subject: How to Make Money Handing Out Your Business Cards [print this page] How to Make Money Handing Out Your Business Cards
Most of us like to think that by giving someone our business card, we are creating a scenario whereby that person will call us if and when they need our products or services. The bad news is this rarely happens. Why? Because most business cards end up either neatly filed away, out of sight or permanently "filed" in the trash can.
The good news is that it doesn't have to be this way. There are numerous things you can do to get your business card noticed and kept in the foreground of your prospect's mind. This article explores one proven way you can get more business from your business cards - printing on the back of them. By doing so, you can dramatically increase the likelihood that your prospect will keep your cards close at hand; and if you follow my suggestions, you can actually make money by handing out your business cards.
Printing the back of your business cards is cheap!
These days, there is no reason not to print a message on the back of your business card. The additional cost of printing the back of your business cards is so negligible that I suggest that all of my clients print the back of their business cards. You should too.
What do you print on the back of your card?
Well, I'll tell you what not to print. Do NOT print more contact information. Do not print more blah, blah, blah about how long you've been in business, how amazing you are, or how many employees you have, etc. Nobody cares about that. Instead, print something that is meaningful for your ideal prospect.
Print something that is of interest and value to your ideal prospects.
How about printing a coupon on the back of your card for say, 20% off whatever it is you offer? Would that be enough for your prospect to keep your card around? Imagine if you were a plumber and did this. What if you handed out several cards to each customer and encouraged them to share your cards with their family and friends? Would this make a difference in your business overtime? You bet it would!
Some other ideas for the back of your business card include printing a web address to a free, downloadable report available from your website. If you run a retail business, make the back of your business card a 10% off gift card for use on your slow days. Remember: make the back of your card an irresistible offer and people will beat a path to your business to claim it!
The "fill in the blanks" approach.
I once consulted with the owner of a new restaurant who was about to purchase business cards. Like most business people, he had planned on having only one side printed, so I suggested that he print the back of his cards with an offer. After deliberating for some time, he was unable to come up with a specific offer. So I suggested a "fill in the blanks" approach.
On the back of his cards we printed:
"Thank you for dining with us. We appreciate your business. Please accept our offer of __________________ when you visit us again before _________________. It's our way of saying thank you."
As you can probably tell, the first blank gave the restaurant owner the ability to test a number of offers. The second blank enabled him to make his offers time sensitive. Our initial plan was to use this method for the first 1,000 business cards, but the approach proved so successful that we used it for the next order of 5,000 cards.
Of the initial 1,000 cards that were distributed, 281 were redeemed in the first 60 days. The most popular offer was a free appetizer with the purchase of a main course. Remember, the restaurant owner was about to print single-sided business cards with his logo and contact information. How much money would they have made him? Not a single penny.
Instead, by spending a few extra dollars to have the back printed, he was able to make offers and reap the reward of having at least 281 customers return or pass their coupon along to a friend who used it at the restaurant. Now that's how to make money passing out your business card. What offer could you place on the back of your cards to make money in your business?
Use direct marketing methods to figure it out.
You don't necessarily have to run out and order new cards today. If you are watching your expenses (and let's face it, who isn't these days?), you can wait until you are close to using all of your existing cards. In the meantime, write something on the back of every business card you hand out. Test several offers. Write "see offer on back" on the front of the card if possible. Then, pay attention to which offer brings you the best response and include that offer on the back of your business cards the next time you have them printed. That will eliminate all of the guess work surrounding what to have printed on the back of your cards. That's the power of direct marketing!
Act as if your business card is valuable.
One more thing - when you hand out your cards, do so as if they are valuable. Point out the offer on the back of your card. Tell the recipient of the card why it is valuable and why they should keep it handy. Plant the seed in their mind that your card is different from all the others. Most of the time, it will be treated that way.
So now that you know how to maximize the impact of your business card, spend 15 minutes brainstorming at least three ideas for what you will print on the back of your cards. Then, do it!
