In a recent issue of the Early to Rise newsletter, Bob Bly, marketing expert and author of 60 books on business, advises that business owners should forget everything they have been told about using a business card and adopt what he calls and anti-business card strategy. As is generally the case, I agree with Bob to a degree
From the Newsletter
1. Don’t worry about what you put on your business card. It doesn’t matter.
2. Don’t carry business cards or hand them out to people.Instead, do the following …
- When a prospect asks you, “Do you have a business card?” say, “I don’t have any on me. But give me yours, and I will put one of mine in the mail to you.”
- Then, in conversation, qualify the prospect and find out his needs. When you get back to your office, send him the appropriate catalog, brochure, or other relevant literature on your products or services. Enclose one of your business cards with these marketing materials – fulfilling the promise you made to send it.
Much of what Bob says in this article is dead on. People spend a lot of time fretting over something that probably doesn’t get them much.
But, here’s one place where I differ with Bob on this issue.
What if you printed an offer on your business card and gave it away like a powerful direct mail piece – now, somehow, I think even Bob would have trouble arguing with that use. Create a free newsletter, report or audio download and promote that on your business card and you will have one great way to use a business card.
You should really make a point of stopping by Bob Bly’s blog too!
