Hi, my name is Catherine, and I love thinking about the connections between things that seem extremely different. That includes thinking about marketing strategies when I watch independent films. Based on my favourite films, I have stumbled across a lot of unique ideas. My ideas encompass how to attract clients, how to surprise them, how to create an emotional brand and more. Although my ideas are generated watching films, they are backed up with therapies I have learned while working in the business world and studying marketing at university. If you own a business or are thinking about starting one, take a seat and start reading. I hope that you enjoy my blog!
To be a successful blogger, you need to run, promote and brand your blog as if it is a business. As part of that process, you need fabulous, eye-catching and professional business cards. You can easily design your own business cards online. Here are five tips to take in mind while designing your business cards:
1. Create a great first impression
If someone has never been to your blog before, your business card is their first impression. Cheap, shoddy or poorly designed business cards can give people the impression that you do not care about your image and by extension your blog. Thus, this is not the time to skimp on high-quality materials or designs.
However, you don't just want beautiful and professional business cards – ultimately, the first impression you make needs to reflect your brand.
2. Reflect Your Brand
Even if you haven't spent a lot of time brainstorming about your brand or your image, you probably have an innate sense of what your brand is. Essentially, your brand consists of the subject and "feel" of your blog. If you write a super sweet baby blog, you want that sense reflected on your business card. However, if you write a sharp and sarcastic mummy blog, you want a card that reflects that.
In the first instance, a light blue background and images of baby booties might work, while the second scenario may be better served by an edgier image of a harried looking mum against a dark coloured background. To capture your brand, get creative and be unique.
3. Be Unique
Although your business card may essentially just be a square piece of cardstock with some contact details on it, you need to make it stand out.
Explore unique ideas such as rounded corners, serrated edges or non-rectangular shapes. Also, play with the texture of the card and consider different types of paper or different finishes. Finally, think about whether you want to include a photograph, print text on the back or add any additional flourishes. However, while thinking of extra flourishes, do not forget the critical info such as a link to your blog.
4. Add A Link
Of course, a business card that promotes your blog should have your website address on it, but you need to approach this issue with finesse. If you have your own straightforward blog name and website address, print that on your business cards, but if your blog name is long and unwieldy, create a shorter URL.
To do that, you need to think of a short URL that corresponds to your blog's theme. Then, you need to purchase that URL. Finally, you need to use a service that links your blog to the shortened URL.
Your readers do not see any of this process. They simply note the easy-to-remember short website name on your business card, they punch it into their browser's address bar, and they are immediately directed to your site.
5. Use Social Media Handles
Handing someone a business card does not immediately turn them into a lifelong reader. In some cases, people will go straight from your business card to your blog, and they will visit it as often as you post. However, in most other cases, you will need to work to establish and re-establish the relationship over time.
To make this process easier, include your social media handles on your business card. Only include the ones that you use actively and the ones that are connected to your blog. That way, potential readers can follow you on social media sites, and from there, they may become fans of your blog. At any rate, directing them to your social media page gives them another way to reach your web presence than just through your blog.
Share19 February 2015
