Business Card Advertising: 13 Practical Tips
Learning how to handle your business card advertising is one of the top promotions to consider when starting your own business.
Business cards are the first “memorabilia” you give someone after you introduce your business.
Here are 13 tips to make your business card advertising memorable, easy to read, and ready to act.
1. Business cards should serve a dual purpose in attracting customers to you.
has. The first purpose is to act as a “memory exercise” on the conversation you had with your prospect or referral source.
b. The second is to get them to take “the next step” that you suggested or agreed to.
2. In many ways, your business card is like a mini advertisement. You can use an attention-getting headline, photo or logo, short text, and essential contact information.
3. Putting a professional photo of yourself on your business card helps people you’ve talked to remember you. Link your image to your written name, title and company. Include a company logo, especially if you are an independent seller for a well-known company.
4. You’ll also want to include a quick acknowledgment phrase (ours is “take care of your advertising creative”) that answers the question “What’s in it for me?”
5. Try to stick to the standard size of 2″ high x 3 1/2″ wide for psychological acceptance as a real business. This size also gives you convenient storage with other business cards. Odd sizes, though creative, can alienate decision makers from traditional business values.
6. Make sure you have some kind of quality print: embossed, 4-color photo, glossy paper, smooth cut edges, thick paper, etc. If you can’t spend $100 to $200 on printing your primary business card ad, why would a client want to spend their money with you? Your goal: show that you are a legitimate business.
7. Caution: Do not print your business cards on a laser printer. Big companies don’t and neither should you, especially if you want to be taken seriously. (Laser or inkjet printers are great for trying out different layouts and designs to show your business friends for evaluation.)
8. Using the back: Choose paper (or other material) that is easy to write on. Many companies use this space to record appointments.
Provide helpful advice. Others list specific product or service lines. Veteran networkers flip their business card over and write about their contact when they get home from an event. Adapt your reverse to the purchase process that your customers follow.
9. Suppose you have included essential information that is read quickly. Please recognize that different people have different communication preferences: some like email, others prefer direct phone numbers, etc. Make it easy for everyone to communicate with you directly using their individual styles. Respond to your query quickly.
10. Always carry an adequate number of business cards with you. Quite often, you’ll have a great impromptu conversation on the beach, in a restaurant, or on the bus. One of you will say, “Sorry, I’m out of business cards.” To me, that’s poor tracking of your business card advertising efforts. Some people say that it is a forecast of how they will handle themselves in the future.
Instead, you can take advantage of your “emergency backup cards” that are always in your wallet or on your person. At least your new acquaintance walks away with a card, even if it’s slightly bent.
11. You will find bulletin boards where you can post your business card in supermarkets, coffee shops and other places in the community. But remember, this is similar to advertising in a general interest newspaper that may or may not be targeted to reach your desired audience.
12. A more effective way would be to examine the buying habits of your customers. Find out what type of person recommends purchases from what you are selling.
For example, a personal counseling service thrives on referrals from doctors and other health professionals. Counselors send a cover letter, attach their business card, and follow up with a personal request for an appointment.
13. Compare your business card with others you’ve collected!
Make your business connection, then confirm your relationship with a business card. These tips will help make your business card advertising more effective.
