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If the answer to ANY of these is "No", you could use traditional printed
business cards very profitably.
Business cards are among the most versatile, affordable, portable,
and accepted marketing tools you can use. You meet people all the time ? at church, the grocery store, the school function,
the tradeshow, and so on. One of the first questions you're probably asked is "So, what do you do for a living?” You
tell the person about your online business, right?
Suppose this acquaintance is really impressed. They want to check out your Internet business.
So you eagerly spell out your website URL. That's great, but … do you think they'll remember it after the game or after
the meeting, when they get back to their computer and actually have a few minutes to go check it out? Sadly, they probably
won't.
And say your product or service intrigues them, but they have no need of it now. Could they find
your site again in a few weeks or a few months? Maybe, if they remembered to bookmark your site. No guarantees, though. And
they probably won’t bookmark your site anyway if they don’t anticipate the need for your product or service in
the near future.
So a business card would sure be a handy way to give that person
your URL. And if your URL changes, they might even be able to find you the old-fashioned way (through your postal address
or phone number!).
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Business cards can make your Internet
marketing business seem more legitimate
in the eyes of some of
your potential
prospects and/or "joint venture" partners.
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A business card is also a terrific way to generate more interest in
your site, simply because there are so many ways to prospect creatively with business cards. You can tuck a card with your
URL on it in all your "snail mail" correspondence. You can introduce yourself with your card. You can tuck your card in related
books at the library. You can post your card on bulletin boards. And you can hand your card directly to that really hot prospect
you just met, with a big sincere smile and a firm handshake.
Finally, like it or not, having a business card “legitimizes”
your business in some people’s eyes. It’s concrete evidence that your business is real and that you take it seriously.
So do you, as an online marketer, need business cards? Only
if you want more business....
Copyright 2003-6 Diana Ratliff. All rights reserved.
Diana Ratliff is an entrepreneur with a passion for the power
of the carefully-chosen word, and she believes that marketing materials should work as hard as their owners do. Former publisher
of the Way to Grow Home Business Directory and the Way to Advertise newsletter, her experiences with new
business owners led to a fascination with business cards.
Diana noticed that many of her clients would order
cheap, ugly cards and then somehow expect the world to beat a path to their doors. She became a Business Card "Guru" and gives
her very best advice in her new ebook, "Business Card Breakthroughs". Also, for the best in affordable
and versatile business card printing, visit BizCardGuru Recommends....
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