Its an automatic reaction now… I’m handed a business card and after scanning through the details on the front I flip it over to see the reverse.

If you’re not using the back of your business card you’re missing an opportunity.  Where the front contains your contact details, the back of your business card is a flexible space for promoting your company.

Why not list the services your company offers, useful for recipients when they pick your card up several months down the line.  Other ideas include current offers, special promotional codes for the recipient to use, a calendar, happy quotes or even a game to help the recipient remember your business card.

Printing double sided business cards is not much more expensive than single sided business cards, so dont waste the opportunity.  Make your business card stand out and sell your services at the same time.

You know the saying “first impressions count” and how true it is.  How your business card looks to a potential client affects how they perceive you and your company.

Dont believe me? Take a handful of business cards from your next network meeting and lay they out together.  Dont read them but think about your gut reaction about each business card and your own impression of the company.  Some designs you will like, some you wont.

If you want to find out what other people think about your card, print a copy without your contact information on and show it to some un-biased people.  Perhaps show it to some of your favouraite customers.  Dont ask if they like it, just ask what their gut feeling is about the business card, whether it feels right for the type of business it is portraying.

Try it with your business cards and see what people feel about your company.

A business card can be a very powerful tool, it can also be the worst marketing tool you have.

Often when out networking I meet people who are only interested in giving me there business card, they feel by giving me there business card they have succeeded in promoting there business to me and may stand a chance securing business from me in the future. What they quickly forget is that come the end of the day I will have a pocketful of business cards and will find it hard to remember any of the people who gave them to me.

Remember - do not give a business card for the sake of giving a business card. Think - is the person asking for a card/or am I giving a card just because I am expected to. Only give your business card after you have made an impression and the person know what you do and your company does.

Make notes - you can always ask the person you are handing your business card to, too make a note of a particular number / price / product on your business card. By getting the person to write on your business card or by you writing on your business card in front of them they are more likely to remember you.

How many business cards do you receive each week?

Personally I receive quite a few, mainly from new clients and suppliers.  Our director receives hundreds so it is no real surprise that most of these get put away and forgotten. (more…)

If you are one of those people who carry lots of business cards here’s a really easy way to put them in order. This easy coded system can be implemented while you are at a business event or in commute.
Classify your cards and separate the important from the less important. This will save you valuable time later on.

Assign a meaning to each corner of your cards and fold down one of them according to the corresponding meaning. For example, the top right corner folded down could mean “Important Contact, definitely phone next week”, a folded top left corner could mean “Information package requested, send it off ASAP”, the bottom left corner could indicate “Not very important, but worth an email follow up”, and finally a folded bottom right corner could tell you “This contact was a waste of time, no further opportunity exists”.

If this does not suit you then you could always mark the corners with a shape, symbol or letter on each card. For instance a check-mark could mean “Worthwhile contact”, an X could mean “useless contact”. A triangle could indicate “Set up a meeting”, and a circle could stand for “Check email for further information this contact will send me”.

Make sure the type of system you choose is personal to you. The purpose is for your own benefit to save you sifting through piles later on thus enabling you to use your time more productively.