As a writer you simply need to have a basic knowledge of the web these days. If you aren’t savvy, it can really be a disadvantage, and you need every edge you can get in order to stay afloat in this field. Take a look here to learn more about things such as different web browsers, creating a signature block for your e-mail correspondence and “netiquette”. There is a lot of good information here for those who feel a little bit behind the curve.
Should you invest in business cards? Well, the short answer is yes. It can’t hurt and it is always a good idea to market yourself as much as possible. Anyone will tell you that. But the real answer?
Nope. Not until you have some cash and you need write-offs.
Now, I’ll tell you this. I do use business cards–sometimes. But they haven’t really been all that useful for me. And I would not tell a newbie writer to go and get some. Not worth the cash when your gigs are few and far between. I will tell you that it is a good idea to do a “business card” type thing as a signature in every single e-mail you send to anyone–ever. I’ve gotten jobs that way. It is worth the time. Get a signature block (you can set it up so it adds to your e-mail in Outlook; as for other programs, I’m not sure….anyone?) that you like and use it. At the minimum, include the following:
Don’t get cute. Skip quotes, crazy colors, fonts and such. Be professional and simple. It works.
And as for buying business cards–you’ll know when you need the write-off. Until then, the sig block works just fine!