Launching your own practice comes with a lot of expenses — large and small. You may start to feel like you’re hemorrhaging money and wonder what costs are truly necessary. While there may be places to cut, counseling business cards aren’t one of them. This post explains why counseling business cards are still necessary, how to make yours unique, and what to expect from design and printing.
Do Counselors Still Use Business Cards?
Imagine this. You’re having drinks with friends. One of your friends introduces you to a new acquaintance. They immediately ask you what you do for a living, as people are prone to do. You explain that you’re a therapist who is just branching out into private practice. They’re thrilled because their brother is looking for a therapist in your area of specialty. They want to know how their brother can get in touch with you.
In one scenario, you whip out a business card, secure the potential client, and move on with your life.
In the other, you’re left writing your practice’s contact information on a cocktail napkin and hoping for the best.
It’s pretty obvious which is most professional.
You never realize the importance of having business cards until you need one. But professionals in many fields still use them for networking, business growth, and as signs of professionalism. Given the small investment in time and money, and how long they last, business cards are a must-have for your practice.
What Should Be on a Counselor Business Card?
The cringe-worthy cocktail napkin story has you convinced. You’re ordering business cards. But what should be included on them?
There’s no need to get fancy with lots of information. In fact, simple is best.
Your business card should include your:
- Name and credentials
- Contact information (phone number, email address, and physical office address, if you have one)
- Website URL
- Logo or professional branding
That’s it! Your business card can be simple, professional, and discrete.
How Much Can I Expect to Pay for Business Cards?
Business cards don’t have to break the bank to be effective. In many cases, you have to assume that your card will end up in the bottom of someone’s bag or, even worse, in the garbage, so you don’t want to spend a lot of money on them.
You can get business cards for anywhere from $10 to $100, and you probably can design them yourself. Of course, if you need a logo design or want someone to design your card for you, you’ll have to pay for that too.
The price of business cards depends on:
- Quantity. Business cards usually come in 250-, 500-, or 1,000-card packages. The more cards you order, the less you pay per card. So, think about how set you are with your location, title, URL, etc. If you know you’re going to stay put and things aren’t likely to change, go ahead and place a larger order. Otherwise, go with the smallest order.
- Material. The heavier the cardstock, the more you’ll pay for business cards. Keep things simple. A standard business card stock should work fine.
- Design. When it comes to design, less is more. Simple design is also cheaper. Custom designs, embossing, or specialty inks can increase the price of business cards quickly. These details also aren’t necessary.
Where to Get Counseling Business Cards Printed
Where you get your counseling business cards printed is totally up to you. You could use a local or chain print shop, or you can order them online.
If you work with someone in person, you have the benefit of their expertise and recommendations. You also can see their past work and touch cardstock samples before you print. They also can design your card for you and even show you a mock-up.
While this option is more customized and personal, it may also cost more. Price and convenience are probably why many people design and order their cards online.
Consider the following online printing companies as options:
How to Make Your Business Card Unique
True, you don’t know what will happen to your business card once you give it to someone, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want it to make a big impression. Your business card should reflect you and your practice. It should be both creative and professional.
To make your business card unique, consider:
- Use Nice Cardstock. The texture or feel of your card can make a difference. Consider using premium cardstock, textured paper, or even eco-friendly materials.
- Incorporate Your Logo. A well-designed, attractive logo or symbol can represent your practice and make your card stand out visually. It connects you and your practice to the card.
- Be Smart with Color. Color can help your card stand out, but you also don’t want it to look like it’s for a circus. Consider using two colors in your design: a paper in a calming tone like light blue or green, and a color that can be clearly seen, like black, charcoal, or white, for the text and visual elements. A lot of people use white paper for business cards. While there’s nothing wrong with doing so, using a light color instead can help your card stand out.
- Embrace Typography. Using an unexpected font can make your card stand out. Not every business card has to use Arial or Times. That being said, be careful to keep the text easy to read and don’t mix and match fonts, creating visual chaos.
- Include a Photo. Your professional photo can help a potential client decide if they can see themselves opening up to you and trusting you to guide their mental health. Knowing this, it may be worthwhile to put it on your card.
- Use the Back. The back of your business card is prime real estate. You can use it for a short treatment philosophy, a helpful quote, a call-to-action that tells the potential client what to do next (think: “Call for a free consultation”), or even a QR code that leads people to your website.
‘Here’s My Card’
Now that you know why you need counseling business cards and what to put on them, let’s talk about another way to help people reach out and grow your business.
By claiming your All Counseling profile today, you can reap the benefits of appearing in searches on our directory and gaining exposure to potential clients who are looking for mental health services. It just takes a short time to set up your profile, and the exposure makes it totally worthwhile.
