The blogging world is almost all online based and although a majority of work opportunities you might come across through the use of the Internet, some of the best networking opportunities might still happen offline. And for those rare times, you really want to have professional business cards ready to hand out.
For the longest time since I’ve started my travel and lifestyle blog and actually treated it as a business, I overlooked the importance of not only business cards but also availing promotional products to enhance my brand presence and networking efforts.
I always imagined that business cards are something only ‘real’ business owners had and used them in an overly professional setting which I didn’t associate with blogging or being a content creator in general. That is until I had my very first press trip.
The press trip offered a unique opportunity to network with fellow content creators, as well as make a good impression on local businesses for any possible future opportunities. However, it wasn’t as impressive only telling about your blog and writing down your URL, social media links on their phone as it would have been if I had a few professional-looking business cards to give them instead.
Ever since that first press trip, I was convinced that I needed my own business cards. Not only for better networking but for my own self-confidence as well. Nothing makes you feel more professional and more well-put-together than shiny business cards with your name on them (take that, imposter syndrome).
So if you are one of those bloggers or content creators who are still debating if you need business cards, let me tell you why you might want to order a few today.
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When to use your travel blog business cards?
Now while handing out your travel blog business cards to random people on the street might be a unique way to build up a readership, there are a few better instances in which you really want to have your business cards ready on hand.
Using business cards in press trips
Like I mentioned before, having business cards is handy when you are conversing with fellow creators or even visiting various local businesses that are relevant to your business strategy.
You certainly don’t need to hand out your business cards to everyone you meet on a press trip but if you feel like there might be a good collaboration opportunity, fish out that shiny business card out of your pocket and let them know that you are open for a possibility of working together or just connecting for mutual benefit (being online friends counts!).
Using business cards during conferences
Blogger conferences or networking events are crucial for growing your travel blog and finding sponsorships. It is the place to be where you can find many business representatives, tourism boards and other PR agencies that are open to working with content creators.
But just imagine how many other bloggers and creators pitch their channels to them in a day… It is easy to get overlooked which is exactly why you need a good elevator pitch and memorable business cards that would stand out.
So if you plan on attending any of Traverse, TBEX, WITS or any other travel-related conference, then, trust me, you need business cards.
Pinning up business cards when travelling
Another way you can make use of your business cards is to pin them on boards in various businesses like lodges, hostels, hotels or any travel agency. Sometimes these businesses have designated boards for pinning or even just spaces somewhere where you can leave leaflets, notes or even business cards.
Someone might notice your business card there and will decide to check out your blog if that’s something they are interested in. Another case could be that someone might be a business owner looking for additional marketing opportunities.
Using business cards for other purposes
As a travel blogger and someone who travels quite a lot, I get to meet lots of new people while on the road. Although talking about my blog isn’t my conversation starter, 9 times out of 10 people end up asking what I do for a living and mentioning that I have a blog is something I can’t avoid.
That often leads to people asking if they can check it out and see what I’ve written. While spelling my URL isn’t a hard task, handing a business card with it written on it helps a lot.
Plus, it means that if they like what they see, they might revisit the blog again. Giving a business card to them means that they really won’t forget how it is called or where to find me.
These are just some of the most common instances in which having business cards would be useful. There are many more other opportunities that can be great ‘here is my business card’ moments, the only thing you need is to actually have a few business cards on hand at any time.
Where to get travel blog business cards printed?
So now that we established the absolute need for business cards for your travel blog, the question of where to get them arises. When I first started looking for businesses that print business cards, I was a bit overwhelmed with all the choices.
However, I knew I needed to have quality cards that wouldn’t cost a fortune and would stay in tack for years. Nothing worse than a bad quality business card that tears after a few weeks.
This is how I came across Aura Print, a boutique printer that specialises in creating quality business cards that help to promote your brand and give amazing first impressions. Actually, their range is one of the largest in the UK and the USA, and they have been in business since 2007.
My experience with Aura Print
The first thing that I noticed when I checked out the Aura Print website is their huge range of customisation options that I failed to notice on websites of other printers. Here are some of the customization options that I could choose from:
- Orientation: landscape, portrait, square
- Size: two usual options and even a custom size
- One sided or two-sided
- Type of paper: from recycled to kraft paper and even metalic
- Customization of corners: rounded, coated, etc.
- Paper thickness
- Different types of finish
A lot of choices to make when deciding how you want your business cards to look. I loved the choices because it meant you could have your dream business card design that would fit your business and brand perfectly.
I already had a business card design which I sent them as a PDF for review but if you don’t, their in-house designers are ready to help and create a design according to your needs. I think this is very helpful if you don’t have much experience with design or simply don’t have enough time to do it yourself.
I opted for recycled paper business cards without any special finish to make them as sustainable as possible. I had a concern that they would turn out a bit thinner or lanky because of recycled paper, however, I was pleasantly surprised how sturdy and well-printed they look.
The whole ordering and shipping process was very quick and the Aura Print team even sent me my updated print design for my review before printing because I messed up the sizing when designing it. The cards came packed in a few small boxes, so they don’t get damaged during the shipping process.
Speaking about the quality of the cards, it is simply amazing. The colours transferred so well from the design, the font looks clear and easy to read, as well. You can really tell that it is a quality job done. Just holding them in your hands feels nice because of the sturdiness and nice matt finish.
All in all, I am very happy that I decided to go with Aura Print services and I can’t wait to hand out my new business cards to even more people during future conferences and networking events.
You can view their full range of business cards on their website.
This blog post is sponsored by Aura Print, however, as always all opinions are my own.
