You've been asked for your business card. Does your card support how you've just presented yourself - or do you feel like you need to apologize because your card is:

* Hard to read
* For a different business
* Printed for free
* Outdated

These are just a few of the "deadly sins" of business cards. Here are some tips for helping your networking instead of hurting them with your business card.

Size (of your font) Matters. Some graphic artists love the "clean elegance" of tiny font. Bottom line is many of the people you meet - can't read it! Don't make potential connections struggle to see your phone number! Make the font big enough, don't get too fancy and don't print white font on a dark background.

Content Matters. Does your card tell people WHY they ought to reconnect with you - Or does it just have your name rank and serial number? Consider putting your "what do you do" statement on your card. If you have a Free Report on your website, include the magic 15 word marketing copy on the back of your card*

Paper Matters. Use the appropriate weight of card stock and don't make both sides glossy!! Overly light paper stock makes your card feel chap and flimsy. If you want to appear as successful as you are, you don't want your card to scream "Cheap" (see next section). You also want people to have the opportunity to make notes on your card. Most people have trouble with pens writing on glossy card stock.

Investing In Yourself Matters. Don’t get "free" business cards from one of those services that exchanges "free" for the chance to put their logo on the back. People notice. Spend the extra $100 and get decent cards printed by a professional shop.

And toward that end, if you are going to spend the extra money and put your head shot on your business card, it had better look like you do - all the time. You do not want people doing a double take trying to figure out if that's you on the card. Your business card is often the only thing people have to remember you after an event. Do you want to be remembered as "cheap, hard to read, and looking different from your head shot? Better to be remembered for a beautifully designed card, that was easy to read, and explained how you help people. * Example: Networking Not Working? Free video reveals the Number One Secret to Effective Networking networkingsuccesskeys.com.

Want to use this article in your newsletter or on your website? You can! Just be sure to include the entire article and include this complete “blurb” with it:

Networking Expert, Karen Frank publishes Networking News, an award winning, semi-monthly newsletter devoted to helping you avoid marketing disasters and networking faux pas. Learn the number one key to networking success in a free video and receive a subscription to networking news as my gift at www.networkingsuccesskeys.com.