Each business owner recognizes how valuable of a selling tool business cards can be.
Done right, a good card can yield new clientele, repeat business and word of mouth referrals galore.
Unfortunately, a great deal of company owners develop a weak business card and miss out on it’s business earning potential.
Here’s how you alter that forever, and be sure yours achieves as much for you and your company as it is able.
Sometimes I’m asked if there’s a hidden secret to a highly effective business card — One important thing that determines whether or not it will generate a lot of clients.
The answer is absolutely!
The secret to an effective card is — simply put — it has to be ENGAGING!
Want to re-read that last sentence one more time?
The best business cards share that one critical trait.
In order for a business card to perform what it’s expected to do, it’s got to be in a position to engage a person for at least a short time.
The sad truth is, the key reason why most underwhelm is due to the fact that they don;t hold the attention of the prospect long enough to make an impact.
In fact, a recent study confirmed that roughly two thirds of business cards earned nothing more than a quick glance before the recipient put them away, allowing it to make little to no impression whatsoever. (read: buried in a pocket, never to see the light of day again)
You see “usual” content – that is, a name, contact credentials, a logo, and other general content – lacks the power to make an impression on someone. None of these details encourage a prospect to hire you (or to show your card to another party). None of them make you noteworthy either. Even worse yet, these details don’t give someone much of a need to examine the card either! To be honest, it’s not like they are going to memorize the phone number right?
That is why a typical card that has nothing but a name, logo, and contact info goes right into the pocket without so much as another glimpse. That is all you need to process that kind of information! It’s enough time to say, “okay, if I ever want to speak to this dude, I know how.”
On the other hand, whenever a card actually engages a recipient, is visually unique, says something different, and essentially forces them to process it and take notice of a distinct message – well, something special happens.
It changes from “contact card”… to sales tool!
It becomes a little ad, and gains the ability to ENCOURAGE someone toward a particular decision or action. In other words, to choose to do business with you!
Actually, a call to action is an important, albeit often missing component of most business cards. To be effective yours should direct prospects to take the next step — whether that’s requesting more information, watching a video on your company site, calling for a free report, coming in for a special offer, or whatever other incentive you can dream up.
THAT, my friend, is how you convert prospects into customers. Make an impact. Be noteworthy. And supply them with an excellent motivation to do business with you!
So if you need effective business cards, don’t accept a “contact card”. Decide instead upon a powerful little sales tool!
Make yours eye-popping… and engaging.
It can be achieved with the help of:
- a distinctive shape or die-cut
- a distinctive material (like wood, or clear plastic)
- a powerful call to action
- compelling content on the front or reverse of the card
- neat special effects like spot uv,embossing , or 3d lenticular motion
- eye-popping illustration or style
Go beyond contact information and a logo, and be sure your card cannot be tucked away till your prospect has taken a real hard look at it.
There’s no easier way to keep your business card out of the garbage and working longer and harder to earn clients for you.