10 Alternative uses for a business card!
Even in todays modern, connected society business cards are a great tool, and it’s often your initial impression when meeting for the first time. Don’t blow a good meeting with a business card that doesn’t show you in the best possible light. Good design and quality stock don’t have to cost the earth.
The 85mm x 55mm standard sized business card often only holds your contact details but why stop at that? Think about how the reverse of the card can be used to get you more business, or use the popular size to create a stand alone revenue generation tool. Here’s a list of my favourite additional and alternative uses for the simple business card.
1) A simple loyalty scheme. Collect 5 and get a free gift or discount.
This can promote repeat business, and incentivises your customers to come back to you for a fantastic product or service that they enjoy. It can also work out fairly cheap too, with a singe product or service free for every 5 for example, the cost can be simply covered by the ones purchased at full price!
2) Use the back as an appointment reminder. Ideal for Hairdressers and Garages alike.
Missed meetings are a real time waster for everyone. This is a simple reminder to customers with hectic timetables. It will help them remember their appointment time, and ensure that they turn up ready and punctual to your appointment!
3) Discount voucher. Print a code on the back of the card that people can use get money off.
This is a handy incentive for a customer to hold on to your business card, or pass it on to someone else. Big discounts and offers have big effects!
4) Introduce a new product with a small advert on the back.
Upselling and cross selling and can be quick and simple. Help the recipient of the business card to ask about an order or a selection of new products.
5) Tell people you welcome referrals and put 2 of them in with invoices or products
This encourages a customer to pass on your business card, especially if they have an reason to do so, such as a code which can be written down, and the referrer can get something out of it too!
6) Aide Memoire. Conversion tables, calendar, ruler, hints and tips, important industry dates.
These encourage the recipient of your business card keep hold of it, and carry it with them at all times, and can also be a good talking point.
7) Social networking ID’s. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Blogger.
Social networking is the way forward, and by promoting it with your business cards, you can have easy access to every one of your potential customers through many channels.
8 ) Promote your strategic partners – promote their services and products, and vice versa.
By promoting another someone else, they become more likely to promote your business, which can be helpful if you both have big numbers of contacts, or their business card is given out and passed around fairly often.
9) Membership cards. Leave room to add customer numbers and call them VIC (Very Important Customer) cards.
These make the person whose details are on the card feel wanted and valued, encouraging them to come back and purchase from you again!
10) Fold one up and stop the pub table wobbling.
Practical and useful, this is my favourite!
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