Your Business Cards

I took the big jump a few weeks ago and ordered business cards. But first I wondered, what do I put on a business card? I mean, it's not a business, per say. (Per se?) No physical location. I'm not going to give my phone number out (note: there may be times when you want your phone number on there. I don't right now).

So I googled a few author business cards, of course. And here's what I came up with.

Things to include on your card:

1) Your name. Duh, right? Put your pen name, your author name, what you want people to recognize.

2) Your title. For me, I put "young adult author." If I ever branch out and publish in more than one genre, I'll either just put "author" or list all of the genres I write in.

3) Book title. This was easy for me because I only have one book contracted. If you've published several, you might want to list just the most recent ones, or your best sellers, or sets of series.

4) Your blog/website. You want people to be able to find you! I listed both my blog and website, though I included the disclaimer that the website isn't ready yet.

5) Your email. Include this if you want to be contacted. I'm not famous enough (yet) to be bombarded with spammers or hate mail. For now, I can pretty safely assume anyone who contacts me wants to know more about my book. Or loves me. :)

6) Your photo. If this were a business, you'd include a logo, and a snazzy one at that. So this is you. Your book. You want an author picture. Names are easy to forget, but pictures, not so much. You want people to remember you.

7) optional: your agent/publisher. Again, I only have one book out, so I listed my publisher and my release date.

8) optional: leave the back blank. Since I didn't include my phone number because I don't want to give it to everyone, I can put it here if I give the card to someone I want to have it. Or I can autograph it. Leave information about my next book signing. Whatever.

Some of these things are subject to change. So I wouldn't invest in a billion business cards at once. Buy a few hundred, give those away, and when it's time to reorder, make sure all of your information is correct.

And finally, an example:

Have you put anything different on your cards? Any other suggestions?

P.S. My sweet tooth is out of control. Making blueberry coffee cake for dinner. Yes, dinner.

Business Cards Arrived!

No--not for my book. That would be a bit of jumping the gun, even for me.

For what, then, you might ask? Well, it's kind of a funny story. See, when DH joined the army, I realized I needed some spending money. So I decided to start a business. Teaching English online. I've done it before for another company, and it was loads of fun. I decided to do it for me. I submitted my manuscripts, thinking it would be at least three months before I heard anything back, and another year before anything appeared on the shelf, and then another six months before I made so much as a dime.

Plenty of time to get a business going.

So my business cards arrived today. Funny thing is, I don't really have time to do this business right now! But I've got everything I need. website (English4tomorrow.org), programs, cards, books...and one student. Plunging onward! I'll be the author/English teacher!