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The humble business card is a traditional tool of the businessman or businesswoman. We have been educated to know, that without one, we are not part of a proper business. How many people just give there business cards to people they have already contacted? I know I used to. Make a cold call - arrange a meeting - close the sale - then give them my business card. The only thing a business card is good for at this point is a way of contacting you to cancel the job. The art of the business card is to be an impressive beacon to prospective customers to flock towards your business with expectations of your product or service being the last word in design ,functionality and to put an end to there problems. Well as the TV comedy shows little Briton would say, “don’t work like that” the business card has become a part of business etiquette that, we expect it to be given, we expect it to be taken, but do we expect it to be used.

Get noticed to be noticed

Everyone that is in a “proper” business has a business card but what can you do to separate yourself from all the other business cards.

Better quality card - better quality business cards on thicker paper stand out

Jazzy design- I always look twice at a strikingly designed card

foil printing - Shiny surface attracts the eye giving your card more screen time then the others.

Word of warning regarding being different make sure you can tell what you do from your card, do not stray to far away from your industry identity to cause confusion

Give it away and it will come back

Do you use your connections? A simple question, Does everyone moderately close to you know what you do? If they do not then you could be missing a fantastic marketing opportunity. An example of business coming from chance encounters. My wife was walking to the shops the other day and bumped into one of her friend’s brothers, she had met this person only once before, my wife being able to talk to absolutely anyone got into a conversation. As conversations do, it turned to what you do and when she mentioned that I myself was a web designer the gentlemen who is an electrician by trade mentioned that his website needed a makeover, she gave him my card ( as I insist that she carries a few with her , just in case.) I am meeting with the electrician next week to go over the details of his makeover. As you can see a chance encounter can lead to new business.

Business cards are great if they are used effectively but they are only part of your marketing arsenal. With marketing the old adage don’t put all your eggs in one basket can never be more true, use your business card to its full extent to gain maximum exposure