Business cards first appeared in the 1500's in China, and later in
the 1700's in Europe. They were not known as business cards, but
rather called "calling cards" or "trade cards". Calling cards were
used by the upper class and royalty to announce their arrival.
Trade cards referred to a business owner and were used to introduce that
person's trade or line of business.
Calling cards and trade cards have progressed from those years into today's business
cards and are used much in the same way as back then.
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
website 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 a 10 pt. card. We will not discuss plastic cards or metal
cards on this page due to the increased costs in producing them.
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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 bottom of this page.
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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.
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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 website.
Important note - do not use a free e-mail host as your e-mail
address if you have your own web site.
Special note:
The e-mail address noted above only works if you are
listed as one of my contacts in my e-mail address book.
To contact me use the "Contact Tyler" links at the top
or bottom of this page. Thanks!
If your company name does not describe your business endeavor as
described in
Choose a Home 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 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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VistaPrint will provide you with
250 Free Matte Business cards in full color and top quality for your
business or personal use. There are 42 templates to choose from, or
you can decide to upgrade for a small fee. To view this free offer,
click this link -
Free Business Cards.
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