Your business cards are powerful tools – if you use them!
Business cards are some of the least expensive but most effective marketing pieces you can buy. 
Unfortunately, too many people keep them stowed away in a desk drawer instead of handy in their pockets.
Your business card should do two things:
- Reveal both your name and your face – so that people who don’t remember your name can connect your friendly and helpful attitude with your face.
- Reveal what you do. If you sell real estate, say where or specify your niche. If you’re an engineer, tell what kind of engineer. If you’re a writer, let them know what kind. For example: Novels, poetry, news, or marketing copy.
Once you have that informative card – give it away to as many people as you can. Here are some ideas:
Start with people you meet in social situations. You don’t have to be pushy about it, just hand them a card and say something friendly and non-threatening. For instance, “Get in touch any time you want to know what’s going on in our market.”
Do the same for people you chat with when you’re shopping or doing errands. For instance, the grocery store checker, the bank teller, and the pharmacist.
And then…
When you pay a local bill by mail, put a card in the envelope.
When you leave a nice tip – leave your card with it.
When you volunteer to help with a project and will need to be in touch with other volunteers, give each of them your card. You don’t even have to mention your business, it’s just the easiest way to give them all the contact information they need.
When you meet with your child’s teacher, give him or her your card. Again – it’s a good way to provide your contact information.
Give your card to the providers you pay – like your doctor, dentist, hairdresser, mechanic, dog groomer, and veterinarian. And remember the people who mow the lawn, clean the house, service the pool, and wash the windows.
Every one of those people is a potential source of business, and you should never assume that they know what you do for a living.
