| 
                         
                          
                                                Getting Business 
                        Cards to Work for you! 
                        
                        by Tash Hughes of
                        Word 
                        Constructions 
                        The 
                        business is named and you’re all ready for action; 
                        business cards are printed and sitting in their box on 
                        your desk. So, how do you get some cards off your desk 
                        to people who might turn into clients or customers for 
                        yo 
                        Obviously, you 
                        give out a card to anyone who asks you for contact 
                        details and thus you need to always have cards with you. 
                        It’s worth keeping some cards in your wallet/purse, car, 
                        briefcase, a pocket and any other place that will keep 
                        them handy; don’t forget some in a gym bag, a nappy bag 
                        or diary. 
                         Look after your 
                        cards, though, and make sure they are always pristine 
                        when you give them out. Consider keeping them in a pouch 
                        or holder of some sort for protection. 
                         The following 
                        list includes some more creative ways to distribute your 
                        cards; within the boundaries of taste and 
                        professionalism, there is plenty of room for creativity! 
                        
                         v     
                        Include a business card with every delivery of  product 
                        or completed service 
                        
                        v    
                        Use the back of a card 
                        to jot down a number or fact the other person 
                        wants/needs 
                        
                        v    
                        Ask for someone else’s 
                        card as they will often ask for yours in return to be polite! 
                        
                        v    
                        Hand one to anyone 
                        looking for a bookmark or scrap of paper 
                        
                        v    
                        Stick some on community 
                        notice boards, such as in supermarkets and libraries – 
                        check this is ok with the management first 
                        
                        v    
                        Some restaurants and 
                        shops have bowls or boards for collecting cards  - add 
                        yours! 
                        
                        v    
                        Leave a card inside a 
                        library book when you return it 
                        
                        v    
                        Get them attached to 
                        some newsletters, such as in a school or a sporting 
                        group 
                        
                        v    
                        Make them magnetic so 
                        people will keep them on their fridge/filing cabinet 
                        
                        v    
                        Have some available in 
                        places potential customers may go – eg a stand at the 
                        counter of a shop or restaurant 
                        
                        v    
                        Include a card with all 
                        correspondence, including invoices 
                        
                        v    
                        Use your card as a 
                        nametag instead of a plain label – just add a pin! 
                        
                        v    
                        Arrange swaps of 
                        business cards to distribute with complimentary 
                        businesses 
                        
                        v    
                        Give people two or 
                        three cards so they can pass them on for you 
                        
                        v    
                        Use a business card as 
                        a label on your briefcase, suitcase, etc as it may be 
                        seen and noted or asked about 
                        
                        v    
                        Add them to showbags at 
                        expos, displays, fetes and the like 
                        
                        v    
                        Stick onto each book 
                        or item that you lend out to others 
                        
                        v    
                        Place them in with 
                        cheques or other payments 
                        
                        v    
                        Leave a card as a note 
                        that you visited someone not available 
                        
                        v    
                        Leave a card with the 
                        tip at a restaurant 
                        
                        v    
                        Exchanges at networking 
                        functions 
                        
                        v    
                        Announce your arrival 
                        at the doctor, dentist, mechanic, etc by presenting your 
                        card 
                        
                        v    
                        Include special offers 
                        on your card to attract people – these can be stickers on the back or hand written on the spot 
                        
                        v    
                        Use cards as price tags 
                        on your products, especially at markets and expos 
                        
                          
                        Tash Hughes is 
                        the owner of Word Constructions and assists businesses 
                        in preparing all written documentation and web site 
                        content. Tash also writes parenting and business articles for 
                        inclusion in newsletter and web sites.   
                                    "Tash has so much 
                                    passion for what she does and can come up 
                                    with interesting articles on almost any 
                                    topic within a few hours."  Ally Lamont 
                                    of 
                                    www.webgraphicsbyemail.com.au 
                        
                                      
                     |