Whats On Your Business Card?

A professional business card says more about you and your business than any other tool in your marketing arsenal. You need a card that looks good, tells what you do and makes it easy to contact you.

Here's how to use the necessary ingredients to create a great business card

Your name should be the biggest part of the card. Right there where the eye can pick it out without searching.

Avoid the old trap of name and phone number in 6 point type in the lower right corner.

Your card's purpose is to get people to remember YOU and contact YOU. So put YOU in the middle, big. A fancy company logo is not you. YOU are the most important element of your business card.

The second most important element of your new business card should be your preferred method of communication. If you are a cell phone junkie, your cell phone number should be the biggest on the card. If eMail is your thing, your address should be prominent and near your name. No need to post every contact method. An option would be to add your company logo, albeit small, in the corner of your card.

Don't use clip art to create your logo. No logo looks a lot better than one from page 23 of the clip art book. You can have logos professionally designed for less than $500 bucks.

Next, you need a one sentence version of your elevator speech. Condense your elevator speech to one sentence that will fit on your business card, under your name and contact info. Across the bottom is a good spot.

An elevator speech is what you say to someone who asks "What do you do?" in an elevator going down from the 25th floor.

For some tips about crafting an elevator speech, send a blank eMail to elevator@BIGIdeasGroup.com.

Your name, contact information and shortened elevator speech (let's call it a selling sentence) are more important than any other elements of your business card. More important than paper stock (always use a high gloss card stock), colors (0nly in a photo or logo) or fonts (easy to read). Cards DO get passed around.

If someone who has never met you is given your card, they must be able to determine who you are and how you can help them. "Joe Jones, Plumber" might work, but it doesn't convey what you can do for them. "Joe Jones, I show up on time, smell good and fix your leak, guaranteed", says a whole lot more. Now your business card is selling YOU.

For more about business cards, get my article "What Does Your Business Card Say?" BizCardSay@BigIdeasGroup.com

©2005 BIG Mike McDaniel, Professional Speaker and Former Major Market TV News Anchor. The BIG Ideas Group helps small business grow with mastermind groups, seminars and sales training. MailTo:Mike@BIGIdeasGroup.com

http://BIGIdeasGroup.com

Subscribe to "BIG Mike's BIG Ideas" Newsletter subscribe-956603364@ezinedirector.net

---

Getting the Most Out of Your Networking Group

Here is my personal list of things to do at... Read More

Localized Advertising ? Door-to-Door Ad Distribution on the Fly!

Have you ever had to distribute door-hanger advertisements for your... Read More

Bad Seduction - Advertising Techniques That Dont Work

I just read some advertising suggestions on an Internet marketing... Read More

Advertising Through Moms

Moms have a very powerful influence on what their families... Read More

Whats The Frequency?

The more things change, some say, the more things stay... Read More

Advertising In The Local Press

There are three main reasons why I would hesitate when... Read More

Creating a Winning Logo

Creating a logo to get you noticed.When you're branding a... Read More

Media Savvy ? Media Skills For Rural Women

The ability to lead, persuade and influence are integral skills... Read More

Ten Ways To Sell Advertising Space Fast

1. Give your customers a discount when they spend over... Read More

How To Tell If An Advertisement Costs Too Much

People say it all the time: "This advertising costs too... Read More

Small Business Image

The single easiest way to increase sales is to look... Read More

Push vs Pull Advertising

Push vs. Pull Advertising - Understand the Consequences for your... Read More

How To Write Kick-Ass, Profit Pulling Adverts For Your Business?

Doesn't that just grab you by the eyeballs and make... Read More

Online Advertising: 10 High Impact Psychological Triggers To Super-Charge Your Ad

If you knew these 10 high impact insider's hidden psychological... Read More

Dont Put All Your Eggs in The Same Basket

Solution: You can protect yourself by partnering with other lead... Read More

How Do People Know Youre in Business?

One of the most important things to do now that... Read More

Humor in Advertising

Many of the most memorable ad campaigns around tend to... Read More

Get Free Radio Advertisement

Here's a neat trick to get lots of radio advertisement... Read More

Successful Print Advertising Designs

Do you often see print advertisements outdoors, as much as... Read More

The Art Of Fear Free Advertising

Is fear of failure an issue when you commit valuable... Read More

Classified Ads That Get Results

Classified ads do not have the big market appeal that... Read More

Creativity and Getting Outside of the Box

Sitting in front of a blank piece of paper? Wondering... Read More

Offline Advertising Tips

Since most of us are always online and our business... Read More

Understanding Internet Banner Advertising

Banner advertising is an effective way of getting your advertising... Read More

When Advertising Wears Out

One of the challenges facing marketers is determining the most... Read More

The Internet and Beyond - 12 Tips on Writing Better Brochures

Every year thousands of online businesses fail. None of them... Read More

Advertising 101

Advertising has truly become a part of all of our... Read More

Printing - How Do I Buy It?

Why should I care where I get my printed material... Read More

Joint Ventures Increase Profits Quickly

A joint venture is when two or more businesses join... Read More

Juice - Scam of the Decade or Opportunity of the Century

If you are an ardent web surfer and MLMer like... Read More

Advertising Costs Getting Too High?

Everyone knows that advertising is essential to growing a business.... Read More

How To Create A Better Brochure

Having a quality brochure makes a positive impression on a... Read More

Testimonials Convert Prospects Into Buyers

Big businesses get instant credibility with their well-known company name... Read More