11 Responses

1. Justin Levy

   01|Nov|2008 1

   I know what you mean Bryan! I always have to make notes on biz cards so that I know what I’m referencing later. I like to transfer these notes in my contact software (depending on which one I’m using at the time) so that when I speak with that person in the future I know where I met them. I also like to make a little note about something interesting and different such as that we both like the Red Sox (for instance ) or something similar.

   One idea I keep toying with but have yet to put to full use yet is using EverNote to take pics of business cards and make notes about them. The software indexes the text in the image. With the iPhone app they have for it, it makes it dead simple to sync to the cloud and desktop app. I enjoy using EverNote for other things but can’t seem to get used to using it for biz cards…though it is a clever idea.

2. BryanPerson

   01|Nov|2008 2

   Good thinking, Justin. Neither of my scanned business cards above show this, but I make interesting notes about people too. (“Funny haircut.” “Red Sox fan.” “Met through Chris Brogan.” “Bought me two drinks.”) Whatever. Just something that stands out about that person and helps me to remember them later on.

   I like your photo > Evernote idea, but I don’t think I’d be disciplined enough to keep up. Plus, it seems that scribbling a note on a card would be much faster than taking a photo on my iPhone, typing in notes, and saving them. But then again, if I get a card that doesn’t allow me to take notes on it, this just might work!

3. Doug Haslam » Blog Archive » Social Media Top 5: I wish i knew how to Qwit you (but I know when you Qwit me)

   02|Nov|2008 3

   [...] Great post from Bryan Person on business cards. OK, business cards? Social media? Do we need business cards anymore? I still like ‘em, if only because people use ‘em. Bryan’s advice? Give us some space to write on cards, and material that we can actually write on. Amen! Sometimes, your business card is the only thing I have to write on. Trivial, or important? Important. And useful. [...]

4. Ari Herzog

   02|Nov|2008 4

   I agree on the importance of white space at a time when many folks — typically at organizations — clutter the front with contact details and the back usually has some colored logo detail.

   But glossiness doesn’t run ink — especially when wet, unlike non-glossy paper or linen stock.

   In this vein, when recently creating my own cards for my consulting business, I printed them on 100# glossy stock with a colored front mainly to stick out (with room to jot small notes) and a 100% white back.

5. BryanPerson

   02|Nov|2008 5

   Ari: There are some business cards that are white but that use a finish that don’t allow me to write on them with a pen. They appear to be “glossy” to me — but maybe they’re technically called something else. In any case, if I can’t write on them, the benefit of standing out at first is minimized by not enabling me to write down memory notes on them.

   However, it sounds like you’ve got the right mix with your cards!

6. Bernie Goldbach

   03|Nov|2008 6

   The other thing about shiny, glossy cards is that you have to work at getting a clean scan when you snap them by using ScanR on your cameraphone. I’ve started a set here:

   http://www.flickr.com/photos/irisheyes/sets/72157608074844363/

   And I intend to show good and bad samples in the set as I develop it.

7. Ted Demopoulos

   14|Nov|2008 7

   Don’t do that with the Japanese or most Asians, they’ll be offended!
   That said, I do the same thing.

8. Scott Monty

   17|Nov|2008 8

   I don’t see what all the fuss is about. There’s a way around this if you create a simple yet memorable business card. Something like this: http://flickr.com/photos/jeremiah_owyang/1627003182/

9. Jeff

   22|Nov|2008 9

   Agree wholeheartedly with Scott. My cards are printed front and back (a reverse of the front shows on the back).

   The card is memorable, can be written on but had a dark background.

   But it’s simple…really simple. Just has my name and my domain (which is my name) and some contact info.

   Tagline says “Writer for hire”. Is there much more you’d want to put down?

   Maybe if I were selling you CRM software and had a generic card and you wanted to jot down specifics, sure. But in some instances, simple does the job.

   BTW, do people even use pens anymore?

10. Jeff

    22|Nov|2008 10

    Here are shots of it…

    http://media.tumblr.com/AADJbrhYRgmc5asptf7kgN81o1_500.jpg

    http://media.tumblr.com/AADJbrhYRgmc4phwKgMEaVdfo1_500.jpg

    Thoughts?

11. BryanPerson

    22|Nov|2008 11

    Jeff, my thoughts are that I still want some place to make notes on your card.

    What if I’m at a writers conference and meet 10 writers for hire? I want to be able to write down a note or two to jog my memory about the conversation I had with each of you. For you it might be something like, “organizes annual golfing fundraiser,” whereas for someone else it could be “just moved from Chicago; also knows Ed Smith.”

    Give ME somewhere to write down something memorable about you, or you might just turn into one in a stack of vague conversations.