5 Top Tips for Business Cards #3
What To Say On Your Business Card
So far, we’ve looked at size and layout options and how to make the most of your business card from that perspective. The next step is ….. what to say on your business card!
We’ve established that what’s important is helping your prospective client buy from you and we do that by telling them what we sell, or by giving them a little taster of what we specialise in, to whet the appetite, so to speak.
We all have competition and although I’m no strategist, it seems to me that specialising in your industry gives you the opportunity to become the ‘go to’ company for that particular product, service or niche. So ….. why not take the opportunity to tell people, on your business card?
The Opportunity To Make Your Business Card More Effective
I do a lot of networking, I know a lot of people and we’ve printed thousands upon thousands of business cards but it still surprises me how often I see generic business cards being handed out.
I often see people I know, people who are very good at what they do and who specialise in a certain field within their industry, give out generic business cards, hoping that the crystal ball that everyone has (they do, don’t they???) will magically make it all clear to their prospects!!
Who was it that said, never assume anything? (Actually, I just did – ha ha)
If you’re not sure what to say on your business card, don’t succumb to being generic. Whilst it can work for corporates with a very strong, very well known brand, it doesn’t work for the smaller business, so, seize the opportunity to make your business cards more effective.
Make It Easy For Your Prospects
Recently, at one particularly popular network I attend, there were 5 (yes 5!) financial advisors in the room.
They all stood up and did very different 60 second presentations that succeeded in showing how different they were and how each of them specialised in different areas of the financial world ….. but their cards certainly didn’t say that (what a missed opportunity)!
This is one example of a business card that makes it easy. Yes, it is mine ….. but it does show that I practice what I preach when it comes to what to say on your business card: It tells you a bit about what we do so that our prospects have some idea of how we may be able to help.
Isn’t that far better than the confusing scenario that would face anyone who may have had an interest or requirement for one of the financial advisors I mentioned before?
Once the meeting’s passed and they’re collecting their thoughts, how are they to remember the subtle differences and which of the 5 advisers it was that said the right things for them?
Generic business cards, certainly, don’t make it easy.
You might prefer this kind of approach. It’s direct, to the point, simple and very effective.
I like them both because it’s very clear what we print.
Although how you say what you have to say, does make a difference, at the end of the day, if you’re not sure about the best way to put it across, just keep it simple, as in these examples, but make sure that you say it.
For instance, I know that if someone were to pass on one of these business cards to someone else, that someone else will know, exactly, how I may be of service to them from my business card.
In addition to having the right information, the business cards look professional and they keep everything simple.
- They’re not cluttered.
- There aren’t any big, blank empty spaces and,
- Although they may be a little more expensive, we’ve given ourselves a far greater chance to get what we do – our service and products – across to any prospective new client.
And isn’t that what it’s all about?
Making sure that, when you’re not with a prospect and all they have to fall back on is your business card, it provides them with the relevant information at the right time.
The time that they’re most likely to give you a call.
Fiona Farley
If You Don’t Tell, You Won’t Sell