Is Your Business Card Working for You?

Using Your Marketing Real Estate Wisely. Small spaces can pack a real punch. One of the smallest areas you have to work with is your business card. So, let's take a look at how to make the most of this little chunk of your marketing real estate. Wise use of both sides of the business card makes sense. Many people are still stuck in the standard, one side of the card method. This works if you only want to provide your contact information or you don't have anything else to offer your prospects. It's the bare bones approach. However, using the real estate on both sides of your card to pique curiosity and invoke action is important. It's especially important if you are an internet marketer. It's one thing to include your website address and it's an entirely different (and more effective) technique to invite visitors to your site and offer them something in return (think free reports and bonuses). It's also important to include contact information. All of your contact information. This includes your business mailing address (even if you are an internet marketer and do the majority of your transactions online). Here's why: People may actually have the occasion to send you valuable information, thank you cards and even gifts. Personally, I'm a firm believe in good old fashioned thank you cards. It's common courtesy to send them and since it's become the exception rather than the rule, it's even more important to me. In fact, Peter Bowerman has gone so far as calling me the "Thank You Card Queen." I'll take it, thank you. Perhaps that warrants another card? Some business owners may not find this important. Maybe they aren't interested in receiving a ton of junk mail. Who knows? What I do know is not being able to contact people by various means of communication can actually turn potential customers and business colleagues off. At the same time, using your calling card or business card to your fullest advantage is just smart business. Here's a quick checklist of questions to make the most of your cards. Follow these simple guidelines and your business card will really begin to work for you.

• Is your contact information including snail mail address, website, telephone number and email included?
• Have you included an offer with a call to action?
• Are you using both sides of your card?
• Does your business card support your professional brand? (logo, colors & overall message)
• Is the design unique and memorable?
• Have you professionally printed your card on nice card stock? (no perforated edges, please).

With these simple guidelines, your card will really start working for you.