Mini business cards are the must have print marketing item of the moment for graphic designers, photographers, marketing agencies, and art studios. There are a few different styles getting a lot of buzz, such as slim or skinny cards and square cards with rounded corners. We do offer these products, and they’re one of my personal favorites. I toyed with the idea of printing mini cards to show off my photography when I designed my personal cards, but I ended up going with the oval die cut shape this time around. Still, I plan to revisit the mini concept for my next campaign, and I wanted to share why I think nano cards are so hot right now.
The Metaphor Behind the Small Size
I noticed that most of the people going mini work in creative fields where there’s stiff competition. With literally thousands if not millions of people trying to attract clients, finding ways to develop a distinct brand identity gets really tricky. Mini cards are a solution to this problem because they’re visibly different from standard 2″ x 3.5″ cards. But I believe the connection goes deeper; I see the size as a kind of visual metaphor for an individual or agency’s capabilities. Most people are putting portfolio samples on the card designs, and printing several pieces of artwork at a time. To me, this represents the scope of work, and shows a kind of consistency in terms of production quality. This creates a perception of competence, which is very important for art and design marketing. Sure, anybody can get lucky and take a great picture. But a photographer or designer needs to come up with beautiful images for every project. What better way to show the depth of work than with a nice portfolio sample in print?
Mini Cards Start Big Conversations
Sometimes business owners question whether or not they need to print business cards when LinkedIn is just a click away. In my opinion, everyone needs cards for a variety of reasons, but creative professionals should be more concerned with making a good offline impression than other brands. Freelancers of all stripes depend on word of mouth, which means their physical presence should be a top advertising priority. Unique shapes and sizes catch the eye immediately, but being able to hand each of your prospects a separate compact card design personalizes their experience.
Imagine yourself at a networking event, such as a gallery showing. You’re chatting with a small group of people, and they ask about your own work. You reach into your pocket and pull out a set of 5 mini cards, each with its own bold design. You fan them out, and let everyone pick a card from your hand. Now everyone wants to know about the artwork and where you got your nano cards. Success!
Community Soundoff
Our friend Kayti Welsh, a designer/illustrator, hoped on the mini card trend. Will you go nano or stay traditional? Tell us in the comments below!