Every so often the topic of business cards for authors is brought up on one of the loops I’m on or one of the blogs I read.

• Should an author have one?
• What should they put on it?
• Should they have a different one for each book?

I’ve written about business cards for authors in the past but I thought I’d go into a bit more detail. Hopefully this article will address all of those questions (and more) and you’re in luck because I’ve created a few examples for you to drool over, I mean, look at. I hope you’ll forgive me that they’re based on my name and put together rather quickly.

First things first.

Does an author need a business card?

I think all professionals should have a business card and this includes authors. This simple little slip of paper is YOU…on paper. It gives you a way to get your name into the hands, literally, of those who can boost your career.

Remember, always be ready to network. And always be ready to hand out a business card to that new author, editor or agent you just met. She may be just the person you need to know to get another book deal.

Who is your target audience?

In other words, who do you plan on giving a business card to? An editor? Agents? Other industry professionals? How about other authors? Will you give them out to everyone you meet at a conference? Or only a select few? Will you have bookmarks printed as well, or will your business card be given to readers too?

The answers to these questions will determine what information you want to put on the card and what information you want to leave off.

What should you put on your business card?

First of all, don’t worry about listing your books. A business card is just that, a business card. It’s not a bookmark, postcard or sales sheet. You’re not trying to sell your books. You’re trying to sell yourself.

So put your name. An email address. A website address. Maybe even a blog address if it’s popular and updated frequently. If you have a certain brand you’re going for, say dark and edgy because you write paranormal romance, your business card should match this “look and feel.” You should probably include the fact that you’re an author. Romance author is okay too. Paranormal romance author will work as well. Or you could say Silhouette Nocture Author or HQN Author, if you only write for one line/imprint and are not looking to branch out in the near future.

But be careful about pinning yourself into too fine a hole. I know an author who had calendars printed on the back of her business cards; a fabulous idea since business cards are sized perfectly to fit in a wallet. But she didn’t go to any conferences that year and so she didn’t hand out many cards. Not to readers. Not to editors or agents either. So she pretty much wasted her money because who wants a calendar from three years ago?

Do you have a tagline? Include that. If you’re the author of a popular series, you might mention that as well. But again, listing your backlist isn’t the best idea. Save that for a bookmark (you’ll have more space anyway.)

Consider leaving the back of your card blank. You never know when you’ll need to write something down and give it to someone.

You might consider putting a PO Box address on there. And depending on your target audience, a phone number. But keep privacy (and that target audience) in mind.

How many cards should you have printed?

Well, how many industry folks do you meet each year? Do you go to two or three conferences? Do you go to a lot of writers meetings? Do you think you’d hand out five cards or 505 cards?

This is entirely up to you. But in my opinion, it’s better to buy fewer cards and reorder more often for the simple reason that a) you don’t want to print 1,000 cards and then hand out fifteen, move to a new state, decide to switch from paranormal romance to light hearted romantic comedies and then have to reorder and b) there are companies now that will print 25 cards at a time. And that’s perfect for newer authors.

What if I have a writing partner?

Consider dividing the card down the middle and putting a name on each side with the relevant contact information. If you write under one pen name, put that at the top, along with a singular web address if you have one.

front

back

You could also print on the front and the back of the card, depending on how you and your writing partner work together. But the same rules apply for what to put on the card. Or consider one of the following as your card. Each mentions being a co-author. This one is more personalized than the option above but again, you could include your “joint” website address.

You might also consider a small notation such as an * or perhaps highlighting your name a bit vs. your co-authors name. Then get two sets of cards. One where you’re highlighted and one where your partner is highlighted. That way when you give out your card the recipient will remember which author they spoke to. If all else fails, circle your name with a pen and then hand it over.

Another option for co-authors is to include a photo. This may seem a little “real estate agent” but it’ll help put a face with the name…should that be important to you.

What if you write two different subgenres?

If you write two subgenres and your readers are aware of this, consider a front/back combo card that is similar in look and feel but is tailored to your two audiences.

Can I design and print them myself?

Unless you own a printing shop, I’d leave the printing to professionals. It’s so cheap these days that you’d spend more to buy a kit at the office supply store (not to mention ink!) than you would on the printing and shipping of the cards. Plus, it just doesn’t look professional to print the cards at home. I did it ages ago and I still cringe every time I find one of those cards laying around. I look at it now and wonder what I was thinking. Even though the design was good and the printing clear, the perforated edges just scream unprofessional.

And you want to appear professional. While you may give a great first impression, you want your business card to give a great second impression any time someone looks at it.

As for design, if you have a background in art or design, I say go for it. Otherwise, find a designer who can do it for you, and don’t be worried about paying an arm and a leg. There are very affordable designers out there who will do a great job and provide you with a card that will give that great second impression you want to make.

If you do decide to design them yourself make sure you are designing in software meant to design business cards and the like. Using MS Word is not recommended. Make sure you are outputting at least 300 dpi and that any images or graphics that you use are also at least 300 dpi. Remember less is more, simple is better. And then get opinions. Lots of opinions. And your Momma doesn’t count.

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Alice Anderson is, as yet, an unpublished romance writer who lives in Atlanta with her husband, Golden Retriever and two kitties. When she’s not writing she creates designs for new authors all the way up to New York Times Bestselling authors and promotes romance novels and authors through her creation, the CataNetwork. She’s written dozens of articles for authors and small businesses and they’re available on her website at http://design.pixelwareinc.com.

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