Written by Nicole Krause, BASc, MAN(c), dietetic intern
Reviewed by Krista Kolodziejzyk, RD, MPH, MBA
Today we’re breaking down the steps to determine if you need a business card as a dietitian, the elements of a strong business card, some things to keep in mind as you’re creating a dietitian business card, and where you can create and order them.
I’m a Private Practice RD, Should I Get Dietitian Business Cards?
The answer depends on your area of practice and how a business card could benefit you. A business card aims to advertise your nutrition services to others, whether that be colleagues, employers, or clients.
Benefits of Business Cards:
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- To hand out at conferences or networking events: building a professional network for yourself is essential in dietetics, and having a tangible business card to give to fellow dietitians can make a great first impression.
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- To make a strong first impression for employers: like providing a card to colleagues, introducing yourself to a prospective employer with a business card conveys professionalism.
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- To give to clients at initial consultations: this is a great way to have clients remember you and your brand, and to possibly provide to others that may be curious about your dietetic services.
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- To give your clients as a follow-up reminder: many business cards have a space for when their next follow up appointment is, so many people may keep your card on their fridge or somewhere easily visible.
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- To collaborate with other health professionals: building a mutual referral system with other health professionals that can support your clients, such as doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and social workers. Business cards provide an easy, quick way for them to distribute your information to their patients/clients.
Downsides to Business Cards:
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- Waste & relevance: let’s face it – how many of us have received a business card only to throw it away shortly after (or lose it in our wallet)? Likely, a good portion of your business cards will have the same fate. Alternatively, if you have a social media presence, could you direct someone to follow you on Instagram/TikTok/Facebook instead?
Elements of a Strong Business Card for Dietitians
About You
Include your name, your dietetic credentials, and the name of your practice or place of employment. It may also be helpful to include your specialty to let a client know if you’re the right fit for their nutrition needs.
Avoid Time-Sensitive Details
Because you will likely have your business cards for a while, we don’t recommend including anything time-sensitive on the card. So for example, don’t include your years of practice, # of years you’ve been in business, etc. since these will continue to change every year!
Contact Info
Include any contact information you would want a client or a colleague to use, whether professional email, work phone number, or a physical address for in-person services. If you offer services virtually, this may also be something you could indicate on the card. In addition to a phone number, include a fax number if applicable. Although clients wouldn’t be contacting you via fax, you may want a client’s doctor to send lab results or medical notes via fax.
Also include your relevant business-focused social media accounts and your website on the card, as this can be a great way to promote your nutrition services.
Motto or Mission Statement
If your business has a motto or mission statement that can be an effective advertising tool, this can also be included on your card.
Next Appointment Reminder
Some dietitians may choose to have a section for the date of a client’s next follow-up. This may be especially helpful for clients who write down their appointments rather than using an electronic calendar.
Graphics & Professional Headshot
We recommend including a professional headshot on your business card. Why? Well because people tend to remember faces better than just text on a card!
Include graphics that correspond to your personal or professional brand, through color, logos, or images relevant to your practice. Make sure the card is simple and uncluttered. The more you can optimize the use of white space, the better. Effective use of white space can often convey professionalism and organization.
Things To Keep in Mind
Make sure your card is free from typos! This may be a no-brainer, but having a typo on your business card may reflect poorly on how clients view your services.
Keep all your information up to date. Whenever you move, change your name, email, etc., make sure to have a business card that reflects those changes.
And remember, always avoid tiny print and visual clutter.
Where to Get Business Cards
There are many online services available for business card design and printing, some that allow you to design your own from scratch and some with pre-designed templates. Here is a list of 7 common sites to order your business cards from:
Vistaprint ($17 USD/100 cards)
An online-only service with business card templates, design your own option, or the ability to hire a designer. Available to those in Canada, the United States, Australia and more.
MOO ($20 USD/50 cards)
An online-only service with business card templates and design your own options. Available to those in Canada, the United States, Australia and more.
Zazzle ($25.95 USD/100 cards)
An online-only service with business card templates and design your own options. Available to those in Canada, the United States, Australia and more.
Canva ($10 USD/50 cards)
An online-only service with business card templates and design your own options. Available to those in Canada, the United States, Australia and more.
Wix ($25 USD/100 cards)
An online-only service with business card templates and design your own options. Available to those in Canada, the United States, Australia and more.
Jukebox ($59 USD/500 cards)
An online-only service with business card templates. Available to those in Canada, the United States, Australia and more.
Staples ($14.99 USD/250 cards)
An online or in-person service with business card templates and design your own options. Available to those in Canada or the United States.
Key Takeaways
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- Business cards can be a great way of promoting yourself professionally and promoting your nutrition services to clients.
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- Many dietitians could benefit from creating and distributing business cards in their practice.
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- The elements of a strong business card may include information about you, contact information (name, website, phone, email, social media handles), a motto or mission statement, a next appointment section, and effective graphics.
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- There are many accessible online platforms where dietitians can create and print business cards
Dietitian Business Card Examples & Templates
Click on the images below to open the business cards as a Canva template.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
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Example 5
