Personal Branding Toolkit – Part 1: Business Cards

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Originally published in 2008. Updated in 2025 as part of the Personal Branding Blog relaunch under Brown Brothers Media.

This is the first post in a series dedicated to YOUR personal branding toolkit. Don’t leave home without it!

Your personal branding toolkit

1) Business cards
2) Portfolios
3) Resumes
4) Cover letters

In the world of careers and entrepreneurship, your personal brand is your calling card. And sometimes, quite literally, it starts with one. A strong brand isn’t built overnight; it’s built through the small, consistent ways you present yourself.

This series, The Personal Branding Toolkit, breaks down the essentials that help you stand out in a crowded professional landscape. We’ll start with one of the simplest yet most powerful tools you can carry: your business card.

Business Cards

A business card is a 3.37×2.125 inch card displaying information about you, your business or both.

I’ve seen many business cards in the past decade of my life and most don’t do people justice. They are always stale and don’t capitalize on personal branding.

Have you ever gone to a conference, a networking event, a business dinner or an job interview, where the business cards were “just another piece of paper” and “so last century”?

Here is what happens when you receive 50 business cards in a single night of networking:

  • You can’t match any names with faces, so you forget everyone.
  • You are so overwhelmed that you don’t know who to follow-up with first and end up not touching base with any of your new contacts.
  • You have spent so much time connecting with many different people that you’ve neglected to build a stronger relationship with a select few.
  • You toss them in your card holder, under your bed, within your sofa or ontop of your TV.

How to create a business card that screams “BRAND ME”!

Before you read this, realize that you have to mentally throw out all the business cards you’ve ever seen because most of them are just plain terrible. Your business card is not only how you can make a statement but leave a lasting memory.

1) Name: Use your full name, the one that you want people to call you. You don’t have to use your legal name and don’t use a nickname.

2) Personal picture: Every business card should contain your face. It’s rare to see someones picture on their business card. I never forget a face, do you? I don’t care if I pick up 1,000 business cards from an event, I will certainly remember your’s if you have your picture on it. A picture isn’t just about “being memorable,” it’s also important because it shows personality. It’s your chance to smile, have a goofy face or look angry. Let your brand shine through!

3) Logo: Whether you have a personal or corporate logo, it has to be included on your branded business card. A logo is the best visual for branding. I don’t see many business cards that don’t include this crucial element. Example logos

4) Contact information: You don’t have to include everything. Cards that have a full address, multiple phone numbers, and several emails are often cluttered and confusing. Focus on one or two preferred ways to reach you — for example, your professional email and LinkedIn profile. Many professionals now use QR codes that link directly to their website or digital portfolio for a clean, modern look.

5) URL(s): This is the perfect time to include a link to your website, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile — whichever best represents your brand. It’s almost like saying “for more information that is not included on this business card, visit here.” Don’t include more than two links or it’ll dilute your focus.

6) Material: Apart from common paper cards, you can use options like recycled matte finishes, metallic touches, or even digital business cards that can be shared via tap or scan. You’ll stand out when your card feels (or functions) differently.

7) Product snapshots: If you sell a product — whether it’s a design, a home, or a tech solution — include a small image or QR code linking to visuals.

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8 ) Font:The typeface you choose says a lot about your personality and brand. Keep it legible and aligned with your professional image.

9) Personal brand statement: This is yet another place to put your personal brand statement. Remember, this statement includes “what you’re the best at” and “the audience you serve.” It’s personal positioning for the 21st century.

Your business card , whether physical or digital, is still one of the most effective ways to make your brand tangible. Treat it as a powerful first impression, not an afterthought.

This article is part of Personal Branding Blog’s Legacy Series — highlighting timeless insights from our archive. Learn more about our story here.

Picture of Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel

Dan Schawbel is the Managing Partner of Millennial Branding, a Gen Y research and consulting firm. He is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success (St. Martin’s Press) and the #1 international bestselling book, Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future (Kaplan Publishing), which combined have been translated into 15 languages.

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