Why do you hand out business cards? Usually it’s because you would like to do business in some way, right? Think about how many business cards people give you that do call out for you to take action.
Does your own business card motivate someone to take a next step? We should give folks a reason to take the next step and learn more about your business. The first step might not be to have them call you to buy, but to move them closer to an understanding of your expertise.
Two things to consider on your card: the offer and the design. Both are important but if I was to pick one over the other, I’d say the offer is the most important. The same direct-marketing principles apply here as in advertising. You want action, not just a comment that your card is eye-catching.
Here a few starters you could include on your business card to encourage action. Please comment with your own ideas and offers that have worked for you.
- An ebook offer
- A whitepaper
- A coupon
- A sweepstakes with a chance at a big prize
Whatever the case, if you drive traffic back to a website, consider creating a unique landing page which allows you to track results. Include an image of the business card on the landing page and ask a specific question or two to help you find out exactly where they got your card.
You might create cards for specific events – say a big industry conference or workshop. Check out moo.com for some creative and inexpensive cards or www.overnightprints.com . Some additional business card ideas at best100ideas.com .
