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Hub You - 50 Surefire Business Card Tips
Sunday: Your Daily Yellow Page Ad Review
Sorry to be bugging you on your day off, but after you’ve been to church, had lunch with the family or been out golfing, return with me to your den and take a moment to look at your ad. In review, until now, I’ve had you create a more effective headline, sub-head, photo, body text, and made you consider your ad size, placement, and type of customer you are targeting. So, what could possibly be so important that I would bother you on a Sunday afternoon? Well, it’s just this very important thing you have to do to measure your ad if you don’t want to waste your money. It’s called tracking.Even if all the elements are in place, you have to know if the ad is getting you the results you hoped for. This is especially crucial if you have other forms of advertising. Suppose you have newspaper, direct mail, and Yellow Pages. When the customer calls in, how do you know which of the media is working? Or, if you have several YP ads, which is the one carrying its weight? There are many ways to track the results, beginning with the ad itself. You could place a special phone number in the ad that isn’t listed anywhere else. When that line rings, it’s from a specific ad. Or place a line of copy that says, “Ask for Fred for a discount.” In another ad, it says, “Ask for Bob.”If the ad is already in the book, jot down every page number with t
ial offers, checklists, schedules, etc.Sorry to be bugging you on your day off, but after you’ve been to church, had lunch with the family or been out golfing, return with me to your den and take a moment to look at your ad. In review, until now, I’ve had you create a more effective headline, sub-head, photo, body text, and made you consider your ad size, placement, and type of customer you are targeting. So, what could possibly be so important that I would bother you on a Sunday afternoon? Well, it’s just this very important thing you have to do to measure your ad if you don’t want to waste your money. It’s called tracking.Even if all the elements are in place, you have to know if the ad is getting you the results you hoped for. This is especially crucial if you have other forms of advertising. Suppose you have newspaper, direct mail, and Yellow Pages. When the customer calls in, how do you know which of the media is working? Or, if you have several YP ads, which is the one carrying its weight? There are many ways to track the results, beginning with the ad itself. You could place a special phone number in the ad that isn’t listed anywhere else. When that line rings, it’s from a specific ad. Or place a line of copy that says, “Ask for Fred for a discount.” In another ad, it says, “Ask for Bob.”If the ad is already in the book, jot down every page number with t
5 Keys to Choosing Plate Rolls
Unfortunately, many buyers end up purchasing equipment that lacks the capability and flexibility to meet production volumes and tolerances, simply because they don't understand all available options and considerations.Between diminishing factory orders and increasing labor and energy costs, companies that use plate metal in their fabricating processes are finding their profit margins increasingly pinched.Yet, manufacturers must still invest in new production equipment -- whether to replace obsolete equipment or to take advantage of new business opportunities -- in order to remain competitive.Manufacturers must make careful assessments when evaluating the addition of new plate-rolling equipment. Debt capital is still available to purchase new machinery, but paying back the loan will not yield a satisfactory return on investment unless the equipment adds value to the production.In an effort to help manufacturers optimize plate rolling operations, 5 key considerations are offered in order to choose a proper plate bending machine.1. Work with an equipment dealer that is willing to discuss your specific plate-rolling needsCustomers must know the correct questions to ask, in order to get the correct answers. Each manufacturer faces unique challenges, and through systematic querying an astute sales repr
Business cards are one of the most powerful and inexpensive marketing tools you can use. Here are 50 surefire tips to make the most out of your business cards:Unfortunately, many buyers end up purchasing equipment that lacks the capability and flexibility to meet production volumes and tolerances, simply because they don't understand all available options and considerations.Between diminishing factory orders and increasing labor and energy costs, companies that use plate metal in their fabricating processes are finding their profit margins increasingly pinched.Yet, manufacturers must still invest in new production equipment -- whether to replace obsolete equipment or to take advantage of new business opportunities -- in order to remain competitive.Manufacturers must make careful assessments when evaluating the addition of new plate-rolling equipment. Debt capital is still available to purchase new machinery, but paying back the loan will not yield a satisfactory return on investment unless the equipment adds value to the production.In an effort to help manufacturers optimize plate rolling operations, 5 key considerations are offered in order to choose a proper plate bending machine.1. Work with an equipment dealer that is willing to discuss your specific plate-rolling needsCustomers must know the correct questions to ask, in order to get the correct answers. Each manufacturer faces unique challenges, and through systematic querying an astute sales repr
- Your business card must communicate more than just your contact information. Make sure that your card includes a tag line that explains what you or your company do.
- Order them in large numbers. By ordering 1000 your cost per card will be significantly lower than if you ordered 500.
- Even if you can produce your business cards at home using an inkjet printer, have your business cards professionally made by a printing company. Your business card will be the first impression your prospects receive of your business, so let them convey the best possible one.
- Avoid using standard clip art as your business logo. A logo brings credibility and brand awareness, so before you invest in business cards have a logo professionally made for your business. Nowadays, there are online companies that can produce a professional logo for as little as $25, so there is no excuse for not having one made.
- Put up a website and use the URL in your business cards. If you don't have a website, people will notice the absence of a web address in your business card and, depending on the business you are in, it may make you lose credibility.
- Keep all the information in your business card current. If you changed address or phone number, don't scratch the old number and write down the new one by hand; get new business cards.
- Keep your business card simple. Don't use too many fonts or try to cram too much information in it. Try to use a pleasant layout and make sure that your main message (your tagline or your unique selling proposition) doesn't get lost.
- If you live in the US, limit your business card size to 3.5" x 2". Anything bigger will not fit in standard card holders and your card may end up in the trash. Business cards in Europe tend to be larger, but so are the wallets and card holders.
- Make sure that your business card reflects your image. If you are an artist or a graphic designer, it is OK to use trendy colors and fonts. If you are an investment banker, a sober layout and colors such as blue or gray work better.
- Your business card is an integral part of your brand or corporate identity strategy. It should follow the same graphics standards as the rest of your communications material (stationary, brochures, letterheads, etc.).
- Find a way to make your business cards stand out. I've seen business cards with one of its corners cut in an angle, or with an interesting texture, all of which makes your business card stand out of the crowd. The best one I've seen is from an interior designer, who used a hologram to show a room before and after a redesign.
- Make your business card easy to read: use high contrast between the background and the type. Light background with dark type works better.
- After your logo, your name should be the largest piece of information on your card.
- Make sure that all the information on your card is printed in a large enough typeface to be easily readable.
- Run your business card copy through a spell checker and double-check your contact information.
- Keep your business cards with you at all times. Keep a stack in your car, in your house, in your office, and in your wallet.
- Leave your business cards in billboards at supermarkets, schools, stores, libraries, etc. v
- When giving away your card, give two or three at a time, so that your contacts can in turn distribute them to other people. This will not only help you distribute them faster, but will generate a beneficial "endorsing effect".
- Include a business card with all your correspondence. People may throw away the letter, but will usually keep the business card.v
- Make your business card go the extra mile: use the back of the card to print more information: special offers, checklists, schedules, etc.
- Throw in a business card in every product you ship.v
- Send a business card with any gift you send, instead of just a card with your name.
- Scan your card and use it as an attachment to emails.
- Use your business cards as name tags. Get a transparent plastic cover with a pin, and attach it to your lapel. Wearing it on your right side tends to make it more noticeable.
- Use your business card as a name tag on your briefcase. Make sure that your company logo and tagline are visible. This way, your business card will turn into a "conversation piece" during plane rides, which may help you meet interesting people and good business contacts.
- Use your business card as an ad: many publications offer "business card size" classified ads. If you design your business card properly, it can double up as an ad in those publications.
- Don't give your business card too quickly. It may be perceived as puWhy Would any Business Skip Yellow Page Advertisingprofessional logo for as little as $25, so there is no excuse for not having one made.
Did you know there are some businesses who should not advertise in the Yellow Pages or if they do then they need to do so in a very limited way? It is true and surely if you are in a small or medium sized business then you know the value that Yellow Page Advertising can be. In our company, I forbid my franchisees from advertising in the yellow pages.Why would a franchising company do that you ask? After all, franchise companies make a percentage off the sales of their franchisees and so the more money they make they more the Franchisor makes right? Yes, this is true, however we had another reason. Our reasoning was due to the fact they had to stay on customized clustered routes to stay efficient, as our franchisees were in the business of mobile truck and car washing. (Carwashguys.com).When our franchisees advertised in the Phone Book, well those calls use to come from all over the place, due to the circulations of the phone books. And our franchisees would try to cram in additional customers across town who called in. This would cause them to go out of their way, get off scheduled routes and cause them to actually burn up more fuel, labor costs during travel and therefore they would actually make less money in the end.Of course for our fleet truck washing servic - Put up a website and use the URL in your business cards. If you don't have a website, people will notice the absence of a web address in your business card and, depending on the business you are in, it may make you lose credibility.
- Keep all the information in your business card current. If you changed address or phone number, don't scratch the old number and write down the new one by hand; get new business cards.
- Keep your business card simple. Don't use too many fonts or try to cram too much information in it. Try to use a pleasant layout and make sure that your main message (your tagline or your unique selling proposition) doesn't get lost.
- If you live in the US, limit your business card size to 3.5" x 2". Anything bigger will not fit in standard card holders and your card may end up in the trash. Business cards in Europe tend to be larger, but so are the wallets and card holders.
- Make sure that your business card reflects your image. If you are an artist or a graphic designer, it is OK to use trendy colors and fonts. If you are an investment banker, a sober layout and colors such as blue or gray work better.
- Your business card is an integral part of your brand or corporate identity strategy. It should follow the same graphics standards as the rest of your communications material (stationary, brochures, letterheads, etc.).
- Find a way to make your business cards stand out. I've seen business cards with one of its corners cut in an angle, or with an interesting texture, all of which makes your business card stand out of the crowd. The best one I've seen is from an interior designer, who used a hologram to show a room before and after a redesign.
- Make your business card easy to read: use high contrast between the background and the type. Light background with dark type works better.
- After your logo, your name should be the largest piece of information on your card.
- Make sure that all the information on your card is printed in a large enough typeface to be easily readable.
- Run your business card copy through a spell checker and double-check your contact information.
- Keep your business cards with you at all times. Keep a stack in your car, in your house, in your office, and in your wallet.
- Leave your business cards in billboards at supermarkets, schools, stores, libraries, etc. v
- When giving away your card, give two or three at a time, so that your contacts can in turn distribute them to other people. This will not only help you distribute them faster, but will generate a beneficial "endorsing effect".
- Include a business card with all your correspondence. People may throw away the letter, but will usually keep the business card.v
- Make your business card go the extra mile: use the back of the card to print more information: special offers, checklists, schedules, etc.
- Throw in a business card in every product you ship.v
- Send a business card with any gift you send, instead of just a card with your name.
- Scan your card and use it as an attachment to emails.
- Use your business cards as name tags. Get a transparent plastic cover with a pin, and attach it to your lapel. Wearing it on your right side tends to make it more noticeable.
- Use your business card as a name tag on your briefcase. Make sure that your company logo and tagline are visible. This way, your business card will turn into a "conversation piece" during plane rides, which may help you meet interesting people and good business contacts.
- Use your business card as an ad: many publications offer "business card size" classified ads. If you design your business card properly, it can double up as an ad in those publications.
- Don't give your business card too quickly. It may be perceived as p5 Reasons to Use a Professional Registered Agentcard holders.
A registered agent serves on a company’s behalf in receiving legal documents including but not limited to Tax Correspondence, Service of Process, Annual Reports, and other correspondence from regulatory and government agencies. Virtually every state requires that a company list a registered agent with the Secretary of State to ensure that consumers can properly server a claim upon a company.While anyone can serve as a registered agent, there are many benefits that can be had by utilizing a professional registered agent. Five of the most compelling reasons are listed below.Accountability – A professional registered agent provides continuous representation on your company’s behalf. Unlike an internal employee, professional registered agents never terminate employment, go on vacation, or go home early. A professional registered agent will allow you to rest assured that your company’s interests are being looked after at all times.Privacy – Few things can be more disruptive to a professional work environment than the arrival of a Process Server. A professional registered agent shields your employees, clients and customers from the distraction, negative connotations, and potential gossip that can surround Service of Process.Efficiency – Ineffi - Make sure that your business card reflects your image. If you are an artist or a graphic designer, it is OK to use trendy colors and fonts. If you are an investment banker, a sober layout and colors such as blue or gray work better.
- Your business card is an integral part of your brand or corporate identity strategy. It should follow the same graphics standards as the rest of your communications material (stationary, brochures, letterheads, etc.).
- Find a way to make your business cards stand out. I've seen business cards with one of its corners cut in an angle, or with an interesting texture, all of which makes your business card stand out of the crowd. The best one I've seen is from an interior designer, who used a hologram to show a room before and after a redesign.
- Make your business card easy to read: use high contrast between the background and the type. Light background with dark type works better.
- After your logo, your name should be the largest piece of information on your card.
- Make sure that all the information on your card is printed in a large enough typeface to be easily readable.
- Run your business card copy through a spell checker and double-check your contact information.
- Keep your business cards with you at all times. Keep a stack in your car, in your house, in your office, and in your wallet.
- Leave your business cards in billboards at supermarkets, schools, stores, libraries, etc. v
- When giving away your card, give two or three at a time, so that your contacts can in turn distribute them to other people. This will not only help you distribute them faster, but will generate a beneficial "endorsing effect".
- Include a business card with all your correspondence. People may throw away the letter, but will usually keep the business card.v
- Make your business card go the extra mile: use the back of the card to print more information: special offers, checklists, schedules, etc.
- Throw in a business card in every product you ship.v
- Send a business card with any gift you send, instead of just a card with your name.
- Scan your card and use it as an attachment to emails.
- Use your business cards as name tags. Get a transparent plastic cover with a pin, and attach it to your lapel. Wearing it on your right side tends to make it more noticeable.
- Use your business card as a name tag on your briefcase. Make sure that your company logo and tagline are visible. This way, your business card will turn into a "conversation piece" during plane rides, which may help you meet interesting people and good business contacts.
- Use your business card as an ad: many publications offer "business card size" classified ads. If you design your business card properly, it can double up as an ad in those publications.
- Don't give your business card too quickly. It may be perceived as pMarketing With Plastic Business Cardse should be the largest piece of information on your card.
Business cards have been used both as a common form of advertising and as a means of exchanging contact information between business people and the public. More recently, with the introduction and increased popularity of plastic business cards, businesses have discovered a newer, durable and longer lasting way to make a memorable impression.There has been a significant increase in the use of plastic business cards. The once-common business card has now evolved into a visually striking and powerful marketing medium.Plastic business cards also provide a permanence and durability that effectively brand a company’s identity and message in new and exciting ways. The use of color, combined with a variety of clear and tinted formats, allows for a very creative approach to many different types of messaging, branding and image building.A business card that looks and feels like a credit card is perceived as having a high value, increasing the chances that the card will be kept by the customer. It is also more unlikely that the card will be discarded.Value-based offers via plastic cards are especially powerful with this type of marketing. If you receive a professionally designed plastic card by hand or by mail, and the card includes a discount of offer, chances are you will keep it for future use. That is the real power - Make sure that all the information on your card is printed in a large enough typeface to be easily readable.
- Run your business card copy through a spell checker and double-check your contact information.
- Keep your business cards with you at all times. Keep a stack in your car, in your house, in your office, and in your wallet.
- Leave your business cards in billboards at supermarkets, schools, stores, libraries, etc. v
- When giving away your card, give two or three at a time, so that your contacts can in turn distribute them to other people. This will not only help you distribute them faster, but will generate a beneficial "endorsing effect".
- Include a business card with all your correspondence. People may throw away the letter, but will usually keep the business card.v
- Make your business card go the extra mile: use the back of the card to print more information: special offers, checklists, schedules, etc.
- Throw in a business card in every product you ship.v
- Send a business card with any gift you send, instead of just a card with your name.
- Scan your card and use it as an attachment to emails.
- Use your business cards as name tags. Get a transparent plastic cover with a pin, and attach it to your lapel. Wearing it on your right side tends to make it more noticeable.
- Use your business card as a name tag on your briefcase. Make sure that your company logo and tagline are visible. This way, your business card will turn into a "conversation piece" during plane rides, which may help you meet interesting people and good business contacts.
- Use your business card as an ad: many publications offer "business card size" classified ads. If you design your business card properly, it can double up as an ad in those publications.
- Don't give your business card too quickly. It may be perceived as pAdvertising Your Holistic Businessial offers, checklists, schedules, etc.
The most basic answer is the same answer as to the question, how does advertising work? Advertising works through repetition, and Holistic Hometown offers you that repetition.What all successful companies know is that advertising it a process. It’s been stated in marketing files for over 50 years that potential clients, unless they are in need of your services when they initially see your ad, take 5-7 repetitions to recall who you are. What does that mean? Well, if you are only advertising in one source, it could mean you are wasting your time and money.What’s the best way to begin an advertising campaign when the goal is visibility? Find sources that attract your target market AND that you can afford over the longer term (1-3 years) for ongoing products/services and find targets with high repetition for shorter term (1+ months) for events and shorter-term needs.For example, if I am marketing an event and have 2 months to market it, I will use the internet, e-mail marketing, and an ad in a monthly magazine to get the word out quickly. I may even take out two ads if it is a large event. If I am, instead, marketing a product or service which will take ongoing clients, I’ll use the same vehicles, smaller ads, and have them in the magazine ongoing for a year or more.People often ask me if that isn’t expensi - Throw in a business card in every product you ship.v
- Send a business card with any gift you send, instead of just a card with your name.
- Scan your card and use it as an attachment to emails.
- Use your business cards as name tags. Get a transparent plastic cover with a pin, and attach it to your lapel. Wearing it on your right side tends to make it more noticeable.
- Use your business card as a name tag on your briefcase. Make sure that your company logo and tagline are visible. This way, your business card will turn into a "conversation piece" during plane rides, which may help you meet interesting people and good business contacts.
- Use your business card as an ad: many publications offer "business card size" classified ads. If you design your business card properly, it can double up as an ad in those publications.
- Don't give your business card too quickly. It may be perceived as pushy. Try to establish a conversation with your prospect first. For example, ask them what do they do. That will usually prompt them to give you their card. That is the perfect moment to give them yours.
- Don't try to give your card in situations where many people are giving them to your prospect. Wait for a moment when you can capture your prospect's attention span.
- Another tactic you can try when your prospect is overwhelmed and can't pay you enough attention is to send your card by mail. Pretend you ran out of business cards and ask for theirs. Then, mail them your card and take the opportunity to drop a follow up note.
- If you have a mobile phone number or a direct phone number that is not listed in your business card, write it at the back of your card before handing it out, and tell your prospect that you are giving them your direct number. This will make your card more important, and less likely to be lost or thrown out.
- Another way of increasing the chances that your prospect will keep your card is by printing valuable information on the back, for example important phone numbers (local police, hospitals, etc), a calendar, or a football schedule.
- Offer to hand out cards of complementary (non-competitive) business people in exchange for them distributing yours. An example of non-competitive businesses is real estate brokers and mortgage brokers.
- If somebody gives you their business card, you should give them yours in return.
- Always give your business card face up.
- Take a cue from Far East business people, who hand out business cards with both hands. It helps give the impression that your business card is something very important.
- If you conduct business internationally, use the back of your card to print a translated version of your business card in your customers' language. Even if they have no problem reading English, it will be a classy touch and they will appreciate it.
- If you sell different product brands and want to put their logos on your business card, print them in only one color. Using each logo's brand colors could make your business card look chaotic and busy.
- Create a business card in magnet form. Magnets are widely used, to hold important papers on the refrigerator door at home and on file cabinets at work. They are always visible and always get read.
- When receiving somebody else's business card, don't put it away immediately. Instead, keep it in your hand for a while you talk to your prospect, or place it neatly over the table, and try to develop a conversation based on the information on the card.
- Use the back of the cards you receive to write down important facts about the persons who handed them to you. It will help you enormously when you follow up with them.
- If you are in a profession where relationship selling is important, it may be a good idea to include your picture in your business card (i.e. real estate brokers).
- Even if your business is a sole proprietorship, you can still use "account manager" as your title instead of "owner" or "president". If you do sales (and we all do) "account manager" is a perfectly appropriate title, and it will give the impression that you work for a larger company.
- Use logos of organizations that you or your business belong to in your business cards. They are an easy way to provide instant credibility to your business. For example, if you operate a repair shop you can display the logo of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or the Triple A (AAA). (Check with them first about the terms of use).
- If you participate in affiliate programs online, you can still use business cards to promote your affiliate links. Use the name of the affiliate company as the company name, use 'partner' or 'associate' as your title, and the URL of the directory or web page where you have placed your affiliate links as your web address. Just be
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