Business Cards - Company, Identity, and Advertising

Today's business cards introduce your company name, business logo, a USP, a persons name and title, post office and/or physical addresses, city, state, zip code, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and web site address. WOW, that's a lot of information to print and make it look professional on 3.5 by 2 inch card (US standard size).

In the US business cards are usually printed on card stock. Card stock thickness is usually measured in points or thousands of an inch, which describes the thickness of the card stock sheet. In example, a 10 pt. (point) card is 0.010 of an inch thick, a 12 pt. card is 0.012 of an inch thick. I believe a 12 pt. card would be more durable than a 10 pt. card. We will not discuss plastic cards or metal cards on this page due to the increased costs in producing them.

Advertising with Business Cards

An introduction to a potential client or prospect is your first chance to advertise your business with your business cards. Introductions are always your first opportunity to give your business card, possibly in exchange for your clients business card. A clean and professional looking business card is your first and least expensive form of advertising an will provide a good first impression for you and your business.

Business cards are also inexpensive tools to use in your network marketing. Trading business cards at functions or seminars, or at almost any time, can help you expand your business potential. I had traded business cards with a person I met on a flight to Providence, Rhode Island, and a year or so later actually was able to do some business with him. I know many sales individuals who have large collections of business cards and keep them for years as possible future business references.

Other means of advertising with business cards:

Put your card in with product deliveries, attached to packing lists or invoices.
Send a business card in all your business correspondence. You can even place your business card in your personal correspondence or in the personal bills that you pay.
Post them on public bulletin boards at your post office, restaurants, retail stores, and the library.
You can give out two at a time. You'll never guess where the second one may end up!
Leave one on the table where you had breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Ask local non-competing business owners to display them for you.
I put my business cards in the credit card slot at gas station pumps. They have to be pulled out before their credit card or bank card can be put in. The person will lock at and decide if she is interested or not. I don't know if this is unlawful, but . . . it works!

I am sure there are many other creative means of advertising with business cards. There are business card holders that you can place on your vehicle also. Google these keywords "car business card holder" or "vehicle business card holder" to see your options and ideas. For your convenience, you can use the Google search box at the top of this page.

Don't Forget the Back Side of those Business Cards!

Most businesses leave the back side of their business cards empty, which can be a waste of valuable advertising space depending on your type of business. You can utilize the back of your cards for monthly or quarterly promotions, list your products, list your services, a picture of you or your product, a catchy sales phrase, a personal note to the receiver, or your USP.

You don't have to have them printed on the back when you have your cards made. You can use a rubber stamp or hand write something on the back. When placing a promotion on the back, make sure you place an expiration date on the promotion if it's not a promotion that you are running constantly.

Many businesses use the back side as an appointment reminder for the next scheduled meeting. Doctor and Dentist offices use this practice frequently, and have the appropriate information printed on the back of the cards when they order them.

Designing Your Business Cards for Advertising and Business Promotion

Here are some tips to keep in mind when designing your business cards ...

The most prominent information is company name, logo if applicable, your name, address, phone and fax numbers, e-mail address, and web site. Important note - do not use a free e-mail host as your e-mail address if you have your own web site. . . very unprofessional!
If your company name does not describe your business endeavor as described in How to Search a Business Name (i.e. what does AIG mean and what do they sell?) - a short and descriptive one line sentence about what your company does will provide the receiver of your business card a better mental picture of the nature of your business.
Unless your in a artistic type of business, stay away from fancy fonts It will make your card hard to read and does not project an image of professionalism. Fancy, hard to read fonts, in an artistic type of business is a generally accepted practice. I don't know why.
Avoid ALL CAPITOL LETTERS except where appropriate in names or trademarks. Using ALL CAPS is what many consider to be an amateur business person or company.
Use color sparingly and to highlight information of importance. Use color on your company name, company logo, USP, e-mail address, and web site address.

My best advice is to invest in creating an effective, clean looking, professional business card that will help you with that first good impression and reward you time and time again.

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