The success of a freelancer depends primarily on self-promotion. Many of us were taught as children not to brag about ourselves in front of others, but when it comes to freelancing, this is exactly what we need to do.
If you are a freelancer who wants to attract new customers, it is crucial to decide what methods you will use and how your personal brand will look. The marketing of any high-quality freelancer must be innovative and interesting for the client, but at the same time, express the main essence of services provided. Most interactions in the modern world occur through digital media. For example, a client can contact a freelancer using a social network, Skype, email, or other avenue. But personal human relations remain one of the most necessary aspects of the business world, especially when a freelancer wants to build long-term relationship with their customer.
This is why every freelancer needs a business card.
Why are freelance business cards so important?
Today, business cards are a great tool to make a good impression on new customers. They are an integral branding element, making you stand out above your competitors. It is worth noting that with a good business card, you can offer your services or products wherever you are. With a strong handshake, you can exchange personal information with your next major client.
At seminars, conferences, or just business meetings, a business card is essential. You can share them with other participants, thereby distributing information about your personal brand.
Often, a business card is not just a piece of paper that contains basic contact information. Smart freelancers turn it into an impressive design with an eye-catching logo, a special font, attractive color, and more. A good business card reveals the quality of the products and/or services that a freelancer provides.
A correctly executed personal contact card shows the client a reputation of the freelancer and the level of quality of the products or services one provides. It can also depict a unique attribute of a freelancer's business - for example, if you are a writer, your business card should include some well-written, engaging copy or a catchy tagline.
Here are all the things a business card can do for you:
1) It is a great opportunity to advertise your goods and services.
2) It is a sign of prestige (not all freelancers have business cards).
3) It is a simple way to inform anyone about your specialization and what services you can provide.
4) It is a physical reminder of a meeting with a potential client, which can help close the deal.
5) It can be shared by the recipient to friends and acquaintances who may be interested in your services.
What elements must all freelance business cards include?
What's a good business card supposed to be? The answer to this question will be almost the same as the list of why you need it:
1) It must be a good advertisement for your products and services.
2) It must look prestigious, not clumsy.
3) It must contain only the necessary contact information.
4) It should be a card that a person would like to show their own friends and acquaintances.
If you decide to commission a designer to create your business card, make sure to have a conversation with them about your needs first. They should know:
1) How you position yourself (designer, programmer, copywriter, optimizer, translator, or any other freelance specialization)
2) Whether your industry favors unconventional business cards or strictly classic designs
3) If you want something colorful or muted.
4) Where the text will be placed - on both sides or just one
5) If you have a logo or other personal elements that must be included
Whether you choose a design with lots of graphic elements or just straightforward text will depend, in part, on the industry you work in. If you are in a creative field, you are more likely to need an eye-catching design. Lawyers will want something extremely simple and classic. At minimum, every business card should include your name, title, web address, and the best way to get in touch with you.
What should you avoid in a business card?
Do not make a card of unusual size or shape. Many people keep the cards they collect in special pockets or cases, which will not hold anything outside the standard rectangular. An oddly shaped card is more likely, then, to go straight to the trash.
Do not choose a thin cardboard for your card, as it will wear out or bend and look sloppy. Avoid using pale inks or holographic foil embossing, which can make reading really difficult.
A carelessly and tastelessly decorated card will be the perfect anti-advertisement for you as a freelance specialist. If the style of design does not correspond to your industry or specialty, it will cause bewilderment rather than interest. Look at the design holistically - don't experiment with combining typefaces, images, or backgrounds that will clash with each other.
Using a massive logo or a personal photo on a card is a bad tone, especially for media specialists. One exception to the photo rule is specialists, such as actors, for whom recognizability is crucial.
Sometimes the desire to give maximum information about yourself makes the card spam, turning it into a ridiculous canvas of letters and numbers. Only include as much information as is absolutely necessary. And make sure to triple-check all your information for accuracy and clarity! An incorrectly specified phone number or email address will prevent clients from actually contacting you, while a link to a personal site containing "https://" or a jokey personal email address look sloppy and unprofessional.
Conclusion
Imagine the situation: You have met a person who wants to keep your contact details to be able to get in touch with you later. If you do not have a freelance business card, they will write down your contact information on their phone. When a client needs your help, it will be a long and painful journey to remember where your contact details were saved. They may not be able to find you at all, or they may forget just what services you can provide when they come across your contact information a month later.
If you have a freelance business card, all these problems are solved immediately.
Business cards are necessary to absolutely everyone who plans to make personal or professional acquaintances and contacts. They not only make the process of exchanging contact information more convenient, they are an integral tool for building the reputation of freelance specialists.
from Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/09/17/why-you-still-need-a-business-card/
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