.

I would move the contact info to what you call back, drop the magician extraordinare line, and on the back list your benefits and make it a mini flier.

I would drop the word "Extraordinaire" - it is pretty subjective, and not everyone will agree that you are...

Thank god that was Latin, I thought it was and it confused me as to why Latin would be on a site and I didn't know what else it could be.

Effective use of space on a card with good info (I hope ) Might help give you some ideas.

See this thread

I use the card back to write on. I perform a mind reading stunt and p**k the info written on the card. Spectator keeps the card (and my info).

My posts and card are about 2/3 down the page.
The website is due for a complete re-vamp to match the card.

Derek

A nice start... Remove the hat and add your photo!

Here is my redo with the advice I have gotten

Front - http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8738/front3t.jpg
Back - http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9836/5final.jpg

Let me know what changes should be made, Curtis I am planning to have some promo shots done in the next 2 weeks hopefully

Chris

Better. Not sure if the quote is needed.

One thing, and this is serious, smile in your pictures. The picture you put up before you looked like you were hating life and on your sites video you looked miserable as well. If you asked pros about what is one of the most important things you need to make a good impression and they will tell you a smile.

I agree with Magic of Curtis,

1. Have a picture of yourself. So IMPORTANT! You want to sell you!

My tips.

1. Too much information. just have Kids Shows - Private Parties - Corporate Functions.
2. I would lose the quote. Its good for a website, not for your card.
3. Just have where you work and book chris spiel.

Learn from my mistake - too much info is a bad thing. Simple is better.

3 Main things you want from a business card.

1. Name
2. What you do
3. Contact number/website

Hope I helped Chris.

I'm sorry, Chris, but after looking at your updated card, you still have a long way to go and might've taken a step backwards.

It went from a generic card to a cluttered, generic card. The back looks like a jumble of letters.

This may be a matter of opinion, but I don't think your business card should be a "mini flyer" at all. It should be a professional representation of who you are and what you do WITHOUT a lot of words. That's why getting rid of the generic stuff is key. I know its not easy, but visual representation is the important part of your business card.

And listing the type of events you do only limits you. Because if people see your card and it doesn't say "Bar Mitzfahs" or "Libraries" then they might say "Oh, he doesn't do those, don't bother calling him." You're a magician. Let them have the venue and then you can decide whether you'll be able to do it or not. (And do not think the line "and many more" fixes that. Because if it did, why bother putting it on the card?)

Finally, Curtis and I have two different opinions on this (and that's perfectly acceptable), but I don't think your picture on your business card will help you, unless you have a very distinct persona. A guy in a suit doing magic isn't very different, so a picture might not help you, at least not on your business card.

Chris, you're a young guy and have a chance to fix some really bad habits from the get go. I have seen folks in magic a long time who never learned the proper way to go about marketing themselves. I wish you the best on your journey with all this.

That much upper case lettering, in that stylized font, is hard to read. Used mixed case, and use a font that is easier to read for long sections of copy.

Please, don't put that you do corporate shows and kids shows on the same card. It weakens you. Better off not to put what you do. Or have seperate cards.

If using both sides, the only thing you need to repeat is your name and number (and only if you want to).

On my card, I've got different photos on each side. Testimonials are on one side, along with audience photos. On the other side is my photo, name, website, phone, and a call to action (better if it talks about some sort of benefit to the customer)!

- Donald

Notice Donald is smiling in his photo. Listen to these guys Chris, less is more and I like leaving the back open for writting on for effects.

The use of Photoshop's beveled feature for the text on the back of the card probably makes it harder to read. Particularly with smaller letters. Guessing those letters on the back are probably a font size of around 6 or 7?

A guideline might be to keep the back of the card to eight words or less.

Definitely agree with Donald's post not to mix "kids parties" and "corporate events". What you are saying is, "I'm hoping to get $2500 corporate bookings, but, when times are tough then heck I'm happy to do kids parties for $150."

What generally ends up happening is that you alienate yourself from both target markets. The corporate buyer or meeting planner wants to see that you specialize in corporate events. And, too, the Jane Smith and John Doe would also probably prefer hiring a childrens' entertainer who specializes in working with children.

I've also seen this on many magicians' websites. "We do corporate events, and birthday parties."

With websites and business cards both so relatively inexpensive these days, a great approach is to separate them and have separate marketing materials for both.

Rich

So, Would I be ok keeping the front and keep the back blank, keep the front and and limit the back to a call to action and my contact info, or start from scratch totally or something else?

I like the revision of the front and don't like the back. Also I think some of the people commenting want the business card to do too much. What it needs is information on how to contact you. It is not a good device to do your selling job.

Gil

I got to say first of all , it is an awsome thing that you are asking so many questions and not getting defensive about the answers. Browsing around on here I noticed a lot of people ask things but don't really want to hear the truth. Good for you though for being sincere about wanting to make this the best you can. Now about the cards. I personally have never been a big fan of two sided cards. Done properly everything that needs to bee said can be done on one side. Why pay the extra money to have the other side printed. The way things are today you should cut back on what you can without skimping too much. Keep it top quality but don't add too many bells and whistles. My opinion is stay with one side.