Using business cards as a marketing tool

12 replies
Hi Warriors!

I'm wondering how integral business cards are to your offline marketing plans. Do you hand them out like candy? Or are you more selective?

I got my business cards over the summer, I always have a few with me, but I have yet to hand out one. I don't want to come off as pushy, or just interested in making more sales. Do I give them to people I just meet?

Trying to improve my offline marketing strategy. Thanks for your help!
#business #cards #marketing #tool
  • Profile picture of the author Doran Peck
    The question should have been asked before you made your cards

    I distribute my business cards into the world as much as possible. Aside from my contact info ( which, is the least important thing on my cards) I use the backside as the primary marketing area....a thought provoking quote or statistic relating to my field....some of them have an offer....and those cards I am selective with.

    A lot of folks regard their contact information and their logo as being the most important thing on the card. It isn't, therefore you don't need to take 80% of your space with those things.

    The "thing" that triggers the actual impulse to get ahold of you is the most important thing on the card....your contact info won't even come into play anyway until the person decides to take action...so the primary use of the space on your card should be a mechanism for lighting a fire under their bottoms.

    A business card is not a name tag...it is a billboard

    Good Luck
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    • Profile picture of the author midasman09
      Banned
      Hey BradVert.....what if you were to hand out biz cards that had your info on front AND....6,9 or 12 Special Discount Offers from local biznesses like...."McDonald's (2 fer 1), Taco Bell (2fers), Arbys (2fers), Dominos (2fers), Oil Can Henry (FREE Oil Changes for a year), etc.....a whole bunch of biznesses who would LOVE to get "Consumers" INTO THEIR BIZNESSES....AT NO COST TO THEM!!!!!

      When I first designed this "Super Marketing Method" I was looking for ways to promote my wife's Antique Shoppe she and I had just opened on a Main Street in our small town.

      So....because my background was, "Starting a Burglar Alarm Biz from scratch" in the Suburbs of Chgo" and building it to the TOP biz in it's Niche.... then selling it for a bundle and "semi-retiring" to a small town in Oregon (Roseburg)....I KNEW I....was qualified to not only make my wifees biz "Survive"....but "THRIVE"!

      So....after we got settled I then started to DO things that I thought would help her biz get going.

      My first marketing project was.....""KEEPER KARDS"!

      I went to local businesses and told them I would hand out business cards with THEIR Logo and Discount Offer on the back (I showed them a sample of what I was referring to)....and....it was FREE to them. All they had to do was give me a "Motivating Discount" that would MOTIVATE consumers to visit their bizness.

      So....my first "KEEPER KARD" had 12 different biznesses on the back and, it was ASTOUNDING the response was when we began handing out these "KARDS".

      I found an online printer who could pop out thousands of my "Kards" and... when we began to notice THE KARDS WERE WORKING to bring in "shoppers" .....I then "got a Flash"; "Hey! The initial Kards are working to BRING THEM IN!".....HOW can I get these "Shoppers" to be "Motivated To BUY"?

      So.....our traffic was starting to pick up and when I asked those entering our Shoppe, "Howdy! Can I help you find something?

      They ALL responded with...."Just BROWSING"!

      So....because I had built a highly successful biz from scratch in the Chgo Suburbs.....I KNEW....I could come up with a SOLUTION to "getting shoppers to STOP thinking about "Browsing" and about "BUYING"!

      So....(this is still keeping with the Topic of "Biz Cards as Marketing Tools")

      SO....I created a "Coupon" in the shape of a Dollar Bill that said;
      "BROWSER BUCK...Good for $1 Off Anything In the Store"!

      These were handed to EVERY person entering....and....instead of "Browsing"....our visitors were NOW interested in....BUYING! (WHERE can I spend this FREE Dollar)

      So....our store prospered and.....one more "marketing" thing I used re: business cards;

      Everyone who BOUGHT something was handed a Business Card that had a graphic of a BEE, with the words;

      "BEE-BACK KARD
      This Kard worth $5 towards the purchase of anything in our Shoppe!"

      Thus....we were able to GRAB....shoppers INTO our store....get them MOTIVATED to BUY....and....motivate them to RETURN....with the use of "Business Cards"!

      So....thanks for bringing up this topic and allowing me to expound on one of my best promotional projects.

      Maybe YOU can derive something out of this.

      Don Alm....marketing guy
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  • Profile picture of the author DanielCart
    i hand them out a lot, but say something memorable, to be remembered - and if you get their details, then send them an email or call them once a month just to say hi - this is how you maintain relations; and be geniune about it as much as possible.
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  • Business cards are a fabulous tool to use. I love using them and will always use them, the best part about them is you personally give them to someone which means they have a face to go will the card, as well as a vibe of what kind of person you are.

    When you handing them out, give them to people you met that day and give it to them in more of a casual business manner. You don't want to come across pushy and sales like, but you due want to come across as a business own and know that there are people out there looking for what you offer but don't know how to find you.

    Anyway, yes business cards are a great form of meeting new people and sharing your businesses.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    I don't get out a lot but I always have a few cards with me. I first got them done for a high school reunion and one card got me a $2k job. I have had work from others placed in strategic positions and it's just another way to get your name known and remembered.
    I still have a pile of them as I don't give a lot out...but are they necessary..... well, every opportunity IS a necessary part of your business so why not use them? You gain and don't lose.
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    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

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  • Profile picture of the author AppsFromHome
    I always keep a few cards on me when I am out and about. If I'm at an event or conference, I load up to give them out to everyone I meet. It's a small part of the overall sales process and relationship building with the prospect, but I think it plays a part in leaving a good first impression. They're cheap enough now to mass product and still look professional - well worth it IMO!
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  • Profile picture of the author MartinBuckley
    I hand out my business card as much as I can to anyone I feel is a possible customer and I also try and keep 20+ business cards on me at all times.

    I have posted a picture of my business card below for all to see that my card is not plain and that is has a coupon on it that is different and catches peoples attention.

    I hope it helps give others some ideas of how to design their business cards.

    All the best,

    Martin
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  • Profile picture of the author Gailun
    I do not know how others classify the card, according to my ideas, business cards just need to follow to use classification: marketing, business cards, job cards, dating cards, identity cards ......
    **** What is the purpose card function now? First, as an extension of the image, so that others remember you and be able to contact you; secondly, as an information carrier, so that others can understand your company's personal information or information; Third, as a tool to attract the suffering of attention, and even help you suffering from marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Varnado
    Business cards are a great marketing tool
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    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      The use of business cards I would more than guess depends on if you are a offline business, or an online one. I use just under 7500 cards a year, so yes I hand them out like pouring water. I sell/install Satellite based internet as well as sell TV (DTV and Dish). Basically if your walking, your gonna get a card! haha - its not quite that bad, but close.

      Now, I also have a "dealer" site for one of my Satellite services, meaning I can sell the service anywhere in the country. I print exactly 100 business cards for this venture every 2 years. (and this many only because I probably loose half of them in that time) There just isn't a need for them. I cant hand out cards in California if I live in West Virginia.

      I also build and develop web sites. With this piece I don't print any cards at all. I have a site that develops leads, but honestly most of my work is word of mouth.
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      Success is an ACT not an idea
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Lee
    I think business cards are still a critical means of building your brand's visibility. Every time I leave my house without a stack of cards, I run into someone who asks for one, and I look like an idiot. Even on vacation. It's all about shaking hands and networking. You never know, where your next big client will come from.
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    "One of the Most Successful Offline WSO's Ever!
    Get More High $$$ Clients with this Small Business Marketing PLR Magazine
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      never give out cards unless someone asks, and then I want them to tell me why they want my card. "After I give you my card, what happens next?"

      I'm having high quality cards made up that say "I generate quality leads and sales for business that already have a website" I got that idea from James Hickey.

      And under that; "By Referral Only", and Local Profit Geyser and my phone.

      It makes them feel like it's actually hard to get me to sell to them. And it generates conversations. I already have the cards, I'm just going to add "By referral only", to my next batch.

      I also own a retail store, and my cards fore the store have offers on the card, and a coupon. I tracked the results of handing them out over 6 months. I made $10 for every card handed out. That's the truth. But I showed the person the offer and coupon. And I never just handed them out.
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      One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

      What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
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