10/09/2024
I was running out of business cards so I had to design new ones to stock up. Someone made an interesting observation where I was getting them printed and asked,"Why do you have your picture on your personal business card? First time I have seen it." Thus began a discussion about it.
As a business person (service provider or product maker/seller), your aim is to stand out. Usually, the practice is giving out business cards with the usual details, but the persons you are giving them out to interact with thousands and tens of thousands of persons over time. They'd certainly also interact with people in the same niche as you. So how do make yourself memorable?
The everyday business card is impersonal - no life to it. Using a picture (of you) gives some sort of personality which adds a layer of familiarity when those you give out your business cards to have to sort through several of such.
But there's a catch though: you don't want people making the wrong assumptions about you which would negatively impact your leads and stall or deter their conversion to clients. So it has to be the right picture, or not picture.
The point is, if you're going to put your face on your business card, it better be good. And you have to look the part. The best picture to use has to depict you being friendly, approachable, and professional all in one.
If you're, say, a web developer and/or graphic UI/UX designer, your picture has to reflect it. If you're a baker or chef, it should reflect it.
Remember: professionalism, approachability, and friendliness.
If you can't achieve the above with your picture, leave it out from your business cards. Bias work - for good and for bad. People are going to rate you from what they think of you; and what they think of you is fueled by what they see of you. I mean, let's be real, we are visual beings and it plays a huge part in we relate with the world (and people).
The digital version of a business card would be a business profile card which you could use as your profile picture on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms. Or as your pinned post.
The summary? If you look the part, use it to add personality to your business cards and other such brand/business paraphernalia. Personalise it. The whole point is being memorable, and the recollection translating to people engaging with and patronising what you do.
- Kingsley Mark Akpan