In an increasingly digital world, is there any place for the humble business card? Plenty of people still think so, particularly for face-to-face networking. And wouldn't it be great if your card stood out from all the rest?

Image of creative studio REACTOR's business cards courtesy Card Observer

There are some very unusual and wacky business cards out there, but how can you stand out without taking it too far? A quick look on the internet shows that many people don't care about how far they go. We found the following, to pick up on just a few:

• a baker who's cards were made of biscuit (a bit of an obvious danger there!)
• Lego employees using actual Lego figures
• a survival trainer with cards made from beef jerky (same danger as the biscuits!)
• a lawn maintainer using envelopes with grass seeds inside
• a bicycle engineer with a credit card-sized bike spanner (actually useful!)

From that list, even through they are original and wacky, it's obvious that if you're going to think outside the box for a business card, it's better if it has some link to what you business does - otherwise people will just think "eh?"

Different materials

Many of the ideas listed above rely on using different materials instead of card.

We think there's an obvious problem with edible cards - they'll be eaten before they've copied your contact details down - but it's can be a great idea to use a different material as long as it's relevant.

Some examples we've seen are:

• Slim wooden cards with the logo cut out for carpenters and builders
• Circuit boards for IT people
• Fabrics - for interior designers, dry cleaners, upholsterers etc.
• Stretchy plastic - for a personal trainer - you have to stretch the card to be able to read it.
• Concrete - yes, one French builder has business cards made of very slim concrete!

Different shapes and sizes

There's no rule to say that business cards have to be the same shape or size but if it's too wildly different to the usual size then it's not going to fit in people's wallets or card holders.

So if you go bigger, it has to be something that will be unique enough to make people want to keep it - like the Lego figure mentioned above. Or a large imitation coin for a financial consultant?

Another one we found was a tiny but working plunger advertising a plumbing business - ideal for clearing the office sink, then for calling the plumber if it's not enough!

How about the rolled up mini-exercise mat for a yoga studio? The Pilates trainer whose card is a poseable figure? Or the tyre depth tread from the tyre fitting centre?

There's no end to the possibilities but remember that it has to have some link to your business and they will cost a lot more than standard cards.

Being remembered

One we really liked was standard sized but had a cut-out and fold into a stand with with a photo - that would really help to put a face to the name when people sort through the twenty-odd cards they've received after an event.

We hope you've enjoyed this roundup but one tip is that many people like to scribble something on a card. It'll be something to help them remember who you are, what you siad, sometimes just where and when you met.

So no matter how wacky it gets, try and leave a little white space for that.

Happy networking!

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