Your Blogging Business Card

To be honest while I do have business cards, I don’t hand out too many per year. Still, I think it’s worthwhile to have a set of business cards that you carry around with you because there are some perks…

Writing related events and conferences: If you attend blogging or writing related events of any sort a business card comes in handy to give out to potential clients and your peers.

Local topical events: At the last green expo I attended I was shocked at the sheer amount of green businesses in attendance without business cards. Yeah, business cards may waste a little bit of paper, so maybe that was the thinking behind this issue, but one, you can get them on recycled content paper, and two, these businesses were missing a huge marketing tactic. There were plenty of businesses that I would have loved to write about who had zero business cards available. I did have my notebook with me so I could jot down ideas and business names, but frankly that’s a pain. Business cards would have been easier. The same goes for bloggers. If you attend many topical events or expos you’re likely in contact with folks who now need, or at some point may need a blogger. Blogs for businesses are practically the rule lately rather than the exception and companies need a blogger to cover said blog. If you’ve got a business card to hand out it’s easier for businesses to remember you when they need a blogger.

Brand your name or site: If your card reflects your main topics and your style then it’s just one more way to brand yourself or your website – it helps people remember you, especially if you create a clever and useful business card.

Product reviews: If you’re out and about and see a cool product or even an entire company to review it’s nice to be able to hand over a card for product mailing or interview scheduling purposes.

For the sake of professionalism: Most people I’ve met don’t consider blogging an actual valid career choice; I’m pretty sure most of my pals and family think I surf the web aimlessly all day long. A business card helps to promote blogging as a genuine career and makes you look more professional which is exactly how you want to be viewed if you want to score the higher paying blog gigs.

Just because you never know who you might meet: SO many people I meet need blogs, want a blog, or think a blog would be a great idea for their business, not to mention all the other writing needs folks have. People do need writers for both online and offline projects more than you might think. If you’re the one writer who handed a card to someone in need you’re likely going to be the person they call. If someone you meet even shows a slight interest in your job (blogger) I’d hand them a card because you never know.

Don’t believe me? ProBlogger notes that business cards are one of the best offline marketing methods for bloggers.

Coming up we’ll look at what you should put on a blogging business card and take a look at where you can get some made up on the cheap.

Do you already have a blogger business card? Are you considering getting a card made up?