How many times have you had your business card thrown away upon handing it to your client or customer? Your customer may want to do business with you, but may look upon your ordinary business card as something of a nuisance, something that would clog their wallets or purses with worthless cardboard paper. In the end, you lose additional potential business, as they would of referred you to their family and friends who are in need of your business. You are long forgotten in their minds.
Let's suppose that you are the owner of a used car lot that has been in business less than 3 months. Typically, you're running your ad in the local newspaper and radio stations, and expect many customers to walk in through your door wanting to do business with you. Newspaper and radio advertisements are effective yet expensive media outlets. You also spend a lot of money on additional forms of marketing, including business cards, but don't seem to have any effect on generating more customers. Money thrown away. You might as well throw your money in the toilet and flush it. In a moment, I will reveal some tactics that you can use, to turn your business card into a viral marketing machine!
Many small and large business owners, think that having basic information on their business cards is enough that will make people keep them and share them with others, thus bringing in more business. Entrepreneurs, especially, are in the mindset that having a business card to pass around to strangers will bring in more than enough customers that are dying to buy their product or service. Reality check: Think Again!
One of the most important feature that you can place on your business card is a headshot of YOU. Remember that you are not just selling your products and/or services to your customers. You are also selling YOU. Having a headshot placed on your business card is the first step towards creating an effective business card. People want to see who they are dealing with and when they come visit your shop or your place of business, they will know who you are so they won't have to ask around, asking people where to find you. They will already know what you look like and know you when you greet them.
Whatever you do dress properly for your headshot. People expect to do business with a professional and not someone that just walked in from the street. If you have a tight budget and can't afford a headshot, go to your local mall, and have your headshot sketched for you. There are machines in all the malls in the United States that sketch your face and upper body for you. It's only $3-5 dollars. Take the sketch and scan it into your computer. Send your headshot to the business printers as a digital file and have them print it on your business card, along with your name, title and website information. Unless you have a place of business where customers have to come in, DON'T put your address, cell phone and telephone numbers down. Some people will take advantage of your information and harass you. Whenever possible, direct people to your website for more information, and have them contact you through email.
There is more to it than that. What about the blank side on the back of your business card? This is where it gets fun. As I have stated in my e-book, the back side of your business card is where the fun begins, and people will appreciate you more. They will have fun during the sales process and make sure to put your business card first and foremost in a special place, right in their wallet or business card file. You have to place something fun on the back of your business card that will keep people intrigued and excited, especially when it is something that relates to them, or has personal meaning. When you do something meaningful and exciting in the eyes of your clients and customers, they will run off with your card, and immediately show it to their family and friends. They, in turn, will approach you to help them with their needs (or recommend someone who might need your product or service) so that they can get one too! It spreads like fire, and that is only the beginning of successful business card marketing for your business.
Let's suppose that you are the owner of a used car lot that has been in business less than 3 months. Typically, you're running your ad in the local newspaper and radio stations, and expect many customers to walk in through your door wanting to do business with you. Newspaper and radio advertisements are effective yet expensive media outlets. You also spend a lot of money on additional forms of marketing, including business cards, but don't seem to have any effect on generating more customers. Money thrown away. You might as well throw your money in the toilet and flush it. In a moment, I will reveal some tactics that you can use, to turn your business card into a viral marketing machine!
Many small and large business owners, think that having basic information on their business cards is enough that will make people keep them and share them with others, thus bringing in more business. Entrepreneurs, especially, are in the mindset that having a business card to pass around to strangers will bring in more than enough customers that are dying to buy their product or service. Reality check: Think Again!
One of the most important feature that you can place on your business card is a headshot of YOU. Remember that you are not just selling your products and/or services to your customers. You are also selling YOU. Having a headshot placed on your business card is the first step towards creating an effective business card. People want to see who they are dealing with and when they come visit your shop or your place of business, they will know who you are so they won't have to ask around, asking people where to find you. They will already know what you look like and know you when you greet them.
Whatever you do dress properly for your headshot. People expect to do business with a professional and not someone that just walked in from the street. If you have a tight budget and can't afford a headshot, go to your local mall, and have your headshot sketched for you. There are machines in all the malls in the United States that sketch your face and upper body for you. It's only $3-5 dollars. Take the sketch and scan it into your computer. Send your headshot to the business printers as a digital file and have them print it on your business card, along with your name, title and website information. Unless you have a place of business where customers have to come in, DON'T put your address, cell phone and telephone numbers down. Some people will take advantage of your information and harass you. Whenever possible, direct people to your website for more information, and have them contact you through email.
There is more to it than that. What about the blank side on the back of your business card? This is where it gets fun. As I have stated in my e-book, the back side of your business card is where the fun begins, and people will appreciate you more. They will have fun during the sales process and make sure to put your business card first and foremost in a special place, right in their wallet or business card file. You have to place something fun on the back of your business card that will keep people intrigued and excited, especially when it is something that relates to them, or has personal meaning. When you do something meaningful and exciting in the eyes of your clients and customers, they will run off with your card, and immediately show it to their family and friends. They, in turn, will approach you to help them with their needs (or recommend someone who might need your product or service) so that they can get one too! It spreads like fire, and that is only the beginning of successful business card marketing for your business.
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