It’s Day 3 of Bloggy B-Card Week! If you missed it, be sure to catch Monday’s post about what to put on a blogger business card and yesterday’s guest post If That’s Your Business Card, I Can’t Wait to See Your Blog.
Whether or not you’re the trend setting type, it’s still good to know what bloggy b-card snazziness is going on out there. As we move closer towards Friday’s blogger business card showcase, I wanted to share seven big trends I saw last week at the Type A Parent Conference.
1. Folded Cards
Tons of bloggers are using folded cards as a way to add more info to a card without overcrowding it. I didn’t see any cards that were fully folded but rather cards with folds that partially covered the full-sized card underneath. These are fun because they’re interactive, giving the recipient a little something to do. Hello, memorable!
This card is from Stacey at Tree, Root, and Twig.
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2. Rounded Corners
While I’ve always been a fan of rounded corners on ANYTHING, they’ve definitely made their way into the business card scene as well. Rounded cards do cost more but if you’re the DIY type, you can buy a scrapbooking punch that rounds corners and punch them out yourself (I did this to two sides of my cards).
This card is the back of Amy Bradley-Hole’s card who blogs at Be Better Branding.
3. Matte Cards
Yesterday, guest poster Fadra wrote about the differences between glossy, matte and uncoated. While I saw a bit of everything at the conference, matte was definitely the most popular. It has a nice sheen to it but it’s easier to write on that gloss (for you card-writer-on-ers). It’s color is also more vibrant than uncoated.
Although it’s hard to tell in a scanned image, Amy from A Million Boxes has a nice matte card.
4. Double-Sided Cards
We all know you don’t just blog. You tweet, manage a Facebook fan page and generally just have a whole lot to say. Enter the double-sided business card. Use two sides so you can share more content or even just to add a visual element to your card.
Speaking of that Fadra chick, here’s her two-sided card for All Things Fadra.
5. Pictures on Cards
Pictures on cards were definitely a hit at Type A. But it doesn’t have to be just a headshot of yourself. Some bloggers showed pictures of their kids while others showed an image from their blog or a product they sold. Pictures sizes ranged from small headshots to images that took up an entire side of a card.
I really like how Catherine from Evolving Mommy used an image of herself that took up the entire card without being overbearing.
6. Blocks on Color on One Side
You won’t see many bloggers with plain white business cards these days. Most cards I received had some color to them. The ones that popped the most were the double-sided cards with a solid block of color on one side. Most of them used a white background on the side with their main contact info and then used a nice hunk of color on the other side.
Sheila’s from Clever Girls shows this off nicely.
7. QR Codes
QR codes were the hot thing at the conference. Not only were they on business cards, I even saw someone with a QR card embroidered on the back of her shirt!
Here’s the back of my business card (yes, I know about the space between EV and ERYDAY… it was a printing error and fresh ones are coming my way). Anyway, my QR code leads to a sign-up for my newsletter. Tomorrow, I’ll show you even more ways you can use them.
In addition to these seven trends, I saw some other interesting ideas for cards: cards with a shimmery cardstock, mini-cards, square cards and even a clear card. Lots of people also had About.Me cards that were printed free from Moo.com. You’ll see samples of all these types on Friday’s B-Card Showcase.
Where Can You Buy Blogger Business Cards?
UPrinting.com (where I bought my cards)
MOO Business Cards (this link will get you free samples so you can test them out)
Tiny Prints (lots of great templates)
By the way, a few of these links are affiliate links but I hope the content I provided was worthy of a click.
This post was part of a week-long series of blogger business cards. If you want more b-card goodness, check out What to Put on a Blog Business Card, If That’s Your Business Card, I Can’t Wait to See Your Blog, QR Code Ideas for Business Cards and the Blogger Business Card Showcase.
What trends have you seen on blogger business cards these days?
Momcomm gives blogging chicks practical, can-do tips for writing, blogging and using social media (and sometimes a snarky rant).
I'm a mom who loves marketing, photography and all things social media. I have two boys whose claim to fame is that they were born on the same day... three years apart.
Twitter: kimberlyj1792
says:
So many different types of cards! I’ll have to figure out which one best suits me. I’d like some custom artwork to add to my blog and put it on my card.. not sure yet.
Enjoy the process… it took me a while to figure out how to have two different-looking blogs on one card. I loved having a ding-ding-ding idea moment!
Twitter: racheldrechsel
says:
I am just loving this series, Melissa! I kinda want to redo my b cards now. : ) I’m not a fan of the folded, or oddly sized ones, I like things to all be similar in size, but I may give the rounded corners a try. ; )
Thanks Rachel! I REALLY love rounded corners.
Twitter: thewovenmoments
says:
Can’t WAIT to learn more about QR codes!!
Thanks! The post about QR codes is now up: http://ht.ly/5tLL3. Hope you get some great ideas from it!
Twitter: JameeTMiller
says:
I really like the rounded corners & know that I’m going to go for a 2 sided card! Now to learn more about this QR code business!
I need to redo my cards already. I put them together at the last minute…so I need to add some color to them!
Yours were simple but really clean. Also loved the texture!
I haven’t even printed mine yet, and I’m already swamped with new ideas!
Yay! You’ll have to give one to Fadra at BlogHer for me!
I am with Tina—feeling like I need to re-do mine already. I already decided on a wording change. But I feel like the back side needed more pizzaz. Choices choices.
Twitter: enjoybirth
says:
OOO, I can do a QR code to my free book!
Definitely! I think that’s a fab idea.
I really loved Kelly Kinakid’s cards (and not just because she’s my SIL
). They captured the feel of her writing, had the QR code, and had a picture but still looked clean.
Me too! I’m gonna feature hers in Friday’s b-card showcase!
Okay thats it. I need new cards for BlogHer!!!!
Do it! Do it!
I ordered mine today (mighta shoulda waited until the end of the week). I did a two sided card that matches my blog background. The back is just the pattern, but I thought that had more character than just a plain white back. I also included a head shot. I’m going to use mine at BlogHer and I thought that would help people put a face with a name.
I’m loving the advice this week!
Thanks! I’m sure yours look awesome!
Twitter: notthecar
says:
I wish i would have seen Catherine’s cards her’s is really nice and stands out.
Twitter: EvolvingMommy
says:
Thank you!
Sooo cool! Guess I need to be updating my cards….but not until I hear more about this QR code thing!
The post about QR codes is up now! Hope one of the ideas I gave works for ya! http://ht.ly/5tLL3
Twitter: Lindsay_Blogs
says:
These are all super original cards and I really love the creativity entering the business card world now. They’re so colorful and well-branded!
I agree– there are truly some awesome ones out there!
Twitter: peterpollock
says:
I didn’t get any of these cards!
I guess I didn’t talk to the right people!
Some of the cards (Fadra’s and yours) look embossed (or whatever the word is) and have the 3D effect on the edges. I actually like it a lot and wouldn’t mind having it on my cards but I think the effect here might be result of the framing you did? Still, they all look fabulous!
Twitter: mymamihood
says:
I love this and the entire series. I am getting ready for a conference and this is most helpful in how I design and print my cards! Thanks!
Sili recently posted..Green Mami: Recycling Gift Bags
Awesome! Glad it helped!
Really amazing collection of business cards cards !! Thanks for sharing.
Realtor business cards
Thanks! Loving your advice
Thanks for the inspiration. I will use the folded business cards design to make my future set of cards to advertise.
Great post w/ good examples! Now I’ve got to start thinking of new cards…
Great post! Just in time too because I have to make new cards!
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