Stationery?

I've been working on letterhead designs since 1989 when I left school. Back then the details on your letterhead where all important. The typeface, the paper, the colour you used. The flasher companies may even use foil blocking or a blind emboss!

And in twenty years not much has changed. As soon as there is a glimmer of a business idea one of the first jobs is to have a logo on a letterhead, business card and compliments slip. All this despite the fact letters are very rarely sent.

The main bit of stationery used these days is the business card.

But what to put on it?

In the old days it was name, title, qualifications (if you need to show off), address, telephone and fax.

But now what should you put on? I bet most business stationery design is still delivered with a fax number. But do you even know where your fax machine is? When was the last time you sent one? So that should go really.

How about your business address? I don't work from the office any more so my home is the office. How often do I get any post? Very rarely thanks to email.

Next up is telephone, well a land line is all very well but how often are you close to it? So how much use is that?

So lets bring this up to date what should be on the stationery? Well the common thought would be: Name, Title, Address, Email, Phone, Mobile.

So does this accurately give all your information? Does it reflect where people can contact you and what you do? How much value does it add to your job?

This post has been hanging round in my mind for ages. I've come to the conclusion that maybe all you need, at least for now if your Twitter account. Everything is connected off this, blog, website, all other social media.

So my next business card should just say - Twitter @coffeenetwork

Do I even need the Twitter?