What Does Your Business Card Say?

Business cards are the most underutilized and misunderstood marketing tool in business. Many people spend the bucks for cards and don't make an effort to get them into the hands of those who can hire them or buy from them.

Everyday people throw away stacks of undelivered business cards. Money down the dumper.

Your goal is to design and use a memorable card and get so many delivered you have to re-order. Forget about those clever articles about what to do with stacks of leftover cards.

The only time you should have cards still in the box is when something on the card becomes outdated or obsolete.

If you designed your cards as a marketing tool and planned your distribution, tossing unused cards in the trash should become the exception rather than the rule. If one item on your card changes the cards are obsolete and should be pitched.

Car dealers are famous for finding ways to save money on business card expense. With the revolving door turnover of salespeople, many dealers stopped ordering individual cards for new hires. They print a master card with color dealer logo and phone numbers and leave a big space in the middle for the new salesperson's name to be penciled in. That way, when the would-be fast talking, glad handing flannel mouth doesn't work out, no new cards need be printed.

A swell image: handwritten business cards.

It would be interesting to run the numbers on how much money was saved at the printers versus how much business went somewhere where the salespeople appeared more professional. With car dealer margins, one sale would buy a lot of business cards.

Worse is using a business card with a black or blue marker blotting out a line of type and a new name,address or phone number written (or typed) above the black line. Ugh!

Some people painstakingly cut itty bitty strips of computer labels printed with the new information and stick them over the old just to save a few bucks. Calculate what your time is worth and the savings turn into an expense, not to mention what the "corrected" card does to future business.

Dig out that stack of business cards you have been collecting for years and flip through them, you will see at least one with a correction.

If you are in any business and venture outside your cubby-hole for any reason, you should carry business cards at all times. You should be able to "whip one out" without diggout out your wallet and digging thru pics of the kids, or plunging to the bottom of your purse past the hair spray.

You card says a lot about you. And you say even more about you when you offer your card.

Say it in business-like, professional style.

For more about buiness cards, get my article "What Does the BACK of Your Business Card Say?"

©2005 BIG Mike McDaniel All Rights Reserved Mike@BIGIdeasGroup.com BIG Mike is a Professional Speaker and Small Business Consultant with over 30 years experience, http://BIGIdeasGroup.com

eMail: BizCardBack@BigIdeasGroup.com

Subscribe to "BIG Mike's BIG Ideas" Newsletter subscribe-956603364@ezinedirector.net

____________________

Advertisement: Honest Riches - Click Here!

Advertisement: Lost AdWords - Click Here!

Advertisement: Get $1 Million A Month In Google Pay-Per-Click Ads Free! - Click Here!

Advertisement: Who Loves Money? - Click Here!

Advertisement: SEO Elite, the GrandDaddy of SEO Software - Click Here!

In The News:

---

Boston Globe
Why Don’t Newspapers Do a Better Job of Advertising?
New Yorker, United States - 7 hours ago
Of course, they’re serious about the advertising they print, and I presume they hope that their advertisers believe that big ads work to garner customer ...
Video: Money Minute: Times Ads, Hyundai, Construction AssociatedPress
US: Newspapers adopt front-page advertising editorsweblog.org
Globe joins papers selling front-page ads Boston Globe
MarketWatch - BNETall 375 news articles

mediabistro.com
A Lawyer’s Call for a Greater Black Presence in Agencies
New York Times, United States - 10 hours ago
By STUART ELLIOTT THE inability of the advertising industry to fill its desks, cubicles and offices with a diverse work force is coming under fire again, ...
Madison Avenue Accused of Racial Bias BusinessWeek
Racial Discrimination in the Advertising Industry Civilrights.org
Diversity Study Takes Ad Biz to Task Adweek
AdAge.com - Crain's New York Businessall 19 news articles

BBC News
Atheist Bus Campaign is 'offensive', say complainants to ASA
guardian.co.uk, UK - 2 hours ago
The advertising regulator has received nearly 50 complaints that an atheist ad campaign, proclaiming "There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy ...
'No God' campaign draws complaint BBC News
Christians demand proof for atheist ad claims in Britain AFP
On the buses: Advertising atheism Scotsman
Times Online - Telegraph.co.ukall 498 news articles

PC World
mocoNews.net - Microsoft Plunges Into Mobile Advertising With ...
Washington Post, United States - Jan 7, 2009
The second thing to point out is the vote of confidence on Microsoft's behalf that they believe the the mobile search and advertising market could be of ...
Verizon chooses Microsoft for mobile search and advertising services Unwired View
Verizon Wireless Selects Microsoft for Mobile Search and Advertising PR Newswire (press release)
Microsoft Picks Verizon Over Google, Yahoo For Search, Mobile Ads eWeek
BNET - Seattle Timesall 321 news articles

BU Today
Alan Holliday, a retired College of Communication associate ...
BU Today,  MA - 7 hours ago
“Alan was a throwback to another time — an absolute gentleman,� recalls John Verret, a COM associate professor of advertising. “We met nearly four decades ...
Ad veteran Holliday dies Bizjournals.com
RIP Alan Holliday mediabistro.com
Hill Holliday cutting Boston staff Bizjournals.com
all 9 news articles

World Baseball Classic(TM) Selects Grey New York for Advertising ...
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 9 hours ago
8 /PRNewswire/ -- World Baseball Classic, Inc. has awarded Grey New York the advertising assignment in support of its premier international baseball ...
World Classic Baseball Drafts Grey Adweek
all 16 news articles

RIU Hotels & Resorts Launches Advertising Campaign in California
MSNBC - 21 hours ago
MIAMI, FL - RIU Hotels & Resorts will launch its first ever television advertising campaign in California on January 11, focusing on their two all-inclusive ...

Promo Magazine
Super Bowl 3-D Advertising
Right TV, CA - 15 hours ago
Aliens commercials will give a 90 second preview of the new movie and is “perhaps the biggest media-advertising event in history. ...
Super Bowl XLIII in 3-D Examiner.com
No 3D Monsters promo for Canada Toronto Sun
DreamWorks, Pepsi Offer 3-D Glasses for Super Bowl Ads Home Media Magazine
Detroit Free Press - Artistdirect.comall 387 news articles

Campbell Soup appoints new VP of global advertising and design
Trading Markets (press release), CA - 1 hour ago
In her new role, she will oversee Campbell's global advertising and design, including creative development, design, digital media, and media planning and ...

Up in Smoke: Tobacco Advertising
MSNBC - 23 hours ago
By Kyle Reyes In 1998, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company was one of many that agreed to a settlement, essentially removing its creative marketing arm. ...

advertising - Google News

Media Savvy ? Media Skills For Rural Women

The ability to lead, persuade and influence are integral skills for effective leaders. The capability of telling a story that inspires, motivates and informs is an essential... Read More

Add More Pizzazz To Your Ad For More Profits

I recently completed a Marketing Makeover for an Ad that wasn't generating results for the owner of a Piano Tuning Business.Here is the original ad:======================================== A BETTER... Read More

Does Post Card Advertising Really Work?

You've decided to try advertising your business with post cards. The idea came to you from the post cards you receive from other businesses. You like the... Read More

3 Things Every Yellow Pages Advertiser Needs to Know

Too many business owners and marketers know that Yellow Pages advertising has an incredible amount of potential? but they don't quite know how to take advantage of... Read More

The Future of Voiceovers: Hold Your Tongue...Possibly Forever

"Do we need to cast a voice-over talent for this project?"That's a valid question any producer might ask when creating an advertisement, corporate audio-video presentation, video game,... Read More

The SKINNY on Newspaper Advertising

The SKINNY on NewspapersUsing the paper is considered gospel by many people in business. Use it wisely and it can be a good tool.Remember, newspapers are passive,... Read More

How To Make Your Yellow Page Ads Work

I hear it often, "advertising in the Yellow Pages directory doesn't work!" I smile knowingly and wait for a pause in the conversation, and this is what... Read More

11 Ways To Make Your Business Cards Work For You

1. Spend money on decent quality business cards. Home made cards just don't compare to the quality of professionally printed cards. Your cards reflect your business -... Read More

Non-profit Coupon Books and Coupon Mailers for Small Businesses

Many groups like the Chamber of Commerce, ASB at the local high school, etc. will ask if their members can get a discount if they shop in... Read More

10 Reasons Why Your Company Needs Custom Invitations

I am always amazed when I hear about companies who spend tens of thousands of dollars organizing a make-it-or-break-it company event designed to celebrate a company milestone... Read More

Media Planning: Smart Choices for Your Success

Media Planning for SmartiesYou say you're ready to advertise. How are you going to choose whether to place your ad in the local newspaper or a national... Read More

Super Secret Tip For Using PPC Search Engine Advertising Successfully

It's not about traffic; it's about generating leads. That's right. It only took me eight words to give you the secret super tip on using pay-per-click (PPC)... Read More

Secrets of Getting Free Advertising

The opportunities for getting free advertising for your product or services are limited only by your own imagination and energies. There are so many proven ways of... Read More

Testimonials Convert Prospects Into Buyers

Big businesses get instant credibility with their well-known company name or brand name. But small companies have to create their own credibility. One of most powerful tools... Read More

Developing a Formal Brand Messaging Document

Ensure everyone in your company sings from the same sheet of music when it comes to communicating a consistent brand message.Imagine one of your customers calling six... Read More

Free Internet Advertising: 6 Proven Ways To Prevent Your Competitors From Stealing Your Customers

It is getting harder daily to generate traffic.And when you succeed in getting new customers, you should do all that is possible to avoid losing them to... Read More

Grab Your Share of Untold Amounts of Advertising Dollars

If you advertise in any way, the following information could show you how to find and utilize untold advertising dollars you may not be aware of.In the... Read More

Can I Write and Print My Own Business Brochures and Business Cards?

If you have a computer and a printer, preferably one that can print in color, then you can make your own brochures and business cards that are... Read More

The Motivational Triggers That Make People Buy

In order to sell more products and service, you need master customers' mind. Put youself into customers' shoes and think what customers want. You will make more... Read More

Free Publicity With Dogs, Cats, and Rats

Here's a fascinating idea.. Having noticed that there always seemed to be many stray cats and dogs in his neighborhood, it occurred to a clever pet shop... Read More

Secrets And Top-Tips Of Mail Order Advertising

Good Advertising creates more production, thus greater consumption, faster turnover and lower sales price per unit. To a great extent it determines the success or failure of... Read More

Predictions for 2010

2005 puts us at the mid-point of the first decade of the new millenium. What will things look like at the end of the 1st decade of... Read More

How To Create A Better Brochure

Having a quality brochure makes a positive impression on a potential customer. It gives the appearance that you're serious about your business.And it may give you an... Read More

Marketing Tips - Advertising

Typical methods of advertising-newspapers, radio and television are effective if used properly, but there are other, less expensive ways to get your company's name out. Local or... Read More

The Forgotten Advertising Tip

I'm sure while you have seen many tips on advertising, many that talk about testing and tracking your ads, I'm sure that this one important tip is... Read More

What Makes Advertising Successful?

MANY INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS COME INTO PLAY MAKING A SUCCESSFUL AD: 1. PERSUASIVE SELLING COPY. The wording is the single most important element in determining a successful ad.... Read More