Minimalist Business Cards
Graham Gosling said in a comment, “My new cards simply give my name along with my mobile number and website.”
In a response to Graham, I said that I thought business cards could never have too little content. Why? Because business cards should be only a passer-by marketing tool. Business cards shouldn’t be handed to a client, then left on their own to tell your story.
Instead of handing your business cards to a client and walking away, explain what you do, why you are better than the competition, then hand them a card with a clear call to action.
For example, “Hi, I’m Brandon Hopkins and I own a website design and development company called AfterHim Media. I design usable websites that accomplish a clear and predefined purpose. I’m local and can deliver personalized support, something my competition cannot. Do you, or someone you know need a website?”
That might not be the best elevator speech, but you can see the three parts of it.
If you want to have a minimalist business card design, go for it, but make sure you are using it your business card as a marketing tool, not the only marketing piece in your arsenal!
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Keep It Simple and Get the Sale!
Our habits tend to control most of what we do. When I was in sales I had the habit of becoming overly friendly with my prospect and not asking for the sale early enough. This cost me valuable time and energy that didn’t need to be spent on a customer who was ready to buy.
How does that apply to busines cards? Keep it simple and you’ll get more sales.
Do you need the title of, “Regional Departmant Manager, Sales and Finance” or would “Department Mangager” work just as well?
Do you need to have your office phone number, cell phone number, pager number, after hours phone number, and a voice mail number listed on your business card? Or would just your office and cell phone number be sufficient?
Do you need to list the fact that you have an office in New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, and Los Angeles? We get it, you’re all over the place!
Keep it simple please! And for your sake, you’ll earn more sales!
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How To: Write Engaging Text
Business cards are evolving from simple introduction cards to full marketing material. What currently separates your business cards from your marketing materials like flyers, websites, billboards, etc?
The language you write with.
When you write text for your business card you are trying to give information. However, for your business cards to be effective marketing tools, you must write engaging text. What is engaging text?
1. Something someone wants to hear.
Are you running a special? Having a sale? Offering 10% off? Those are things that instantly engage a prospect. They attract us because we desire to save money and get a good deal.
2. Using specific words.
When writing your new advertisement, think about each word and eliminate extra fluff. For example, instead of writing, “We are having a 10% off sale for all inventory!” Try something like, “Sale! 10% off ALL inventory!”
You are using less words which increases the possibility of someone reading all of them. You are also removing words that don’t impact a customer like, “we”, “are”, “having”, “for”, etc.
Using those two simple methods can transform your business card from an introduction card that passes along information to a business card that markets you and increases your income!
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2 Ways to Use Your Business Cards at Work
If you are in a competitive sales environment like auto sales or furniture sales then these tips are for you!
1. Give your business cards to newbies.
If you give 100 or so business cards to the rookies, they’ll be handing out your business cards! Granted, they’ll probably want to cross out your name and write theirs in, but it will have your cell phone number on it, and you’ll make a friend who won’t steal your sales.
2. Give a card to everyone you talk to.
This worked especially well for me when I worked at a car dealership. I would walk up to a prospect and introduce myself while handing them a business card. Then, if they would ask for anothers salesman they talked to on the phone, they had my business card in their pocket! Good for future leads or if the other guy makes them mad.
Those two tips were good for at least 1 sale each for me, and that was only the sales that I was sure about, maybe more. Hopefully they’ll be good for increasing your sales as well!
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3 Ways to Use Business Cards in a Restaurant
I try to come up with new ways to get my business cards into the hands of anyone, but preferrably potential clients as often as possible. Here are a few I came up with this week.
1. Restaurant contests
You’ve probably seen these. Drop your business card into the jar and someone might contact you if you’re chosen at random. Regardless of whether or not you’re chosen, this is a great way to get your business card in front of someone.
A friend of mine used to manage a restaurant and had the job of randomly picking out a business card. He would do it at their weekly meeting and have one of the employees pull it out. Then they would pass some of the other business cards out and he would say, “These people support our business, try to support their business.” Amazing what one business card can do.
2. Leave a business card with a good tip
If you are a good tipper, you should be doing this already. A good tip is a tip that is at least what the waiter is expecting. If you leave a subpar tip, the waiter will never buy your product or service, and will remember your company as the “jerk who didn’t tip”. However, a good tip can turn a prospect into a buyer. Even if you don’t think the waiter is a potential client, he/she might know someone who is.
3. Give a business card to the manager
My favorite way to use my business cards in a restaurant is to give them to the manager. To do this, you have to be a little creative. This way has always worked for me. On the back of your business card, write a little note saying, “Maria, our waitress, was excellent and the Calzone was perfect! Thanks! -Mike”. You can then hand your business card to the waitress and ask her to pass it along to the manager. This kind not about her will guarantee that your card gets passed to the manager.
Make sure you also leave another one with Maria (the waitress) so she can buy your product as well.
I hope those quick and easy tips bring at least one new customer to you over the next month. They may seem like extra work, but eventually they’ll become second nature and you’ll start seeing your business cards in prospects hands everywhere you go!