A Guide to Using Business Cards in Marketing

There was a time when most meetings would begin with an exchange of business cards. With the rise of the internet, this practice has declined. However, many marketers have begun to use business cards in smart and effective ways. These marketing business cards serve many functions.

A proper business card marketing strategy has several advantages. To begin with, carrying marketing business cards to a meeting shows that you are professional and prepared. The process of handing over and accepting business cards adds a personal touch to business interactions. It sets the tone for the rest of the meeting. In some countries, exchanging business cards has an important cultural significance. It is considered impolite not to give and receive them in the proper fashion.

Why Are Business Cards Important?

Business cards for marketing professionals make a great first impression. These cards represent your brand and convey its message, even when you are not present. At a basic level, they also serve as a handy way for clients to store contact details. As networking tools, they enable people to stay in touch with each other.

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Marketing business cards can be used in many productive ways. With the right contents, they build trust and act as direct marketing material. A combination of a physical business card and a digital marketing business card is extremely effective. This encourages potential clients to look you up online and visit your website.

Aidan Cole, founder of n.Tuitive.social, says, “A business card is a physical reminder of who you are.” It can spark a memory of the time and place you met the client. This sets you apart from the others. It’s worth keeping business cards in mind when formulating your marketing strategy for the year.

Now, let’s look at some business card marketing ideas, and the best ways to apply them.

How to Create a Marketing Business Card

A business card marketing strategy can contain many elements. Here are some of the most important ones.

1. Think digital

Nowadays, many professionals feel that physical business cards aren’t enough. They combine them with a digital version. Digital marketing business cards can be created on a smartphone or computer. They can contain the same information as your physical card, with space for much more. For example, you can include photographs and audio and video clips.

You can also incorporate links to social media and online profiles. Digital business cards are affordable and convenient. Ensure that your card can be displayed on a variety of devices, and is not restricted to specific apps or software.

2. Make it detail-oriented

A marketing business card is a representation of your services and reputation. It should include all contact details, ways of getting in touch, and business hours. Other essentials are your name, address, and office phone number. Moreover, business cards can sum up what you offer. For example, you can say: “Award-winning SEO services” or any other phrase that describes your business best.

You should also include ways to get in touch online. This could be your website URL, LinkedIn profile, and other social media handles. Some business cards even contain mini-maps with landmarks and directions to the office address.

3. Show your face for recall

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Earlier, we pointed out that business cards add a personal touch. They are a reminder of who you are. To take this a step further, some professionals include photographs of themselves on their cards. This increases memorability and gives you an edge, as compared to cards without photographs.

Remember to stick to the best practices for using photographs. They should look crisp and clear, with a non-distracting background. The overall image should be professional. The clothes and environment should match the company’s activities and brand personality. For example, wearing a T-shirt may be appropriate for a sporting goods company, but it would be out of place for an accounting firm.

4. Use memorable and relevant design

Another way to make your business card stand out is with the way it looks. The shape, color, size, and font can make it unique. These should match the brand image. For example, bright colors and loud fonts can be appropriate for an events company. Sober shades and distinguished typefaces will match a business consultancy. You can seek help from a professional design service to get the most effective outcomes. Steve Jobs’ business card was simple and elegant, with a lot of white space and the Apple logo to provide a pop of color.

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The shape of marketing business cards should not be large or unwieldy, because many people put business cards into their wallets or card-holders. Canva is a good starting point. Here, you will find templates with searchable color schemes, industries, and themes. For inspiration, you can also take a look at these great business card designs.

5. Choose the best material

If your business cards are printed on thin paper, they will create a bad impression from the start. Make sure to use the best materials possible. There are several varieties of paper available: coated, uncoated, matt, and textured, among others. The printing quality should be high-grade and precise. Some businesses emboss their logos for a more distinctive touch.

Other business cards for marketing professionals are made of materials such as plastic and cork. Whatever you choose, make sure it looks professional and matches the nature of your business.

6 Great Business Card Marketing Ideas

Now that you’re aware of the nuts and bolts of marketing business cards, let’s explore some actionable next steps.

1. Include testimonials

For many businesses, testimonials are an essential part of their business card marketing strategy. These typically appear on the back of the card so that they do not clash with the contact details. They are appropriate for many service businesses, where potential clients are looking for assurances of reliability.

If you decide to use testimonials, ensure that they are crisp and to the point. They should touch upon the key aspects that you want to emphasize, such as speed and quality. For best results, the person providing the testimonial should be well-known.

2. Use special offers

Retail establishments and other businesses often advertise special offers to draw in customers. Your business card can be a medium to convey the same message. These offers can entice customers with the times during which discounts and special prices are offered. Free add-ons and promotions are other offers that can appear on cards.

Remember that if these offers are time-bound, you should clearly indicate this. The aim is to attract and satisfy customers, not to disappoint them.

3. Maximize utility

We’ve touched upon using the back of the card to include testimonials. That’s one way to maximize the space provided. Some brands take this a step further. There can be accordion or single-fold cards that let you include other information, products, or visuals. Some designers use these as mini-portfolios.

In one case, a lawn enhancement company designed its card in the form of a cardboard seed pouch. It contained the company’s contact details as well as seeds that the consumer could plant. This was memorable because it fit perfectly with the company’s activities. It was also an example of ingenuity.

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4. Use QR codes

It’s been estimated that there’s been a global surge in the usage of QR codes over the years. India is no exception. They can be found on tickets, apps, ads, packages, and more. They can also be used on marketing business cards.

To decide what information the QR code should contain, it’s best to start by analyzing your target audience’s needs. Some examples are full contact details, offers, feedback requests, map locations, and social media links. You can even program the code so that details and other information are automatically saved on the consumer’s phone.

5. Include a call to action

Calls to action are essential components of many websites, emails, and ads. In some cases, they can also be profitably used on business cards. For example, you can include a discount code or free consultation. If a promo isn’t appropriate, you can craft calls to action that include your visiting hours or any interesting facts about your brand that will interest new clients.

On a digital marketing business card, calls to action can include instant appointment booking and an option to download important information.

6. Use several distribution channels

Most people hand out business cards at meetings. However, there are many other avenues. You can use online bulletin boards or seminars that have bowls for cards. Keep them handy at other times when you can make new contacts, such as at airports or events.

You can even ask affiliated businesses to distribute them. For example, a computer store can stock cards of software specialists. You can also include them with business correspondence and festive gifts. However, keep in mind that business cards should be used appropriately, and not distributed at random.

Business cards are much more than stiff pieces of paper with the company’s name and address. Marketing business cards can raise the brand image, generate leads, and inspire confidence. Exchanging business cards is seen as a professional practice and a way of connecting people. A business card marketing strategy takes customer needs into account to arouse interest and stay a step ahead of the competition. In this way, they become another essential tool in marketing strategies.

Key Takeaways

● Marketing business cards have several advantages. They demonstrate professionalism and polish and add a personal touch to business interactions.

● In some cultures, such as in Japan, carrying and presenting business cards properly are an essential part of business etiquette.

● Business cards are a convenient way to store contact details. The right contents and design turn them into direct marketing material. They enable people to stay in touch with each other.

● A combination of physical and digital business cards is extremely effective. Digital cards can incorporate material such as images, audio, and video, with links to social media profiles and the business website.

● It’s important for marketing business cards to convey the right impression. The best possible paper quality should be used, with crisp and clear printing. The design can be unique, with colors and fonts that reflect the brand image.

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