How to Make Your Business Cards UNFORGETTABLE
| | Monday, August 08, 2005 @ 08:10 AM EDT
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Contributed by: Steve Gordon
Steve Gordon Properties
Read more archived articles about Marketing
Every time someone says "May I have one of your business cards?" you should get excited. I know I do. That's because I LOVE my cards. I spent thousands of dollars on printing, several hours on designing, and went through 10 different layouts until I got them right.
And it was all worth it.
A business card is an entrepreneur's best friend, most valuable marketing tool, and an essential element to becoming UNFORGETTABLE. Unfortunately, too many people have business cards that simply blend into the multitude of cookie-cutter garbage. And that's a shame, because a business card is more powerful than you think.
How Does Your Card Stack Up? Think back to the last trade show, networking event, seminar, convention, social hour, or association meeting you attended. How did people react to your
business card? Did they compliment its design? Quickly shove it into their pocket? Show it to someone else? Rip it up?
Whatever the response was, your card made some type of impression. But only the most creative, unique and memorable business cards make UNFORGETTABLE impressions. And those types of cards elicit reactions like...
"I showed your card to everybody in my office!" says a hot prospect.
"Can I have another one? A friend of mine will LOVE this!" exclaims your tablemate.
"Oooh! I want one too!" begs the person in looking over your shoulder.
"You know, I've never thrown your card away!" says one of your customers.
If you've ever heard a compliment along those lines before, congrats! You're on the right track.
Standing Out Recently, I took 66 business cards I've collected over the years and spread them out on a table. I took note of which cards stood out the most, i.e., red color, vertical layout, black background and eye-catching images. It was a fascinating experiment, and if you would like to view a high-quality image of the results, check out http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/2005/03/does-your-business-card-stand-out.html
This is a valuable exercise in understanding UNFORGETTABLE business cards, and I recommend it to everyone. Try it out! Take a few minutes right now, gather dozens of accumulated cards from your desk and discover which ones stand out. Oh, and don't forget to put your OWN card in the pile. You'll be amazed at what you see.
Or don't see.
Printing New Cards Now, if you're in the process of redesigning your cards, remember these rules as you approach your printer: 1. It's OK to Spend Money: If there is a part of your marketing NOT to "cheap out" on, it's your business card. Customers will be able to tell.
2. Local is Better: By choosing a local printer, you can work closely with the designers; touch, feel and smell your paper; and even do a few test runs until you get the card perfect. Some businesspeople choose to use online sources. The only problem with that approach is that most cards designed, created, and ordered over the Internet, look like they were designed, created, and ordered over the Internet.
3. Etiquette: Don't "Deal the Deck" by inconsiderately throwing thousands of your cards to everyone in sight. If so, you will not only become a practitioner of Highly Horrible NetworkingT, but you will waste your money. Remember: People throw away business cards from those who failed to establish rapport or make a connection.
4. The Card Credo: Finally, when you're ready, reach into your pocket and grab one of your business cards. Look at it closely. Then say this affirmation out loud:
"This is my business card. There are many others out there, but none of them are like mine-because nobody is like me. My business card is not a formality. It's not a piece of paper containing my name and contact information. My business card is the most important networking tool that I own. It's a reflection of my personal brand and a bite-sized morsel of the mission of my business. I LOVE my business card. And I can't wait until somebody asks me for one. Because when he does, I will find a way to give him value."
For a list of 16 additional ways to make your business card UNFORGETTABLE,: click here
Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He works with people and organizations who want to become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information, contact Front Porch Productions at www.hellomynameisscott.com
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