Personal Calling Cards - A Lost Social Networking Tool That's Making a Comeback

Before there were social networking sites, online dating services, email, or telephones, there was only one basic social networking tool ... the personal calling card.

Every gentleman of breeding and stature carried personal calling cards. These cards usually were nothing more than fine paper stock with the person's name in elegant printing or calligraphy.

The personal calling card has remained a social convention in Europe, despite the fact that its popularity declined in America after telephone service became widespread and affordable. Today, however, personal calling cards are enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

The Gentlemanly Art of "Calling Upon" Someone

During the1800s and early 1900s in middle and upper class social circles, it was common practice to "call upon" or visit friends and relatives unexpectedly. Since there were no telephones, one couldn't phone in advance to see if it were convenient to just "drop by".

Although it seems that this was a somewhat casual means of social interaction, there was a clearly defined "art" and a etiquette to "calling" on someone. The calling card was an essential part of this socialization process.

When a gentleman "called upon" a friend, relative, business associate, or lady friend, he would present his card to the servant or house member who answered the door. If the person called upon was not at home, or not in a position to accept visitors at the moment, he would be informed of this, and his card would be left with the person to indicate a visitor had stopped by to make a call

Calling cards were also exchanged when personal introductions were made ... much the way we exchange business cards today. There were even specific rules of etiquette governing the size and style of the card and the manner of presentation. These varied depending on whether you were married or single and the gender of the person you to whom you were presenting the card.

As society and technology progressed, calling cards became more elegant and contained more than just the person's name. It became fashionable to have calling cards that were printed using embossing, offset thermography or other elegant printing techniques. Many people also opted to print more information on the calling card such as a telephone number. Women of means who didn't work for a living also began carrying calling cards for social introductions as well.

Appropriate For Today's Social Networking

Calling cards are retro, chic and very personal, which to a large part explains their return to popularity.

"Personal Branding" ... or creating and managing a personal and business image for yourself is becoming increasingly today. Adding a unique personalized touch like having a calling card can be part of this branding process.

Equally as important is the fact that calling cards are very useful to a wide range of individuals in a number of different social situations, especially for people who don't have business cards.

Calling Cards For People In An "Opportunistic "Mode

One of the challenges of losing one's job is coping with the loss of identity that accompanies it. Since a job and a title are part of one's identity, people tend to feel "lost" without an office to go to, and a business card bearing their title and name.

Today, business cards are distributed in both professional and social situations. People who are "in between " opportunities and have no business cards to distribute very often feel uneasy in situations calling for a business card exchange.

Many job hunters create"pseudo- business cards" that position themselves as a "consultant" or as "president or CEO" of a non-existing company bearing their last name. Unfortunately, this clearly sends out the signal "unemployed and trying to hide it". Consultant has become synonymous with "can't find a job"!

An alternative for people who find themselves in an opportunistic mode is a simple and elegant personal calling card with their name, and contact information including telephone numbers and email. Personal calling cards look very upscale and show you have both sophistication and style. They're appropriate for distribution in both business and personal circumstances and they convey what every job-hunter wants people to know ... how to contact them.

Cards For Workers In "Card-Less" Positions

Many companies don't print business cards for employees who don't routinely deal with customers or who haven't attained a job title of supervisor of higher. In the education, government and health care fields, there are many positions such as teachers, substitute teachers, nurses, patient care technicians, x-ray technicians, firefighters and letter carriers, that routinely do not use business cards as part of their professions. This can often be embarrassing for people who find themselves in situations where everybody is distributing a card ... except for them. Calling cards once again are ideal for people in these circumstances.

Prefer To Down Play Your Occupation?

Very often people may not want to broadcast what they do for living. Individuals who work as undercover police officers, federal agents, exotic dancers, escorts, collection agency employees, or full-time investors may prefer not to reveal or make public their occupation or sources of income. In social situations, calling cards represent an excellent alternative.

Retirees and Moms Want Identity Too

Stay at home moms, "Mr Moms" and retirees generally don't have business cards, but frequently are in need of communicating their name and contact information. Writing down this information on a scrap of paper that will probably only get lost isn't the best solution. A simple personal calling card gets the job done far better.

Independent Individuals

Finally, there are those fiercely independent people who pride themselves as individuals ... not what they do for a living ... if anything. Distributing a stylish personal calling card reflecting their uniqueness and only providing their name and preferred contact information is an important way of making a personal statement.

Great When You Travel Too.

If you like to travel and meet new people, calling cards are ideal for taking along on your trip ... especially if you're traveling through Europe where calling cards as widely used.

Design A Calling Card That Reflects You

A calling card should make a personal statement of who you are and now to contact you ... not what you do. Here are some basic design guidelines.

Less is Best

Develop a clean, elegant design with a minimal amount of information. Include just your first and last name and the contact information you want to present such as your home phone, cell phone and email.

Use Typography Only

All type is the hallmark of a calling card. Personal calling cards are not the place for photography, line art or logos. They are all about you and not what you do for a living.

Select Typography Carefully

Picking the right font is very important. The font should be elegant, easy-to-read and have a personality or character that reflects you. Equally as important, the font must be easy-to-read

Solid, classic fonts like Copperplate Gothic are excellent for men and executives who are "in-between opportunities". Professional looking handwriting style fonts like Apple Chancery are good choices for just about everyone, but be careful to avoid casual handwriting fonts that look "unprofessional. If you're a woman, or if you want to reflect a sense of elegance and finery, established script fonts such as Park Avenue are the way to go. Some script fonts are too elaborate and ornamental and are difficult to read and should not be used on a personal calling card.

Wacky, offbeat, ornament or "grunge" fonts are not for calling cards. Always remember, a calling card is an extension of yourself and you always want to put your best foot forward.

Print On High Quality Card Stock

The way your card looks and feels ... and the image of you it portrays ... is also heavily on the paper stock it's printed on.

Generally, the heavier the stock, the better. The stock should be rigid and not flimsy like a piece of paper. A 10 pt card stock is ideal. As a rule of thumb, the card stock should have the same rigidity as a professional business card.

Flat or slightly textured card stocks immediately convey elegance and sophistication. Just make sure the texture of the paper doesn't hinder the readability of your name and contact information. Linen-finish or parchment-style stocks are two fine options of the many available.

Any light color stock can work well. Fine textured card stocks usually are available in white, off-white, tan, light blue, light grey and similar colors.

Never use coated "glossy" stocks. These scream "commercial" and work the best with other uses like 4 color brochures with photography.

One Understated Color

Print in only one dark, rich color such as black, dark blue, dark brown, maroon, forest green or charcoal grey. Printing in dark ink against a light card stock background is just good design that enhances contrast and readability.

Size

Calling cards should be the same size as business cards - 2' x 3.5". This helps assure your card will be kept and filed in a wallet or business card booklet.

Professional Printing

Having your cards professionally printed makes all the difference in the world.

Basic offset printing is your least fastest and least costly alternative. Embossing and thermography are two printing techniques that produce elegant the "raised" lettering you see on formal invitations. These printing styles cost more and usually take a week or two longer than standard printing. The time and money, however, are worth it ... especially if you are looking to convey a very elegant and upscale image for yourself.

Avoid printing personal cards on your home computer. Most home-printed jobs tend to look cheap and not convey the desired image. Home printing usually ends up costing you more than professional printing, when you factor in the costs of paper stock and computer ink cartridges.

Don't Forget The Case

Invest in a calling card case to carry your cards in. Card cases, just like your cards themselves, say a great deal about you. Any business card case that reflects your style will do. These cases are readily available in chrome and metallic finishes, as well as in leather and fabric.

A Great Gift For The Hard To Please

Personal calling cards, either by themselves or as part of an entire personalized stationery set including letterhead, envelopes, and note cards, make great gifts for the holidays, birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. They make great gifts for that hard-to-please friend or the "person who has everything".

Trendy and Sensible Too

Having a set of personal calling cards is becoming an increasingly popular trend in the United States. Not only are calling cards chic and retro, they're extremely practical for just about everyone too.