Eye catching and fancy are just great, but if it does not generate you more work and get the clioent to call you... then it does not work.

A great business card is one that is simple, direct, branded well and gives the client a reason to contact you. It should tell the client who you are and what your shows are all about and how to get in touch with you. It must do this in a quick manner and not be too cluttered with information that would best be suited for a flyer or postcard.

As always, if anyone would like to see samples of business cards etc. I would be happy to send them along to you. It is easier to see what I am referring to if you can actually see examples.

All of my business cards are design for clients to remember, kept it, entertaining.
How do I? I combine marketing, magic, NLP

I will asked: Do you know how to do magic?
They alway said: no
I then said: You sure know how to do it in 5 sec.?
They alway look at me?
I than show my business card but I didn't said that. I only said it was a magic card. and I show them and teach him how to do it... ending result they all sure laugh and appriaciate me sharing... I on the spot bring out my UESP not USP with NLP method... ( if you want to know how am I do pls PM )

1) Remember - my card is magic card, so although I have afterburn, ... but sometime I forgot to bring it along, but I still make magical with my card.I can tell your guy that people remember me after more than 5 years. If I bring along with gimmick prop, it made double remember....
2) Keep it- because it is magic card, so they sure keep it, I got a client told his friends that they should ask for my card and keep it like him... they alway call me if they want entertainment...
3) they were alway be entertaining. they told me that my card was the only special they all enjoyable...

Dean,wolfgang,tony, peter, DenDowhy...your guys took a nice sharing... Thanks

I use different cards for different purposes. If I'm doing my close up card act, I generally hand out signed cards to people to keep at the end of a trick, I carry stickers with a replica of my business card on them and I stick one of these onto the back (or face, depending on which side was signed) of the card. In my experience, people take to carrying these things round with them to show their friends ("there was this fantastic magician and he...."), this way they are constantly carrying round the card as a keepsake from the show and my details are on the back of it.

I also have regular versions of the above, printed on simple card stock (the best quality I can get hold of). I use these if I'm asked for a card outside of a card magic environment (I used to carry a pack of cards and when asked for 'my card', I'd say 'Why don't you take one of these' and then proceed with the card trick and sticker route, but I stopped doing this based on the fact that I only wanted to do magic that seemed natural and who, save a magician, carries a deck of cards around with him....).

I think that in the main, the most important factors with a card are 1) say what you offer, not what you do (remember, people buy holes not drills) and 2)give them a reason to keep the card. My system above works fine for me, but might need a lot of adaptation for someone else.

Jay

http://www.derekheron.com/card.jpg
Did this using Adobe Photoshop. High quality card stock, silk finish, zero clutter, totally black on the reverse (I know I could put the space to good use, but I don't like gimmicks) aimed at the corporate client. I get a lot of positive comments on the card. People hold onto it and use it. Sadly, I've revamped the website and now the card doesn't match. I have yet to come up with a new design that I'm happy with, that fits in with my website. I may change the website LOL

Jay:

You bring up a good point. Rather then trying to have one card fill all your marketing needs for every market you do, you can have your cards customized to specific markets you work. That certainly is one way to handle it and a good way in which not to confuse a potential prospect.

Another way to address the problem is to have your card be more of a calling card then a direct form of Take action marketing. By this I mean a card that clearly has your logo on it, states whop you are and what you do or offer and has your contact information on it. It is a simple, clean and effective means of business card design.

But no matter which way you go, spend the extra time and effort to get a card that is quality and designed well. Make the card match your overall brand look for consistency between marketing materials.

Derek:
Your website has a very clean and corporate feel to it that I like and that I think will appeal to your market. But, you are right in that your card does not go along with this feel. Just in my opinion, I prefer the look and feel of your site over your business card. The reason for this is that your site feels more personable and friendly. We get a better sense of who you are and what you are offering. If that makes any sense. lol =)

I would make the card match the look and feel you have going right now on your website. I think it would serve you much better. You could take and use the color of the blue as well as a nice photo perhaps that is consistent on all your webpages and combine them with clean and clear copy to form a card that matches well.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Kyle