Here's a quick marketing tip that I picked up at a recent business coaching session.

When you go to networking events you no doubt come away with loads of business cards from new contacts & prospective clients. And they likewise all go away with a copy of your card and loads of other people's cards.

The problem is that where do business cards end up? Either in the bottom of a desk drawer or, at best, in one of those rather neat business card folders. Problem is, either way, those prospective customers likely have a load of business cards from other VA contacts they've met. So it's easy for your card to just get lost in the pile. Right?

Well, at this recent coaching session we were encouraged to use both sides of the card. On the front side you put all your contact details & on the reverse side you put something useful (such as a calendar for the current or upcoming year) that will encourage your clients to keep your card to always to hand. They will likely keep your card in their wallet or purse. Everytime they go into their wallet/purse they will see your card & thus they will be constantly reminded of you and your services.

I've put a two-year calendar on my next batch of cards. They're twice the width of a standard business card & fold in half. I think it also gives a professional look to them as well.

Hope this helps.

Kindest Regards,

Jason.

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Jae Alexander Linsey
Creative Design & Business Support

I'm tring a new type of card as well. It folds in half but is more of a mini brochure- list of services etc on the inside. contact info..regular business card on the front...

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Sharon Heywood
VersaOffice

Great tip, Jason! Currently my services are listed on the back of the card but I think that looks too cluttered. All the more reason for the front of the card to clearly indicate what it is that one does instead of relying on the back to give details.

I think designing good business cards is an art. It's marketing and graphics on a 3inch by 4 inch area, which I think is difficult to do.

When I redo my cards, which will be shortly, I will certainly consider making the cards more useful on the opposite side.

Thanks,

Janine

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New VAs: I personally recommend Become A Virtual Assistant to Get Started!

When I go to networking events instead of handing out a business card I give out postcards with different tips, saving time, tips for using Office products, free software, etc. this seem to go over better since they actually read the information during the networking session.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I love the post card idea! I have done that also when attending a networking event. It was purely by accident as I had run low on business cards and had my printed post cards with me!

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Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

Thanks to all of you guys. I have not had my business cards made up yet and I have gotten valuable information from all of you on how to proceed.

Dolores

I've heard the same advice - put something useful on the back of your biz card so people have a reason to keep it. Lately, I've heard several people mention using the back for listing the url to your social media accounts - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. This give people your info but keeps the front of the card from being so cluttered.

Looking forward to other ideas for using the back of biz cards!

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Gladys Strickland
GS Business Resources

What great ideas, I have always liked a calendar and having your services on the back works for me too. Right now I have a calendar but will be using the postcard/brochure in the future.

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Bernice
Energy Virtual Assistant

Wow! I really like the post card idea with hints & tips on the back. Thanks Lee, I'll consider using that.

I recently met a lady @ a networking event who told me that she makes it her goal to leave everybody she talks to with a useful tip. I think that the postcards are a handy way of doing just that, with the added benefit that the other person can refer again to the card if they forget and they'll be reminded of you @ the same time. Really cool.

Thanks again

Regards,

Jason

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Jae Alexander Linsey
Creative Design & Business Support

Do many of you put your picture on your business card? If one gets a lot of business cards from people, I thought having your picture on the card would help them remember you.

Any thoughts?

Mimi

Personally, I've always liked the Rollodex business card best because when the computer is down, one has the manual backup. The fact that it is tabbed allows your presence to stand out above the other cards. Otherwise, the folded business card with services listed inside serves as a great marketing tool.

Judy

I hand out 3" x 3" box paperweights (made from cardstock with a heavy washer taped inside at the bottom) that have my company info on top, a 'tax deadline' calendar on the bottom, and pictures around the sides (old motorcycles, exotic cars, hawaiian beaches, etc.)

I carry a stack of the boxes in a 'virtual office goddess' reusable grocery tote and always wear my company-embroidered shirt and/or jacket so that I am promoting myself in multiple ways (embroidered merchandise comes from www.queensboro.com; no embroidery charge, 4-piece minimum. I bought 2 shirts, a fleece jacket, and a laptop messenger bag in my first order for under $80). I also offer business cards if they want that, as well.

I print the boxes on card stock, cut them out, fold them, and tape in the weights myself. PM me if you would like the word file i use to create the boxes. The format is tables so you can insert any pictures/text you want to each side of the box.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I have magnetic signage on the van, large one each side and small one on the back plus T-shirts to match and of course I carry business cards at all times. I like this combination as it's a rolling/walking billboard wherever you go and even sitting in the driveway. I plan to order fleece and a heavy winter jacket the same before it starts to get cold.

Lynne

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The Wordpro Wizard
www.wordprowizard.com

wow, you all have such great ideas. i am just looking into business cards at the moment, so the idea of having a foldable one with a calendar is a great idea. i too have also priced up the idea of car magnets as i plan to put one on my husbands car as he is parked outside his work everyday - free advertising!! thanks for the great tips

Great tips all of you, these are so useful and there are suggestions here that I never even thought about - I am currently trying to come up with a logo and a business card so will definitely use some of the ideas mentioned here.

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Cassandra S Ward
An aspiring Virtual Assistant