With the sun deciding to take ‘a rain check’ (oh the puns have started) on getting its hat on this weekend, it can only mean one thing. That’s right I’m back to moaning again!
What would you say is the most essential piece of marketing material for generating new leads to your business?
Most would answer their business card.
Whilst networking events can seem a little like speed dating, with only a few minutes to really get to know a person, learn about their business, sell your own, build trust and portray your professionalism… After that you’re left with a 5x9cm piece of card that will then get thrown into a box or put on a database with a load of others.
This leads me to my question… Does your business card have all the information your potential clients need to;
A. Understand your business and what you’re all about?
B. Contact you?
There’s nothing worse than being left with a business card that has you hunting more than a game of Cludeo.
Now don’t get me wrong 5x9cm isn’t a large amount of space, but if you can’t sum up your business and provide all the relevant, up to date contact information you have for your business what else does your business struggle or overlook doing?
FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT!
So what information should your business card have?
- Name
- Address
- Phone- landline, mobile, fax numbers if available. If you are also targeting overseas add dialling code.
- E-mail- having your own company URL looks a lot more professional than say a standard Google or Hotmail account… With that said something is better than nothing.
Yes you may have left your mobile number and you think ‘picking up the phone is the best way to do things’ but others may not. They have only met you briefly and still only have that business card, a phone call at this point may be too much, where’s the trust building?!
- Website- if available. Some say that showing the link to your testimonials page is advisable; again I’d say something is better than nothing.
- Social media- community building is key to your future online… Provide all account names.
- Logo- I have one word BRANDING be consistent throughout!
The design of your business card is important. Bad layout with wasted space or too much crammed into a small space, poor choice of unreadable fonts, using a generic image that someone has decided your business fits with are just a few mistakes made when not investing the time, money or thought to a business card.
With that in mind I strongly advice against any ‘free printed build it in 5mins’ jobbies.
Invest in your business and others will invest in you ;D
The key is to give as much information as possible. Presume everyone’s as busy as you are and try and make their life easier. Don’t leave them having to go hunting, networking and lead generation isn’t a game
;D.
After all ‘a confused consumer never buys’.
Be clear, consistent, informative and innovative in your design… ‘Own your business’ that’s what you work for after all!
Let me know your thoughts.
