Calling card as important in unemployment as résumé

Even if you are not going the entrepreneurial route, you need a business card. The reason:

A business card means that you mean business!

That little card helps solidify this idea in your own mind. You will feel more professional and more useful. Your confidence will get a boost, and you will get results. Just being able to hand someone that stupid little card that cost you half a cent does wonders.

In the week since I got my cards, I have talked to more people and rustled up more business than I did in the prior month. Having a card makes it a lot easier to talk to people. Give your card to everyone you meet. Watch what happens. Don't take my word for it.

Here are some ideas on

Ideas on effective business cards for the unemployed:

• Put your resume on the web. Use your business cards to direct people to it.
• Tell people what you do. Make a few bullet points on your card. (e.g., "*Sales, *Marketing, *Promotions")
• Puff yourself up. Spend five bucks and get the nicer paper. Give yourself a title like "Proprietor," "Marketing Guru," or, in my case, "Majordomo."
• Make a logo. Nothing says "professional" like a logo. You can make a nice logo with your initials, or if you can't you can hire someone to do it for you. I'll do it for $30, satisfaction guaranteed. I'm not joking. Try me.

Get business cards right this instant. Don't put it off. Every day without a business card is a day wasted! Even if you have a job, you should have a personal calling card. Why wouldn't you? It's cheaper than a pizza.

Oh, and one more thing about business cards that you may not have considered: When you hand yours to someone, they'll hand you theirs. That's how great Rolodexes get built!