Author: Isabelle Leichtman
One basic marketing strategy that is often overlooked is the business card. This small, yet important item can be one of the most influential tools in attracting business. While we have discussed the importance of your company’s logo and social media pages to attract customers, business cards are a marketing strategy on a personal level. If you are one to travel or attend conferences and events, business cards are a way to get the people you have met to remember and reach out to you and your product.As the business world advances, business cards are becoming more and more tech savvy and different than the typical text on paper stock. While the standard-issue card can still be the perfect way to market yourself and your company, specialty cards with nontraditional shape, font and information are becoming more common. Depending on your industry and what audience you are targeting, a specialty card might be perfect for you.
The web-based travel company, Want Me Get Me uses cards that resemble hotel keys. They report that while the cards were expensive, they have been very effective in gaining business and setting them apart from other travel companies. Another example is 22 year old computer programmer and bio-tech intern Frank Zhao. His card is made out of green circuit board that needs to be plugged into a USB port allowing his information to appear on a computer screen. His card is different, memorable and appropriate for his industry.
Regardless of whether you are opting for the standard paper card or an elaborate specialty card, any combination of the following information should be included.
- Company name
- Company logo and/or picture
- Your name and position
- Company address
- Website and/or email
- Work phone, mobile phone, house phone
- Social media pages
While this is common information on business cards, it is not necessary that you include all of the listed above, but instead whichever pertains to you and your product.
Here are some links for ideas and tools for new and updated business cards: Fiverr, Moo
