Use Your Business Cards - Do Not Bin Them!

Filed under:, , , , , — posted by Chris Tackett on March 1, 2008 @ 9:33 am

How many people start a new business, print 1000 business cards and then use only a fraction of them before they change their company logos or artwork? What happens then? You guessed right… the cards get binned when the next batch arrives with the new design.

Here are Some Clever Ways that You can Use Your Business Cards:

  • Staple one to each brochure you send out - if somebody needs your products or services in the distant future and they find your brochure, they will know who to call.

  • Use it as a name badge when networking - it makes remembering your name a lot easier.

  • Send a card with every invoice - sooner or later you will get a call that otherwise you might have missed.

  • When you send a business gift include your business card.

  • Keep a batch of cards in your car - you never know when you might need to hand one over. For the same reason always keep some in your wallet or purse.


    • Some Interesting Uses of a Business Card

  • Leave a couple wherever you go.

  • If you have a meeting leave a couple at reception.

  • If you go out to eat leave one with the cheque.

  • When you go to the supermarket attach one to the bulletin boards.

  • On your next business trip leave a couple in the hotel room when you check out. You might get a call from the next business traveller that stays in the same room!

  • If you hire a car leave some in the glove compartment.

  • When you return a library book insert a business card inside. The same goes for movie rentals.


    • The Back of Your Business Card

  • Offer a discount on the back of the card only applicable if the card is presented when making a purchase.

  • Give details of your opening hours so that people know when to call or visit.

  • If your premises are hard to find why not add a mini map?

  • Print your mission statement on the back or reasons why the customer should buy from you.


    • It is a good idea to have a unique email address just for your business card. This way you will know where your enquiry came from.

    Your business card is often the first and sometimes the last impression that people get of your business so make sure you spend a little extra and use a thicker card that will not damage easily. Add a photo at the front so that people remember you.

    I do not like plastic business cards as I often make notes on the back. I think a card should always be the same size as a credit card so that it fits neatly inside a wallet. I love cards that have been embossed with a design. Try and add some colour to your business card.

    What can you do if you run out of business cards and your next batch will not be ready in time for your next networking meeting? A clever idea is to buy a pack of playing cards and write your contact details on each card. Do not use the jokers, ace of spades or the queen of hearts!

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    3 comments »

    1. Great post, I am in this exact situation. I didn’t really change the logo, but I refined it. I also changed the purpose of my business as well. I am now strictly a blog and am not offering the same services I was before. But even then I can still use the cards to generate traffic to the site. I will be employing these techniques in the future.

      Thanks

      Adam

      Comment by Creadiv — March 1, 2008 @ 11:14 am

    2. My first love was Direct Mail so appreciate the value of it linked with our online presence. Looks like we’re reading from the same sheet here.

      A smart, tidy and informative blog you have here, many thanks for taking the time to visit my own.

      Best wishes,

      Pete.

      Comment by Pete Moring — March 3, 2008 @ 8:30 am

    3. Great suggestions…I will definitely use them to pass out my real estate investing business cards!

      Jersey Girl

      Comment by jerseygirl — March 3, 2008 @ 5:00 pm

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