Contract Worker - Freelancing Experiences

Building Your Business Card

by Rico on April 6th, 2007

A crucial asset for any contract worker is their business card. It’s an easy and cheap way to let everyone know what you’re all about.

Freelancers who have a day job should also have their own business card to highlight their freelance career. That’s because a company business card only showcases your corporate identity, not your profile as a contract worker.

If you can’t design a nice business card, have it produced by a professional designer or go plain. As a marketing collateral, a business card succeeds when it lets recipients know your capabilities and how to get in touch with you.

Here are some suggested tidbits that should be on your business card:

• [Nickname] [Lastname] Since I’m known professionally as Rico Mossesgeld (not Enrique A. Mossesgeld), that’s what I use on my business card.
• [Job Description] A great job description is specific yet catchy. You can substitute “Online Media Designer” for “Website, Blog, and Forum Designer.” Bonus points for legitimate sounding words like “Certified” or “Accredited.” Just make sure your job description is accurate!
• [Tagline] Here’s a short yet compelling phrase that shows why you’re unique in this competitive world. What makes you stand out from the rest?
• [Contact Numbers] In the following order, that should be:
  1. [Mobile] So that people can contact you wherever you are.
  2. [Landline] For now, the cheapest calls are on landlines.
  3. [Fax] If you don’t have a fax, don’t include this.
• [Email] Self-explanatory.
• [Website] Again, self-explanatory, since you already have an online presence that highlights your portfolio.

Your mailing address isn’t a requirement (contrary to conventional wisdom), since people should only know that on a need-to-know basis. Especially when that piece of info is a gold mine for intrusive marketers or identity thieves.

Check out this nifty business card maker on degreave.com.

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POSTED IN: Marketing Your Skills, Useful Tools