To introduce this post, click HERE to watch this 1:30 minute business card scene from American Psycho.

In your trip prep materials I have given you lots of info about business cards. The who, what, when, why behind them, and how you present yourself with a business card (two hands) when the opportunity arises. If you have never before had or used a business card, this is an opportunity for you to practice and step up your game. Check out this recent WSJ article, Ensuring your Business Cards Mean Business. Great article. Great points (most I agree with; others depend on the person, job, industry, etc.).

Addendum note: Titles and formalities (business cards are a part of formality) are a big thing in Asia. If you don’t have one on your card, create one, but, of course, it needs to be accurate and truthful. For example, Cal Poly MBA Student is/can be a title.

If it’s too late and you already made your cards, don’t sweat it. Live and learn. I have had mine a long time and there are a few things I need to change as well; I just need the time to get to it.

As an aside, here is the university policy on business cards and using the Cal Poly mark/logo on your card that has been conveyed to me, as some of you have stopped by asking what you can/cannot do in creating your cards:

You can give yourself a title on your card such as “Cal Poly MBA Student (or Candidate)” or “MS in IT Student (or Candidate)”.

Other than that, I am advised that you cannot use the Cal Poly mark or logo on your card. It’s called IP folks, and I don’t make the rules.

The above is consistent with what some other schools do and allow, while others allow you to use the name and mark.

Re: the other aspects of the design of your card, look, feel, color(s), etc. are up to you to make it as fancy or keep it as simple and clean looking as you wish. My own view and bias is that as long as the card has the critical and current contact info and the person’s name and title with decent font and paper, as to the rest of it ‘less is more’, as the saying goes.

By the way, during the trip, I sometimes collect a business card from each of you, lay them all out on a table, where we can all see and study how the other has tried to brand themselves. I won’t/don’t require you to make and buy one, but if you go on a business trip like this and don’t have one, to be candid, you really need to go back and retake that grad or undergrad marketing class you took and look over that material on product differentiation, as to me this is a sign that you were not paying attention in the class and/or doing the required reading, as this is Marketing 101. And if you can’t/won’t even humbly brand your own self for crying out loud, I would have a hard time understanding how you will excel at branding, publicizing and differentiating the firm you work for, as it will expect you to do.

Prof. Carr December 21, 2008 addendum:  I just came across this resource re: possible business card translation.  I know nothing about the quality or pricing of this firm or service.  I just list it in case you would like to explore and check it out on your own.