When anyone sets up a small or home based business, one of the first items on the check list to accomplish is the printing of business cards. My personal observation is almost all people’s cards are a total waste of cash, at least, not an effective advertising tool. In this article, we’ll examine business cards and the article is going to close out with 3 Tips to Make Your Business Card Rock. Let’s go!

I want you to get your business card right now as we will analyse it. It may sound strong, and I’m not writing this article with the goal of making your card designer feel bad, however I’d be prepared to gamble my home that the card in your hand is usually an inadequate advertising tool. Now, just before I go on further, it is very important at this time to understand this golden nugget of marketing and sales…

A sale opportunity is only ever possible for you personally any time you reach the right person, at the right time, with the right product, and then the right offer.

Your advertising and marketing material (e.g. your business card) has got to tackle points 3 and 4 above. Your marketing strategy has got to look after points 1 and 2 above. Think of this for a moment… every time you hand out a business card, the potential purchaser will make one of 3 choices:

1. Buy from you right this moment, let’s say sometime within a couple of days

2. Buy from you later, may be anytime after 48 hrs

3. Make a decision to not ever buy from you. This final choice could take place either right after they you/get off the phone from you, or perhaps a short time later, perhaps days, weeks or months down the road.The simple truth is, every time you offer a business card, your intention should be to have that would-be client buy something from you either at that moment, or later on.

Not everybody that makes a purchase does so „on the spot“. Which means that your card is required to „keep you in the game“, to give you a shot at making a sale at some stage. The instant your business card gets discarded or inserted with all the various other cards that the prospect is holding on to, you’re practically dead in the water simply because that client is not coming back.

Many cards are exactly the same: Business name or perhaps a logo to the left and contact information on the right. Precisely what does the card in your hand resemble? Similar? If I am mistaken about anything at all, possibly the design is a little different. But I can sit here typing away right this moment with 99% certainty that the card you’re possessing will probably contain practically nothing of any real worth. Just. Another. Business. Card.

The very last thing you wish for the dear little business card is for your potential customer to be choosing whether they’re going to toss it out in the regular rubbish, or the recycle bin. That’s the decision individuals are going to make that have already cooled off on the idea of buying from you… It’s a good idea to have your business card help in the sales process, rather than just giving out your name and number, right?

Suppose you could possibly deliver a card which induced a purchasing decision? Imagine if it actually resulted in a paying client, simply because they held onto it for enough time for the timing to be right? Here is 3 ways to make your business card rock!

1. Funk it up a bit – Don’t make your contact details the focus on the card. They must be there, but they are pointless if your card gets thrown in the bin. And the majority of business cards are dull anyways. Your business is definitely not unexciting, right? Emphasize your individuality on your card.

2. Incorporate testimonials on the card – this will give immediate credibility in your skills or product. Testimonials will do a much better job of creating trust and credibility than anything you can say.

3. Make the card valuable – Place an offer on it – This is massive. Make your card a coupon by including a deal… „Present this card to get $20 off the next purchase.“ Or „Present this card to receive a complimentary session valued at $75… How likely am I to toss your business card when it is worth $75 dollars to me? Nearly everyone that may be remotely serious about your service will keep it. At the very least they will think a little harder they toss it in the trash.

What do you think the impact might possibly be through generating one extra customer every month simply because your business card actually worked?

Hopefully the difference is significant for your business.

Get home business building tips at the Greg Nunan Home Business Blog. Greg Nunan is also a regular blogger at his home-based business squidoo blog.