Finance Press - Daily financial articles from world

Your business card is more than just a piece of high stock paper with your name on it. Instead, think of it as a marketing tool for you and your business. A marketing tool that can serve as a hard copy of your "30 second elevator pitch."

Your business card is more than just a piece of high stock paper with your name on it. Instead, think of it as a marketing tool for you and your business. A marketing tool that can serve as a hard copy of your "30 second elevator pitch."

If a person you're speaking to asks for your business card, what would you want the card to say about you and your business?

Let's start with the basics. The first thing you want to make sure of is that you have your name, relevant phone numbers, email, address and logo on your card. Make sure all of this information is clear and legible. You can print your card up in color or black and white, but remember color has more of impact.

If your business is a promoting a specific product or service, print that at the top of your business card. You may even attach a note to the card.

Should your promotions change all the time or if you meet a prospective client and decided on the spot to offer them some type of special, consider printing your cards on a stock of paper, which will allow you to write on them.

A great way to get your name out there by using your business cards is to attend networking events. These types of events can expose you to many prospective clients or give you introductions to industry contacts. Be sure to bring a stack of cards and hand them out to as many people as possible.

No matter where you are, always keep a few business cards with you. Have them in your purse or wallet at all times. Keep some in your car, your suitcase, and your laptop carry on case (you'll be ready when you sit next to somebody on a plane).

Think about places you visit on a frequent basis, maybe your local dry cleaner or coffee shop has bulletin board where you could stick up your business.

If your favorite restaurant is holding one of those contests where your business card could win you free lunch, take advantage of it. If you win, you could use it to take prospective clients to lunch.

If you have friends or family members who have a lot of great contacts, consider giving them some of your cards to hand out to these clients. Ask them to write a note on the card to remind their contact of how they know you or got your card.

When you meet a new contact, don't just hand them the card, write a quick note on it, if you have the chance. This is a great way to show them you are truly interested in their business and that the conversation you had made an impression. This can also help them always keep you top of mind should they run across your card a later time.

The most important thing to remember about business cards, is to hand them out, hand them out. We all have boxes full of business cards sitting on our desk collecting dust. You didn't invest in business cards so they could act as a paperweight.

If your cards aren't being launched on the world, you're losing out on a valuable and simple marketing technique.

< Prev		Next >