When Should You Hand Out Your Business Card?

The correct answer is: Every chance you get.

However, you should be aware of proper business card etiquette. You may have the best eye-catching card ever printed, but if they are sitting in a box no one will know that, OR your business. Always keep a stack of them handy, and replenish your supply often. If your not constantly restocking them then you are not handing them out correctly. You should keep them neat and clean, storing them in a stylist case will help you make a professional first impression.

Most people know that conventions, networking functions, and marketing expos are places where you should definitely hand out your cards. However, there are many other opportunities for you to hand them out and promote your business. You need to view your business cards as ‘mini-billboards’. The more eyes that get to see your cards, the greater the chance that someone will buy your product or service. Here are several ideas to get you started on thinking of places where you can hand them out..

Include one with all your correspondence. Bills, invoices, newsletters, thank you notes, or invitations are all letters in which you can include one. You never know who will open the mail, it may be a new customer.

Hand one out, to introduce yourself, at every appointment you have throughout the day. Doctor’s office, dry cleaners, restaurants, car repair shop, and anywhere else you go.

Post your card on local business and community bulletin boards. Many schools, libraries, grocery stores, and restaurants have bulletin boards for local businesses. Be sure to leave a card in the ‘fishbowl drawings’ many businesses offer.

Hand out your business cards to satisfied customers, asking them to pass them along to their contacts. Most people are willing to help you expand your business. You may offer a discount to the recipient on the back. Alternatively, you could have the card giver sign their name on the card and when their referral presents the card to you, the signer may receive a discount or other appropriate reward. Either way, you will make the customer feel appreciated.

Use them as a notepad. Jot down some information on the back as you hand it out to a new acquaintance. Write down your cell phone number, and the recipient will feel special that you have given them privileged information.

Ask local businesses to hand them out in their packages or shopping bags. If you can reciprocate, offer to do so. If your business isn’t structured to reciprocate, then offer a discount to your business partners.

Have business cards printed for everyone in your business with your information and their name. Most people will feel appreciative of this gesture. Have them hand out cards to their acquaintances to help promote your business.

Hand them out at social functions with caution. It is perfectly acceptable to hand them out at casual social functions. Strike up a conversation with someone and ask them what they do for a living. Ask them for a business card, if they are agreeable they will usually ask for one of yours in return.

These are just a few suggestions on ways to distribute your business cards. You can probably come up with many more on your own.

Congratulations, you are well on your way to promoting your business toward greater success.

See if your business cards are sending the wrong message about you. Visit the site below.

http://bestprintpro.com/effective_business_cards.htm

Dave Dumas

Blog: http://bestprintpro.com/blog/

Email: dave@bestprintpro.com

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