You've probably heard this before. In fact, you may very well
have SAID this before: "Oh, I don't need business cards. I
do all
my business online."
That seems like a pretty safe assumption, doesn't it? After all,
one of the advantages of conducting business online is the
reduction in conventional paperwork and printing costs. If your
prospect is in Australia and you're in the United States (which
is certainly possible over the Internet) the odds are pretty
slim
that you're ever going to meet and exchange business cards.
However, like many assumptions, this particular one is worth
examining more closely. Should you, as an online marketer, use
business cards? Depends on your answer to these questions:
-
Is everybody who might possibly have an interest in your
business currently online?
-
If yes, do they know how to find your site?
-
Will they be able to find your site six months from now?
-
Is your site getting all the traffic you can handle?
-
Does everyone you discuss your business with around town have
a pen and paper handy so they can write down your website
address?
If the answer to ANY of these is "No", you could use
traditional
printed business cards very profitably.
Business cards are among the most versatile, affordable,
portable, and accepted marketing tools you can use. You meet
people all the time at church, the grocery store, the school
function, the tradeshow, and so on. One of the first questions
you're probably asked is "So, what do you do for a
living?" You
tell the person about your online business, right?
Now ask yourself this. Suppose you spell out your website URL.
Do
you think they'll remember it after the game or after the
meeting, when they get back to their computer and actually have
a
few minutes to go check it out? Not much chance.
And say your product or service intrigues them, but they have no
need of it now. Could they find your site again in a few weeks
or
a few months? Maybe, if they remembered to bookmark your site.
No
guarantees, though. And they probably won't bookmark your site
anyway if they don't anticipate the need for your product or
service in the near future.
So a business card would sure be a handy way to give that person
your URL. And if your URL changes, they might even be able to
find you the old-fashioned way (through your postal address or
phone number!)
A business card is also a terrific way to generate more interest
in your site, simply because there are so many ways to prospect
creatively with business cards. You can tuck a card with your
URL
on it in all your "snail mail" correspondence. You can
introduce
yourself with your card. You can tuck your card in related books
at the library. You can post your card on bulletin boards. And
you can hand your card directly to that really hot prospect you
just met, with a big sincere smile and a firm handshake.
Finally, like it or not, having a business card
"legitimizes"
your business in some people's eyes. It's concrete evidence that
your business is real and that you take it seriously.
So do you, as an online marketer, need business cards? Only if
you want more business.
©
1999, 2000 Diana Ratliff. All rights reserved.
About
the Author:
Diana Ratliff is a successful entrepreneur and expert on
business cards. Her tips booklet, "How to Get More Business
from your Business Cards" is bursting with more than 140
tips on business card design, content, etiquette, organizing,
international usage, unusual card ideas, and dozens of
prospecting tips.
Visit her website at
http://www.bizbooklets.com
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