By Chris Barrow on 26 March 2008
 
I have long been an advocate of a business card that differs in size and content from the accepted normal.Here’s an example from James Goolnik in the City of London.
 The objective here is for these cards to be handed to existing patients, at public speaking opportunities and in any business to business networking environment.There is enough information on the card for the reader to gain an initial impression:
- do I like the look of this guy?
- do I find the overall branding attractive?
- is the language speaking to me and my needs?
It keeps the wrong type of people out – and acts as a magnet for the right type. And “yes” – its the “wrong size” – that’s deliberate.  Notice also that by promoting a “Bow Lane Signature Smile®” he is creating a unique process, rather than just another product.Â
Posted in Dentistry, Marketing |
About the Author
26 March 2008 by Chris Barrow
Chris Barrow is co-founder of Barrow Kwong Hing Group of Companies, a private dental corporate active in independent and retail dentistry and post-graduate dental education, operating in the UK and Canada.
Chris has been active as a consultant, trainer and coach to the UK dental profession for over 15 years. As a speaker he is dynamic, energetic and charismatic. In 1993 Chris moved into business coaching and became one of the first UK students at Coach University, from where he graduated as a certified coach. In 1997, he created The Dental Business School (DBS) and the development of a 12-month business coaching programme for dental practice owners and their teams, delivered to over 400 UK dental practices in the following 10 years.
In the last 5 years Chris has acted as a Non-Executive Director, Director and Consultant to a number of dental corporates, whilst maintaining his freelance activity as a dental business coach for independent practice owners. BKH is the culmination of his past experience in the business of UK dentistry
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chas lister said 
(@ChrisBKH) (@ChrisBKH) said 
Chris Barrow said 
dave mantle said
I agree that the over size business card is great for giving to patients to promote yourself and your practice. But do you think there is a need for a standard size card for business to business use? I still only have one card that wont fit in my wallet or the roldex on my desk, and that is yours. All it need is basic business contact details.
I agree that there is still a place for the “normal” size – some of my clients have both. The important issue is to have the larger version o your person in any B2B networking environment.
A business card is so important and a wonderful tool that perhaps some do not use enough. I believe that you should always hand out a few cards as it’s an excellent opportunity for referrals. The larger size are great for B2B and the standard size are great for those wishing to slip them into a wallet, but Business cards should always remain unique in order to stand out amongst all the other dull cards we receive. I am looking forward to creating new Business Cards for the Chapel Road Orthodontics!
There is a place for both the business card and the referral card as well as other unique promotional tools that grab the attention of the weary receiver of dozens of cards. Some are so dull that they just get left in nearest trash receptacle.
Some of my favorites: A business card in the shape of a small fan. A circle of reference cards with business card info on the top of the stack. A bookmark. A long skinny card – with holes pre-stamped to pop into my planner. The trick is to think unique.