BellaOnline Forums Career Small Office/Home Office Business cards as marketing tools!

Don't forget how valuable your business card is! It's a mini brochure. Most are fairly cheap, too, so spread them around. Make sure all your contact info is there--website, email, location, phone, etc. And, make sure it states what you do.

Then, put them in everything you mail out--every order you ship, any direct mail pieces, any letter you write, all the invoices you send, and even in with the bills you mail out. If you have a retail store, put them in the bag with the receipt.

Also, leave them at stores where it's allowed--many groceries, laundries, etc. have bulletin boards you can tack them up on or counters where you can display them for free.

Give satisfied customers several, so they can share them with others.

Always take plenty with you when networking--even if it's just your spouse's company picnic or a PTA meeting at school. Don't be obnoxious & force them on everyone, just give them to people you've chatted with.

And, collect other people's cards, too. A quick follow-up note a couple of days after you meet someone who is a potential client or contact is a great marketing tool, too. Just say "it was a pleasure to meet you, I enjoyed our conversation, keep me in mind if you ever need widgets, etc."

Do you recommend any site that does business cards? Do other Editors here at Bella get business cards for their site?

A site I write reviews on http://www.epinions.com sent out two boxes of cards several years ago and I still have tons, but would like to incorporate this website and that one into one card - would that be overkill?

Thanks for any advice

I use a local printer, but VistaPrint is reported to be good, too. I think anything related can go on one card--for example several autism sites, or autism plus parenting, for example, or other related businesses. I think your reviews would probably tie in.

For example, my areas of expertise are marketing & the hotel biz, so I combine Family Travel site info on my hotel/travel collateral, and SOHO site with my marketing collateral.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the website information. Did you know that this forum content island is listed under the charity heading on the site?

They do not seem to go together by looking at the categories.

No, I didn't know & they sure don't seem to go together. Hmmm. . . wonder what happened there?

Read my article on Marketing with your Business Cards for more ideas: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art36756.asp

I love the idea of putting a little something "extra" on the card!

I'll definitely include a card when paying my bills.

I love the idea of something 'extra' on the back too. I had thought of printing a 'mini-catalog' (I sell bath and body type products) but something more general and 'inspirational' might work even better!

And as for the questions about where to print business cards... I print my own. I'm fairly handy with graphics, IMHO, and for $5 I can have 250 cards, exactly how I want them... or I can print out ten of this variation, ten of that, whatever. Or if I'm not sure if *this* shade is better than that, or whether to use Font A or Font B, I can print out a single card of each of the four variations, instantly review them, and choose the best.

Jennie, that's a great idea, but my old printer doesn't like card stock very much. Plus, it's not color. It's on the wish list, though!

BTW, I sent you a private message but I'm not sure it went through??

You can pick up a really surprisingly good printer for about $30 at Walmart. I will be getting a second printer soon, because sadly enough, buying a new printer that is almost as good for most print jobs is cheaper than replacing the ink tanks for my current one!

And yes, I got the PM <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />