Gen Y: What Goes On Your Business Card?
As many Gen-Y’s climb the success ladder and move farther and farther up the chain on command within their companies they often all stumble across the same problem.
What should I put on my business card?
As a Gen-Y we grew up with a N64 Controller glued to our hand or at very least had a computer and typing class from the 1st grade on so technology is something that is embedded within our culture. Chances are you have a blog, a twitter account, a Facebook account, Digg account and countless other social media profiles that define you and your business endeavors.
Should any of these be included on your business card? The first question you can use to sort out the clutter is if they are used for personal connections or for business.
You do not want to have your account URL or name on your business card if it has links to pictures from your kegger days in college or inappropriate tweets you made while out at a bar.
If it relates to your professional life you should consider including it on your business card. Next make sure the resource you are examining presents a proper picture of you or the work you do and offer a way to contact you that differ from email or phone. This eliminates most of your options and you are usually left with your Twitter account and your LinkedIn account. Two viable options to include on your business card.
If you have a website dedicated to your portfolio of work or a blog where you write about your industry consider including that as well. If a prospective employer or new client can view your past work and see you as an expert in your field it could give you a leg up.
You should also consider having two business cards, one for your current employer that showcases your work email, phone number and company website.
You also should consider creating an additional business card that showcases your personal brand. You would want to include your personal email, personal phone number, your website or blog.
Hopefully your website or blog can be used as a hub that connects its visitors to your social media profile. I have an “About Justin Freid” page on this site where you can find access to my social media profiles. if you do not have a webpage or blog think about adding the URL to your LinkedIn profile or your Twitter username.
This gives potential employers or new clients the ability to do a more thorough background check on you and also gives you an opportunity to be more than just a small card with contact information on it. It gives you the opportunity to stick out in the crowd.
Good points. Yes, I’d be leery about putting my Facebook account on my business card.