In an increasingly digital world, many wonder what the future of
the business card is. Let me be the first to tell you that, love them or hate
them, business cards are here to stay. In fact, you could argue that
business cards have never been more relevant than they are right now. As
businesses move to the digital arena, business cards may give you a unique
advantage from a marketing standpoint. While everyone else is shouting from the
rooftops about PPC, email, SEO and social media and drowning each other out,
you can stand apart from the rest with a professional business card.
A nice-looking business card not only shows professionalism but
can also build your level of legitimacy and credibility. Small and micro
businesses rely on referrals more than any other business demographic, and
business cards are an effective, inexpensive and long lasting channel for
referrals and networking. As it has for many other products, the Internet has
made business cards more accessible and less expensive than they were 10 years
ago. They’re easier to design, purchase and hand out than ever.
Business card help form a customer’s first impression of you.
Using business cards gives an image of professionalism and shows that you take
pride in your work, both of which are vital qualities for the customers of many
small businesses. And if you include your business card with every product that
you sell or to invoice that you send out to customers in Canada or Toronto, you
have an extremely powerful and long-lasting marketing and networking tool. Why?
I can tell you in one word: longevity. Brochures and
direct mail likely end up in the trash within a couple of weeks. (Even so, both
methods still have a longer life than an email campaign whose average longevity
is about a week before it’s deleted.) Promotional products can make a wonderful
impression, but most of them will probably end up as a toy for someone’s kid.
But the business card I give you today may stay with you for 10 years, and you
will be reminded of that first impression every time you flip by it in your
business card portfolio.
Business cards are also about image. I know many small ecommerce
merchants who run their business out of their basements, yet they do phenomenal
business due to the professionalism of the business cards that they distribute.
A professional image builds credibility in the minds of the customer and can
make all the difference in generating a sale or not.
Business people who carry and distribute a stack of cheap,
do-it-yourself, print-at-home, business cards templates wherever they go are
doing themselves and their business a great disservice. Those cards are not
likely to ignite or even support a great first impression in any way. And
because of the longevity of a business card, the evidence of that failed
opportunity may stick in your prospect’s files for years to come. Don’t think
it doesn’t matter or that people don’t notice. People judge you on appearances,
and your marketing materials play as much a role as your attire and demeanor.
There are many top-notch printing companies out there that can give you a
completely customizable business card design. I recommend you do it right
and let the professionals do it for you.
Also remember that no matter how much you spend on your business
cards size and dimensions, they will probably still be the cheapest and most
effective piece of marketing collateral that you will ever buy.
Business card marketing ideas can be an effective and
long-living form of marketing that improves the legitimacy of your company and
keeps it in the mind of the customer longer, especially if the card stands out.
The design of the card quickly communicates what your company is about, and
piques the interest of people who see it. Not only will they keep the card,
which increases the likelihood of a future purchase and improves branding, but
they are also likely to share it with others, which greatly extends your reach.
Many businesses include two business cards in every package they send out
strictly for this purpose. The customer gets to keep one and can distribute the
other if necessary.
Contrary to popular
belief, business cards are neither dead nor they are waste of money. Business
cards have two very valuable uses which are:
1.
Old fashioned paper
business cards are excellent for meetings of professional associations, fund
raising roadshows and as a reminder of your 30 second commercial when you meet
people face to face.
2.
Software programs such
as Outlook allow users to create a contact card. This is the electronic version
of a business card. Your contact information can then be included with every
email.
All business cards
(paper or electronic) should include your website, mobile number, email id,
landline telephone number and logo that
potential customers can associate with your product or services.
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