22 Business Card Secrets

On the Back

Print a team's sports schedual on the back. Fans will keep them handy and keep your business details close
Print a special discount offer on the back. People will keep it because they intend to make use of the offer.
If you run seminars, print key principals on the back. Your attendees will refer to them later and think of you.
Hand write your 'unlisted' number on the back. This adds value to your card, encouraging people to keep it longer. They don't want to lose that 'special' number.

Make the business card the ad specialty: Print your company information on letter openers, CD openers, magnets, pens, highlighters, keychains, mousepads, mugs, luggage tags, and other items that people will keep because they are useful.
Attach a business card to an ad specialty: For example, give business card holders as a thank you gift and place your business card in as the first one. Or, have your card designed as a Rolodex card.
If you routinely give out seasonal gifts or specialties, attach your business card. Examples: candy canes at Christmas, heart shaped containers filled with candy for Valentine's Day, or even a sandwich bag of candy with a card stapled to it.

Tuck them into the product before delivery: If you are a florist, cut a hole in it and tie a ribbon around the flowers and through the business card. If you sell gift baskets, tuck one inside the basket before delivering it to your customer. You've seen how some restaurants staple a menu to their bags for takeaway; if you use bags, staple your card to the outside of the bag.
Send a business card in every piece of correspondence- letters, invoices, even your electric bill. Sooner or later, those cards will be used.
When mailing out information: Take a number 10 envelope, facing you and upside down. Fold the envelope in thirds. When you turn it around, there is a littlepocket to tuck your card in. Include it in the mailing. Using a colored envelope makes the presentation even more dramatic.
Scan your card in and use it as a graphic for when you exchange links with other websites. The other site can use your graphic as the link.
Place them in library books as if you used them as bookmarks. Visit book stores, place them in books related to your business.

Use them as bookmarks so you'll always have some readily available if you meet someone at school, in the library, on the bus, or at the park where you like to read.
Have your spouse, family, and friends carry some of your cards with them in case they meet someone who might be interested in your product or service.
Wear them! Use them as nametags at meetings and conferences instead of the "Hello, my name is..." type of tags.
Keep a stack of cards everywhere you might need them- in your car, your jacket pocket, your briefcase, your purse or wallet, in your planner, at home, anywhere you can think of. Then you'll always have some on hand when you meet a prospect.

Give them out during your personal meetings when you meet someone new: at your church, your children's soccer games, at lunch with your friends when someone brings a guest. To be more polite, you could have a personal "calling card" printed up with your information to use in these situations.
Ask neighborhood businesses if you may display your cards near their registers.
Tack them to bulletin boards at supermarkets, restaurants, retail stores and the library - any place that has a bulletin board.
Give out two cards at a time - one for your prospector client, and one for her/him to give away.
Place some on the table when you leave a restaurant.
Agree to mail the cards of other business people in the mailings you do, if they will do the same for you. Your networking circle will grow as your cards are passed around.