A business card is so simple, yet it's one of the most important marketing tools in your arsenal.
"They're a form of contact management; a business card has your contact information, plain, pure, and simple. If someone you met liked what you did or something you said, or is interested in your services, your business card is the billboard for them to get a hold of you. You can also turn it around and if you like something the other person said or did, hand them your card and say, 'I love this information. If I can be of service in any way, here's how to get a hold of me.' "
Here are a few tips to boost your business card's potential.
Keep it simple. When creating a business card for her marketing company, Dando opted to include her logo on one side of the card and her phone numbers, email address, and website on the back.
"I believe in keeping it clean and simple," she says. "Your logo should reflect what you do. I did a signature logo and tagline that represented my name and more than 20 years of experience in the industry as my brand. I chose a simple color palette of denim blue and black. I carry the logo, typefaces, and color palette through to my website, presentations, email signature, and social media."
With more ways than ever to reach out, Dando adds that you can make your business card work harder for you and broaden the view of yourself and your company by adding social media handles, online conference links, appointment dates/links. Dando also says that some companies add coupon codes or other specials offers on their cards.
Use quality materials. The physical look and feel of your business card create an impression of you and your values. Some people try to cut costs by using poor quality paper, but that only reflects poorly on them. Dando recommends using good-quality, heavy card stock. Her business card is square shaped so it stands out in a pile of cards. Consider cards that double as bookmarks, magnets, stickers, etc.
Hand it out. Dando says she hands out her card at the end of a conversation or networking session as a way to close the conversation and foster future connections. Dando also gives some of her cards to friends and colleagues to refer others to her services.
Make notes. In the hustle of a busy trade-show environment, Dando finds it helpful to make notes about a person, a company and follow-up notes on their business card. Then, when she returns to the office, she can follow up on any important conversations and proposals and add them to her customer relationship management (CRM) software.
"Before we had CRM systems, we input the information manually into Microsoft Outlooks," she says. "There are many CRM platforms out there now that are user-friendly such as HubSpot, and you can also get scanning apps."
Though small, business cards can make a powerful statement about you and your business, as well as foster deeper connections between recipients and your brand.
In April, Dando presented an AHP eGathering titled "Networking: the Unwritten Rule of Business Success with more helpful tips.
