11 Ways Your Business Cards Can Work for You
Business cards are much more than little pieces of card stock paper with your business name and phone number on it. For an entrepreneur, your cards need to be mini display ads that you hand out to almost everyone you meet.How many times in a week does someone ask you for your phone number? Not just for business, but in social gatherings, in the supermarket, at the Laundromat, in a bar. And what do most people do? Scramble for a scrap piece of paper to scribble their phone number on the back. Store receipts, bar napkins, an old envelope. Virtually anything that can be written on. As an entrepreneur, you should always keep a supply of your cards on hand. While your friend is searching for a pen, hand her your card. She may not need your services, but how many people does she know that may? Now, that little card should say a lot more than simply your business name and number; it should be a small display ad, like what you'd use for a Yellow Pages ad, briefly listing your main services, office hours, phone number, and more importantly today, your email and website addresses.
Remember, you want to advertise your business in as many free ways as possible. And word-of-mouth referrals are one of the cheapest, yet most effective ways to get your name and services noticed.
Tanya Beaudoin, a virtual assistant who specializes in e-solutions and administrative support for small businesses, gives us 11 ways to make your business cards work for you:
- Spend money on decent quality business cards. Home-made cards just don't compare to the quality of professionally printed cards. Your cards reflect your business - do you really want your cards screaming cheap!
- Always hand out two – one for the prospect and one for them to handout to a colleague.
- Enter your cards in Free Lunch draws at restaurants.
- Make your card unique in size, shape or texture. You want your card to stand out from the crowd. There are very nice folded cards that will provide more room to detail your services.
- Leave your cards everywhere you go – leave one on the table in a restaurant, post a few on community bulletin boards.
- Tuck one inside of library books – especially books related to your services. Perhaps someone who is researching databases will decide to save him or herself the trouble and will hire you instead!
- Include them with your invoices, or bill payments.
- Quite often, you will see vehicles lettered with their business info parked in parking lots – tuck your card in the window on the driver’s door.
- Are you attending a trade or consumer show? Use your business card as a ballot for the many draws and contests through out the event.
- When handing out your card to a prospecting take the time to write a personal message on the back of the card. This could be a promotion or discount or even your cell phone number. This personal message can make the prospect feel special and will save your business card from the dumpster.
- Make your cards useful. On the backside of the card, include a calendar, map, or even keyboarding shortcuts. Something that will encourage the prospect to hold on to your card.
Tanya Beaudoin, B.A. is a virtual assistant who specializes in e-solutions (including graphic and and web site design) and administrative support for small businesses and non-profit organizations.You can visit her website at www.officeondemand.ca for additional business related articles.Article Source: EzineArticles.com-11 Ways to Make Your Business Cards Work for You
More Advertising Resources:
Build a Website
There is every reason to have a professional business website today and no reason not to. Just don't build a free one! Email Signatures
Your email signature or your Sig file is a powerful and free tool to use on a consistent basis.
Go to About My Website from Business Cards
|
Get this Feed!
