Do You Have Business Cards?

Do You Have Business Cards?
By Crissy Herron Gipson (www.IndieBizChicks.com)

The standard business card has not changed much in last few decades, except for added lines for fax numbers, email and website addresses. While it may be simple, the little card is still an effective lead generation tool.

One of the reasons the business card is so effective is that it gives potential customers all the information they need in one location. With that card, they know a person’s name, the type of business they have, and how to contact the person. And if the person has a website, the potential customer also has access to the person’s products or services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Very few people in the world have photographic memories. A person may meet someone they have every intention of doing business with, but then forget the person’s name or business name. The person may write down a quick note on a scrap piece of paper, but a week later when they find that piece of paper the person has no idea what the shorthand notes mean or whose phone number that is.

If the business owner had simply given the person a business card, all of the contact information would be on the card in an easy to read manner. The person could jot down a few notes on the back of the card and instantly be reminded of what type of business they wanted to conduct with the person.

Some people hang onto business cards for a long time, and that can further increase the lead generating powers of the card. Each time the person sees the business owners’ card, they will be reminded about the business and may be prompted to buy something or tell a friend about the business.

A business owner can increase the chances of people hanging onto their cards by placing some magnet on the back of the card or having a tool such as a calendar printed on the back of the card.

Of course, a business card cannot work if it is not being used. A business card needs to get into the hands of a potential customer for it to be effective. A simple way to do this is for a business owner to keep some cards on them at all times and to hand them to everyone they see who may be interested in their products and services.

A business owner can also hang their business cards up on bulletin boards in grocery stores, libraries, and community centers in order to draw attention to their business. Enclosing a business card in all correspondence, even when paying bills, can also help with lead generation.

A business card is something every business owner should have. In addition to serving as lead generation tools, they help the business owner look polished and professional.


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