Everyone should always carry professional business cards with them. You never know when you will run into someone and will need to give them your phone number or contact information. Whether the person is a long lost friend, or a potential contact, by being prepared with your business card, you appear professional. A professional business card handed to the right person at the right moment can open doors to new career fields and challenges.
Keep your Business Cards Professional in Appearance:
Business cards should be standard in size. This makes it much easier for the person you are handing your card to. You do not have to spend a lot of money on business cards. You can design them to represent what you are doing in your career and how to contact you. If you are an associate at store, create a business card that tells someone your name and contact information then print them out on your home computer. A customer may request a way to contact you for more information and you are prepared without having to scramble for a pen and paper.
Professional Printing of Your Business Cards:
You can order professionally printed business cards from any local print shop or online. Either way, you will have assistance to help you design your business cards and the price is very reasonable. A basic two color business card will run less than $20 for 500 cards on the average. You can spend a lot more and you can also find sales where the cards are much less expensive.
Consider a Logo or Trademark for Your Business Card:
Small businesses may want to create a Trademark to use on their business cards and other office stationary. Trademarks can help to brand your store and your services. When a customer sees your trademark, they recognize who you are and what you do. Think about the golden arches of McDonald's. No matter where you go, you know what those arches represent even if you do not see the name of the place. By putting a trademark on your business card, you will begin to build the same type of recognition among your customers and future patrons.
Use Your Business Cards for Notes:
The back of a business card is a great place to write a short note if you miss someone when you stopped by. Whether the person is a friend or a business contact, the note can explain why you stopped by or that you were sorry to miss them. The person has all the information they need to contact you just by turning the card over.
Make a Habit of Handing out Your Business Cards:
Do not be stingy with your business cards. Hand them out to everyone you talk to. Insert them in letters and correspondence. You can even make an electronic business card that will attach to your emails. The business card you hand one person may find its way to another person. If two others are talking, "I need to get my hair done." Your friend may say, "I know just the person." She hands them your card and you have a new customer.
Small Business Owners can promote their Stores with a Business Card:
If you have a small business, use business cards as a way to introduce and promote yourself. Briefly describe what your business is about and have your contact business highlighted. Place them on public bulletin boards or other places where people advertise. Some smaller stores will actually let you place several copies of your business card near the cash register. You never know when your next customer will see your card and give you a call.
Business cards are a handy way to promote yourself whether you own a business, are looking for customers, or hoping for a new opportunity. Make it a habit to have your business card available and to hand them out regularly. They will not do you any good stuck in a box collecting dust. Business cards can lead to new job opportunities and help you to connect with people and are a tool you should never overlook in your career.
