Businesscards are advertising or little seeds to grow business at least from a small business persons standpoint. More thought is needed that is given on most cards. Don’t forget the back of the card is useful for making offers.

I suppose having the barcode would make them more interested to go to the website to see what information it held.

I wonder what sort of information would be useful for such a thing…

I wonder if it would make sense to even leave out the contact information (except for an e-mail address) so you wouldn’t have to get new cards when you move…

Then you could write your phone number and address on the card when you want to share it to someone. What do you think?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2053/2075971320_b32b96841a.jpg

A warning though. Moo cards are small so be prepared to write small.

A PGP key? I guess that works really well with the kind of customers and partners you’re looking for. In fact, I’d say it’s a personal touch. Although if I’d receive a business card with a PGP key on it, I would be rather scared to e-mail you, because I wouldn’t know if I need to use the PGP or not – not to mention that I would be unaware of how to use it…

Shane R.: Hehe, it’s cool how your card is getting blanker in every version. Maybe your next card will be totally blank? ;)

I like your approach!

John: I think the difference in our thinking comes from the fact that we’re thinking of a different kind of organization structure.

From your comment I read that you’re in a big organization in a world where you need to be careful if the person you are talking to actually is in a position that gives him any power to do business with you. Well, I guess in my day job, I’m in a similar situation as you (and that’s why my business card says “Server Programmer”).

But in my own business, for which I’m getting the new cards, I’m a solo entrepreneur. That means that the company is me: my personality, my talents, my interests. So, I want my cards to represent that as well: me instead of just one of my many roles.

Does that make sense?

In fact that brings us to an even more interesting question: What do we see our roles to be in our businesses (work, entrepreneurship, etc.) and how does it relate to our business cards? Are business cards only business related stuff, or something you give to your friends and acquaintances as well?

When I meet someone from a potential customer who the person is doesn’t really mean anything, what really matters is the position that he’s holding in other words is he the right person to go after or add in your rolodex.

I also carry a pen with me and I write on their business card on the back side the action point. ie. “Send Presentation of Product X” etc.

To have a picture of your self would render the card unprofessional and tacky at least in the Americas region, where I’m working. Perhaps you work in the world of fashion where publicity stunts are ok, but in telecoms area less is more.

Just got a second batch of business cards done up. The first had my name, a title, phone number, email and website address.

The current cards have just my name and a generic logo (which fits in to many of the business / personal things I persue).

Got the idea from watching Ocean’s Eleven. At one point Daniel Ocean leaves one of the characters a card, it simply says Daniel Ocean.

Hopefully I don’t go the route they take in American Psycho though getting newer and slicker business cards every week!

Similarly to you, I’m going to bring a pen with the cards. It not only personalises the cards, but allows one to give different people different information / contact details!