Pinoy money talk wrote:
What software are easy to use in making business card? Is Photoshop? Corel Draw? Is there any other software in designing business card?

Thanks for the question PMT! As for the answer, yes. Personally I’ve only used Photoshop to design my business cards. You can see a lot of my examples from my business card template site. Every template on that site was designed in Photoshop CS2 and CS3.

Personally I like Photoshop because of the flexibility. If you want to use another graphics editing program to design business cards you could probably achieve the same types of designs. Photoshop is what I’m comfortable using.

As for specific software for designing business cards, you’re on your own. I’ve used Business Card Designer Plus by CamDevelopment and it worked really well.

Business Card Designer Plus a Windows program that only designs business cards. Then again it doesn’t cost $1,000 like Adobe Photoshop does, so maybe a smaller business card design software program is what you’re looking for. You can also browse a few of my favorite business card websites and get some design ideas.

So in conclusion, business card design is only as good as your designer. If you’re not a great designer, you might be better off with using business card software that will provide you with a template, or having your business cards professionally designed.

If you still want to print business cards at home, there are many resources, but be careful that your business cards still look professional.

How often should I update the graphics or images on my business cards?

Thanks for the business card question Tristan! In terms of updating, you can check out this post about wasting business cards. Check out the last section on design.

Personally I update my business cards every time I go through my box of 1,000. In my current business, 1000 business cards last about 6 months to a year. Before I order new business cards I try to spend a little time looking through unique business cards.

If I see a style, font, color scheme or something that I think I would like to incorporate I send it to a designer and tell him I want my business cards updated.

Then, when I get my new design I choose from the new design or my current design. The last two orders have been exact duplicates since I liked my current design more than the new business card design.

That’s how I do it, maybe you’ll find a different way, but the point needs to be made, don’t keep your business cards for 5 years and expect them to be current!

Is there a way to tell when a business card is going to waste? I’m
frequently asked if I have a business card, but the number of call backs is
no where near the amount of cards handed out. How can I tell if someone is
genuinely sincere or just blowing smoke? Is this a symptom of an entirely
different problem?

Great question from a new reader! Guy, unfortunately the answer is a resounding yes. Yes they are sincere. Yes they are blowing smoke. Yes there is an entirely different problem.

Sincere Customers

Here is the first principal. Business cards should be handed out at every opportunity, regardless of fact that only a small percentage will respond. Business cards are one of the cheapest ways of marketing you and your business and you never know when they’ll land in the hand of a buyer.

Are most people who you give a business card to interested? Probably not. However, that shouldn’t stop you from handing them out. Keep in mind that everyone has a sphere of influence and you don’t know who is inside their sphere.

If you own a high tech networking company and hand out a business card to a stay at home mother, the odds of getting a call from her are VERY low. However, maybe her husband is the night shift manager at a hotel. This hotel has networking problems and she gives your card to him. He gives your card to the general manager and two days later you have a contract to re-wire the entire hotel. All of that from a 10 cent business card. The reason it was so effective was because the business card came from a reliable source. You’ll never have perceived authenticity if you would have bought a billboard.

Non-Sincere Customers

While I sold cars, I worked with a guy who always told me that he could look at a customer and know instantly whether they were buyers. I never believed him and approached every customer as if they were ready to buy and had the money. Because of that I sold as many cars as he did my first month in the business, and half of his sales were from previous customers!

The fact that most of your customers aren’t actually “buyers” shouldn’t stop you from handing out a business card. Since they’re so inexpensive, hand them out as often as possible. One of my favorite techniques that I learned from Joe Girard was to stick a business card into every bill you pay. You never know who in the mail room has a brother who has a cousin that needs your service.

Other problems?

Since business cards are just one facet of an effective marketing strategy it is hard to gauge why they are not working as you have expected them to. Here are a few potential problems with your business cards:

1. High Expectations

Are you expecting 10% of your business cards to result in a sale? If so, good luck. Try to aim for less than 1 percent. That is where you’ll find your business.

2. Volume

How many business cards are you passing out? While I sold cards I would go through a box of 1,000 cards in about 30-45 days. That is an average of handing our 30+ business cards during a good time. I gave them to literally everyone I met. They weren’t all in the market for a car, but if only 1 percent knew someone, that was 10 extra leads per month just from my business cards.

3. Design

There is a chance that your business cards are so badly designed that people throw them away. If they’re hard to read, were designed in 1980 or they embarrass you, it’s time to get new business card templates. Professionally designed business cards can be had for less than $100. That is a small price to pay for an extra lead or two.

Given all of that information, many people ask for a business card just to end a conversation. I would recommend using the business card as an introduction tool, not a conversation stopper. Try to work handing the person your business card into the middle or beginning of a conversation. That way they already have your business card and you can focus on selling them your product or service.

Hope that helps!

Are the Magnetic Business Cards worth the extra money? Do people put them on the fridge and keep them there for years of easy reference to my business?

Thanks for the question Frank! As you know, business card draw people in, but magnetic business cards can really make your company stick! Well, at least you’ll stick to the fridge.

When talking about magnetic business cards, you have to remember a few things. Firstly, magnetic business cards are definitely more expensive. You can buy business cards for less than 5 cents each. Magnetic business cards are going to cost you about 10 times that amount, or about 50 cents each. While the number is still small, it really adds up. You can buy 1000 regular business cards for $50 or less. 1000 business cards with a magnet are going to cost you $500!

Ok, the difference is price is obvious, but you would expect that since you’re getting something bigger and better right? But are you really getting something bigger and better? Or are you just getting something different?

From my experience, business card magnets only work with certain industries. If you’re a house cleaner, plumber, handy man, or similar service provider, you definitely want your business card in front of your prospects as much as possible. The same goes for a pizza delivery service.

However, if you own a web design company, are a real estate agent, or are a car salesman, don’t waste the money. Your customers know how to get in contact with you and don’t need you on a regular basis.

So Frank, to answer you question, magnetic business cards are worth the money if you’re industry is the right industry. Keep in mind the qualifications.

1. Customers call you at least twice a month.

2. There are similar businesses that could take your business if your customer can’t contact you easily.

3. (Optional) Your customers call you in emergency situation (plumbing, handyman, roof leak repair, etc)

If you fit those criteria, then spend the extra money and make your business card stick!

Just in case that wasn’t long winded enough for you, check out these other magnetic business card posts:
Magnetic Business Cards
Fridge Magnets: Good for Marketing!

I’m looking for anyone with a business card question. Whether you want advice on a business card design or need to decide on who you want to print your business cards, please send in your question!

In exchange, I’ll link to your website (related or not) and answer your question. I’ve had good questions, and even weird questions. You can check out all of the past questions here.

Jim Thaler wrote:
What if the average “life span” of a plain, text only business card versus a
full color business card or other unique design card?

Thanks for the question Jim! As far as the business card itself, they usually are dead by the time they’re printed on! I’m sure they tree didn’t mind, it was glad to give up it’s life so we could make a few sales, right?

As for design, it really depends on the business card. If you look at advertising from the 1980′s, it’s obviously out of style and “old”. If you look at stuff from the early 1990′s, that too is obvious. That is my caution, keep an eye on advertising and see what is popping up. As your business cards start to move from stylish to out of style, have them updated by a professional designer. You don’t have to go through a radical change, but a change is always necessary.

If you’re business card is mainly text with your company logo, don’t worry too much about the life span, it should last as long as you keep the same address and company logo.

Let me give you a few pictures to diagram what I’m talking about in terms of life span of a logo. Which ATT Logo would you be more likely to want on your business card?

OLD:

NEW:

Now looking at these logos, which one is the oldest, and which one is the most recent? Would you be embarrassed with the logo before the current logo? I surely would, and that is how you know how long your business card lasts. Are you still handing them out as proudly as you did the first day?

Sara wrote:
Hi Brandon,
As a blogger who writes about making money online, how could a business card benefit my business?

Sara, thanks for the question. As for ways to make money online, that happens to be my passion as well!

In order to create a business card that will benefit your business, I would make sure you that your business cards do the following:

1. Match the theme of your site. You have a nice green theme with the pajama slippers. Keep that theme going to your business cards.

2. Make yourself memorable. In order for your business cards to convert to website visitors, you need to give them something on the business cards that will make them remember you and want to visit your site. I would try to highlight a few of your old posts. You might be able to say something like, “Don’t miss these posts:”. Then you could list a few of your most popular posts.

3. The last thing I would recommend is being part of the design process. Don’t just pay someone to design a business card, make sure you’re part of designing it. That could involve asking for a few updates from your designer as the process is progressing, or asking him for a few proofs and make sure he knows what you’re looking for.

4. Hire a great designer. Did I mention that I design business cards? Also, you can contact me for more information!

Hopefully that will help you with your business card creation!

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Ryan wrote:
Statistically, how often are business cards successful in converting sales?

Ryan, good question, but unfortunately I can’t give you the type of answer you’re looking for. There hasn’t been any kind of study done that differentiates business cards from the full marketing package. What I mean is that most people don’t just leave a card with a prospect and walk away.

The business card is just part of the marking plan.

Because of that, it is nearly impossible to give a hard number on how well business cards convert. Not to mention in some industries (car sales for example) you could give out 25 cards per day, 30 days per month (750 business cards) and only sell 10 vehicles. In that case, your percentage of cards given out to actual sales is 0.013%! Pretty poor.

But if you look at it in terms of money spent, each business card costs roughly $.08 multiplied by 750 cards per month is only $60. So now you could say that each car was sold with a $6 marketing budget!

However, we know that there are a million other factors contributing to selling cars like dealership advertising, location, brands sold, etc.

So back to your initial question, “how often are business cards successful in converting sales?” I would say that business cards are as successful as you believe they are. For me, I know they land me at least 1 client per month. I give out about 30 cards per month.

When I sold cars, I would give out 500+ per month and sell 10-30 cars per month.

So, “Yes”, business cards are successful in converting to sales. How often depends on your perception!

Jackie wrote:
What’s your take on putting stuff on the back of a business card?

Jackie, great question! The back of your business card is prime real estate. However, there are two different ways to use this real estate.

1. Print helpful information on the back of your business card.

2. Leave it blank and write helpful information on the back of your business card.

For most industries I prefer #2. I like to be able to leave a personal note, quote, or contact number on the back of my business cards. Frequently I use my business cards and calling cards if I visit a client and they are out of the office. I’ll leave them a short note on the back of my business card telling them I’ll call them later, or come by a different day.

Many people print something very similar on both sides of their business cards. That I would definitely not recommend.

If you decide to use the back of your business card to print on, make sure it is attention grabbing and action oriented. Make the prospect want to do something (buy a product, visit your site) by just viewing your business card.

Here are a few posts related to your question:
Your Business Card is your Calling Card
Creative Business Card Uses
Print on the back vs. Leaving it blank
Business Cards as Appointment Cards
Good luck with you business card design!

Boris wrote:
Do you have any suggestions how I could use business cards to promote my online travel business?

Boris, thanks for the question. I really like the content of your site. Never have been to France, but it looks wonderful.

As far as business cards go, I would first start with a branding of your website/company. You wouldn’t have a logo or tagline to put on a business card, so it would basically just be your name and the website address.

For under $100 you should be able to find a good logo dealing with travel. Once you have that, then you can start with the business cards.

I would make sure your business cards clearly stated that you provide information that can help make an informed French trip even better. Since you don’t seem to sell travel plans, let them know that all of your information is free. No registration required.

If you can combine a nice logo with a little bit on information, you’ll have people visiting and linking to your website regularly.

Thanks again Boris!

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