The Art of Giving Business Cards

The art of giving business cards is an art that's fading in use, but for those who are still practising the craft, it's vitally important. So what does it take to make a good card? It depends on your unique personality and style, but there are a few general rules that can ensure you always give an impressive business card. These include...

How to make a good Business Card: 10 tips

- Make sure your name and contact information are easy to read at first glance. 

- If anyone asks "what do you do?" – have something short and sweet ready on the back of your card to tell them quickly. 

- Make sure your online social media handles are on the card. 

- Make sure to include what your product or service is – and have a great description ready to go. 

- Never fill up a card with 50 logos. 

- Never write in all caps, use uppercase and lowercase letters. 

- If you live in a city, don't forget that most people already know what city you live in so it's okay not to mention where you live (unless you're local). 

- Use colourful paper as it makes your business card stand out. 

- A generic stock design isn't as memorable as one that's custom made to fit your needs. 

- A business card should have a photo on one side and your name, and be printed in full colour (unless you're in a 'no photos' zone). 

- Think about compiling a portfolio and showcase of your work so clients can get an idea of the kind of work you do. 

- Make sure your card is readable from 20 to 50 feet away. If you want to include extra information on your front – put that on note cards, too! 

- If it's going to be lost, keep it somewhere safe or hidden so that no one accidentally throws it away like some people do who don't want their personal information divulged. 

- While a business card is a great way to gain business, remember that some people find it can be irritating to have this physical part of the transaction with them at all times. So it's worth thinking about ways to use your card as little as possible and allowing for its removal frequently. 

- Include something useful on the back like maybe a map or contact info for your main venue or talk about what you do without the wordy generalities. 

- For extra points, make sure you sign them using a different colour of ink – or perhaps print on clear plastic so they can be easier to read via Skype! 

(Originally posted on HowToNailYourBusiness.com)

Title: 26 Ways to Start (and Keep) Networking the Right Way

Title: Interview with Dave Chesson, Founder of Kindlepreneur.com, about how he is teaching Kindle publishing for less than $10

The chat with Dave Chesson was great! I learned things about blogging and blogging for children that I wish someone had told me years ago. To listen to the full interview go here http://www.lindork.com/2015/11/08/interview-with-dave-chesson-founder-of-kindleprenuercom/. Here's a sneak peak...

Lindsay: You mentioned that you are making Kindle publishing accessible to everyone. What do you mean?

Dave: I used to work in a bookstore, and while I was there, I met a lot of aspiring writers. Some were well-established, but the overwhelming majority had no idea how publishing worked. They would come in and ask me questions about agents and publishers, but what they really needed to know was this: "Do publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts?" The answer is yes (if you're very lucky), for both fiction and non-fiction, but you need an agent either way because agents are the people who can open doors for you with publishers.

Lindsay: I have been publishing books on Kindle for years, but last year started selling paperback copies through CreateSpace. In some ways, it was a relief to stop worrying about monthly sales numbers and focus on crafting better stories. Do you think Kindle publishing is still the best way to reach the widest audience?

Dave: I think the trick is having something people will want to read. If you're writing romance novels or How To Paint by Numbers manuals, there are other ways to publish them – print-on-demand and wholesalers. But if you're writing fiction that's dark or gritty, it's going to appeal only to a limited audience, which means your odds of making a decent living will be much lower.

Lindsay: You've been following this course for a while, but I have to admit, I can barely get started. How do you make the leap from knowing nothing to publishing a book?

Dave: I know it's possible because I've done it. It hasn't always been easy (I have made mistakes), but I have learned from every experience. And if you're really serious about being successful, there are courses to help you get started and jump-start your learning process. Check out Kindlepreneur on Udemy, which is a free course by the author of Kindlepreneur blog. Now that we've covered teaching methods, let's talk about how to market your book. You can get tips and tricks on how to do that on the Kindlepreneur blog.

Lindsay: You mentioned that you have another course for KDP Select authors who want to use 'free days' (when their book is available for free) to boost their visibility. I assume this is a more advanced method?

Dave: Yes, it's easy to set up free days, but it's hard to get readers who will buy your other books and products if you're not already known by them. It's also hard to keep track of which book sales are due to free promotions and which are from regular sales. People who are new to publishing should probably start with other methods you can use.

Lindsay: Any other hints and tips for writers?

Dave: In the interview I mentioned that I'm mostly focused on fiction, which is what I know about best. So anyone thinking about writing a non-fiction book should do their research, because this method is geared towards fiction writers. If you're just getting started in writing fiction, take a look at Kindlepreneur's free courses and learn how to write fiction in three simple steps.

(Originally posted on WriterBiz.com.)

Title: 20 Free Examples of Children's Picture Books to Inspire You

It's a wonderful thing if you happen to enjoy reading children's books. I've been there many times and still am now, too. I think it's a privilege to be able to read children's books and share them with a child of your own (or someone else's). To read these wonderful stories is a special delight that you should never take for granted. The world needs more people like you to bring kids stories everywhere they go! So the next time you feel the need to curl up with children's books, remember these examples of picture books in the list below.

Conclusion

To conclude, I want to thank you again for all your work and dedication as an author. You've done a lot of favors to us, which I do appreciate immensely. Thank you once again!

I hope you enjoyed this article! If so, please share it with your friends or Facebook page. Or if you have any feedback or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me via email. Good luck with your book and don't be afraid to reach out!

Now go get 'em! :)

The writing life is the best life in the world. But it's not free.