Design and Print

Business cards can be great marketing tools but only if you take the time to hand them out. Here are some ideas for getting your cards into the hands of the public without spending an extra penny.

Keep Cards at Hand
Before you can give business cards to people, you need to have them readily available. Keep stacks at your desk, your reception area, in your car, and in your wallet. And remember to replenish your supply as soon as it’s getting low. 

Give Cards to Current Customers
Have your receptionist hand out business cards to people as they come in. You can also send business cards in your newsletters and promotional fliers. Also, if you mail packages to customers, you can send business cards with each one. Even though these people already know about your business, it’s good to give them a card that they can keep in their wallet or on their refrigerator so they think of you when they need your type of service or product.

Hand Them Out to Those with Similar Interests
Hand business cards out to people you can easily start up a conversation with because you have something in common. For instance, you can give cards to people at your kids’ little league games or school functions. Other places might be at aerobics class or high school football games. One way to bring up the subject of your business is to ask the other person what kind of work she does, and then ask for her card. Then it’s natural for you to talk about your business, and the other person might even ask you for your card.

Give Cards to Everyone You do Business With
You never know who might need your services. So, send business cards in the mail along with your bill payments. Hand cards out to the receptionists at doctors’ offices. You can also give them to clerks at the super market. Other small business owners are also great people to give cards to.

Put Cards on Public Bulletin Boards
Schools, libraries, and chambers of commerce usually have public bulletin boards that you could thumbtack a few cards to. You can also look for bulletin boards at local businesses and laundromats. Since you’re using everyone else’s bulletin boards, it’s a good idea to have a board of your own for others to put their cards and fliers on too.

Exchange Cards with Other Local Business Owners
Ask other business owners if they will keep a stack of your cards on their counter somewhere, and in exchange, offer to keep a stack of their cards at your place. Just make sure that their customers are those who are likely to need your services and products so that your business cards don’t end up just gathering dust.

Distributing your business cards can be fun and it’s really very simple. Just remember to know ahead of time what it is you want to say whenever you hand out your card so that you don’t find yourself tongue tied and lose the opportunity for a sales pitch.