5 Memorable Business Card Ideas for Writers
A few things to help you stand out in this big, wide world.
In our digital freelance writing world, you may be wondering if having a physical business card is even worth it. The answer: It is, if you want to capitalize on every opportunity you run into.
You never know when you’ll run into a potential client. At a networking event, a downtown bar, a friend’s wedding… The possibilities are out there! Be prepared with an awesome business card that makes you stand out.
In this post, we’ll discuss what every writer needs in a business card, as well as some awesome add-ons that may land you extra work.
Eye-Catching Business Card Designs
You’ll obviously want a visually appealing business card - something that emulates how you want your brand to look.
As a writer, I personally don’t have design expertise. Side note: I tried designing my own business cards when I first started, and I ended up being too embarrassed to hand them out. My order was less than $20, but it was a waste.
Needless to say, I eventually redid my business cards and used a pre-made template.
You can find tons of business card designs online. Probably any pre-made business card design will look great for you! Besides, you’re not expected to know great design, you’re a writer!
Business Card Basics
Every business card – whether it’s for a writer or another business – needs a few things. These are the basics:
Name: Sole proprietors just need their name. Any other type of writing business would have their company name (and possibly the writer’s name too).
Role: Designate your writing specialty so that potential clients know what kind of writing you do.
Portfolio site: Put the naked domain (without the www). Hopefully your domain name is nice, clean and succinct to save on space.
Email: Ideally, this email is a professional business email, rather than a @gmail.com account.
Phone number: While you and your clients may not actually make calls via phone, it does help to build trust. A phone number and the area code shows that you’re a real person or business in a real place.
If you’re only going to do the bare minimum on your writer’s business card, make sure it has all of the components above.
5 Business Card Add-Ons for Writers
Now, if you want to go above and beyond to boost your chances of landing work from in-person networking, there are a few extras that will make your business card an effective marketing tool.
Adding some of these features may increase the cost of your business cards, so consider if they’re right for your business or career.
#1 QR Code
We’re finally at the point where almost everyone is able to scan QR codes (and knows how to do it). Instead of typing out your website, a QR code can save on space and allow someone to go directly to your site.
A QR code will streamline the process from a paper business card to your corner of the Internet (your portfolio). And as with any marketing funnel, the easier it is to take the next step, the more conversions you can expect.
#2 CTA
CTA is a call-to-action. Treat your business card as you would any other touchpoint. When someone looks at your business card, what should they do next?
Your business card CTA could be as simple as “book a discovery call with me” or “let’s discuss working together.” Or, if you want them to click on your QR code, put a mini CTA telling them this code will take them to your site.
#3 Tagline
Writers get really hung up on creating the perfect tagline. If you do have the perfect tagline, that’s awesome. Include it.
However, your “tagline” could simply state what kind writer you are. Come up with a concise way to say that you provide copywriting and content marketing and social media ads.
Your tagline could also be your benefit to consumer, especially if your writing services are really specific. For example, an authority health writer’s business card tagline could be something like, “Weaving evidence-based health information into digestible how-to guides.”
I’d actually love to see that tagline be even more concise, but you get the idea.
#4 USP
Your USP, or “unique selling proposition,” is a buttoned-up statement that tells your prospect how you are different from all other writers they come across. It states why this difference is favorable for your client.
For example: A USP statement could somehow tie in your bilingual background to a prospect’s writing needs. Maybe you could provide blog articles for both their English and Spanish speaking audiences. That definitely is a plus for a client!
#5 Value Proposition
Not to be confused with the USP, a value proposition is a statement that summarizes the most compelling benefits of working with you. This is tailored to what your client needs.
Your value proposition should answer the question, “What’s in it for me (the client)?” Take some time to really think about this value prop before you send your business cards to print. If you can’t hit the nail on the head with this one, you may want to omit it for now.
Before You Print Your Business Cards
Now that you know all the business card basics and awesome add-ons, there are a few more things to keep in mind before you send them off to print.
How Many Business Cards Should You Get Printed?
Luckily, you can get a small set of business cards for pretty cheap. Unless you plan on doing tons of networking events, you probably only need 100 or so. Stash them in your wallet or car so you always have a few available.
How Do You Know If Your Business Card Is Perfect?
While it’s not super expensive to reprint business cards, it costs you $0 to triple check. Of course, do a spell check and grammar check. However, you should also try to make everything as concise as possible. If your business card looks too crowded, omit some of the add-ons.
Should You Use One or Both Sides?
You may also want to think about whether or not your business card will have one or two sides. While a 2-sided business card gives you more room to incorporate compelling add-ons, some businesses leave one side blank.
The reason for this is that you can easily write what you and this prospect discussed in person. If you decide to leave one side blank, choose a material and color that will be easy to write on with a pen.
