Business Card Organizing: Tips & A DIY Project

Have stacks and stacks of business cards? Organizing business cards is one of the biggest challenges for people, and a common question I get during my teleclass. The point of having business cards is the information contained on them, i.e. passing them on as a referral. So, the business card is just a vehicle (sometimes a Ferrari, sometimes a Camry *grin*). Here’s a few ways you can handle them, with a bonus project below (skip ahead of you just can’t wait!).

Input the info into contact database and then recycle the actual card. Simple enough, enter into Outlook or your favorite address book and then recycle the card. Information is handy, and one less piece of paper to keep track of.

Use a notebook. If you are more of a tactile person and like to have the cards around so you can physically look at it, this option may work better for you. Most office supply stores have business card binder pages. Get a fun notebook (I like russell+hazel) and fill up your pages. Separate them into categories that make sense to you, i.e. service providers, colleagues, retailers and referral network. (One caveat: you’ll have to rearrange periodically to keep them in order.)

Input and then sort out the “keepers”. This is the method I use, and if you’re tactile and on the tech savvy side this may work for you too. Input the card’s information into your database and then sort out the “keepers”. You might be a marketing enthusiast and a card’s design inspires you, you have a photographer or graphic artist’s card that shows their work particularly well or there is an offer on the card. Keep the ones you like and recycle the rest.

Now, for the project. This works well if you like the idea of keeping a select few business cards, and they don’t need to be in any particular order.

First, find a box you like. I happened to pick this one up at Storables (it was around $7), or use a cigar box from an antique shop or garage sale.

Then, get out a stamp kit, calligraphy pen or your best penmanship…

And some ink…

And you have yourself a fun little box to put your cards in. This would also work for office supplies like pens, paper clips, post-its or whatever your little heart desires.

Enjoy! If you do this project, I’d love to see pictures and hear about how you use it. (Post a comment or link to your blog post about it, too!) Let your imagination run wild, have fun making something useful and get organized at the same time.

(Bonus resource: For more creative organizing ideas, check out Aby Garvy’s blog. I am always inspired by her tips and LOVE LOVE LOVE her labeling ideas!)

** Update: Jeri Dansky posted about this product called a Card Cubby. If you have cards you like to give out for referrals to other providers, this is a great looking, portable and functional product.