Today is Freebie Friday here at The Crane Insider. The first order of business is to announce last week's winner, and that is - Lisa T! She left this comment:
I am brand new to gardening, so I'm sorry to say I do not have any tips. This will be my first spring with a patch of land to cultivate! I would love to win this pad and journal as I am sure that I'll be need to jot notes and such as I go along.
Wish me luck!
Congratulations Lisa. Send me your address at peter(dot)hopkins@comcast.net.
Here's what we've got on tap for today. (It's maple sugaring season here in Vermont!) Little papers you can put your name on. Place cards are such a simple way to dress up any dinner party, whether it's a full table of eight, or an intimate table for two. These place cards are so elegant. Their edges have been rounded, beveled and gilded with silver or gold. (You can see how it's done here).
Along with them, you will see one of my very favorite papers from the recent past: A boxed set of calling cards:
You know me; I love calling cards, and they have become quite the stationery phenomenon as you can see here.
So, in order to win these little papers you can put you name on, I would like your opinion on boxed calling cards - cards on which you write your own name and contact information. Are they a good and safe means of exchanging contact information for young people? Are they too much trouble and you'd rather just have your information already printed on them? Would they provide an inexpensive entry for personal branding?
What do you think?
9 comments:
I use printed oversized Crain's calling cards and I love them! I could see how handwritten would be a great way to only give out the information you want - sometimes you only want to give your phone number or email - not both.
The downside? Some people have atrocious handwriting!
A calling card should (in my opinion, and I always have one) have printed upon it the minimum amount of information that you would give a new acquaintance, such as name, telephone number, and email address. You can then hand-write additional information, such as an address or alternative phone number, if you so choose.
Having said that, the expense may give pause, particularly if one is very young, very cost conscious, or not sure the cards would be used. A boxed card would then be an attractive alternative to the crumpled napkin illegibly scrawled with one's name and phone number.
But if I am seriously trying to establish a personal brand, a boxed calling card is too generic, except as a stop-gap while I wait for my personal cards to come back from the printer.
As for young people, there is no way to disseminate personal information that cannot be used disastrously, particularly by a careless or naive teen. Even teens with street smarts may selectively hand out cards that can be lost or stolen or shared indiscriminately with that creepy guy to whom she refused her name or phone number.
These little calling cards are very cute! While they're a great option, I think I'd probably use pre-printed cards more often, and add a little handwritten note on them. Writing my own contact info is more tedious--I'd rather use that time to write something more personal! :-)
While I do enjoy, and see the practicality in a calling card with only one's name, I think having to go the extra step of personalizing it with both name and/or email/cell phone number would make me think twice about who I would really want to have it. Caution is a good thing whenever personal information is shared.
While I would prefer the printed cards because of my poor penmanship, I do think the hand-written versions create a more personalized impression on the recipient.
I would love to have the cards as I could make great use of them in spreading the word about my new business.
I think they are great for young people or families - sometimes having a printed card for each member of the family gets expensive...this would be great if you are at the park and your kids meet new friends to just jot down their name and number. And they are super cute!
Peter - social cards are mandatory for a social event (dinner party; gala fund raiser; night at the symphony, etc.) Name only or name and one phone number (I use my office number, without identifying it as such). If you use name only you can always write it, or leave it to the ingenuity of the person you're handing it to to find you ... at least they know your name. This is not for a networking event ... it is not a billboard... it is for socail occasions... and, after all, in a social situation everyone knows who you are .... don't they?
My top preference would be to use calling cards with only my name and email printed on it. Then for some recipients, I'd handwrite my cell number on it.
Boxed calling cards would definitely be a good option to have...more economical. Ultimately, I would love to have several sets of calling cards, like Sarah Schwartz does!
BTW, thanks for uploading the video of how the cards are beveled and gilded with gold. I was amazed at how much work and time that takes. It's great to see craftsmanship like that.
Karen K.
I love calling cards! Name, email, or phone # is OK...or a line so you can jot in down, if you need to.
Tail Wags,
~moose
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