Open Thread: Do You Have Business Cards?
Posted April 6, 2009 in Marketing, Open Thread 68 Comments »
Business cards are a tried-and-true method of promoting a business — they have been used for decades by companies large and small to drum up new clients through word of mouth and local networking events. They are often considered to be one of the first requirements of starting a new business.
But, the situation is a bit different for freelancers. A lot of freelancers work primarily online, rarely ever visiting a local or in-person event, making business cards seem a lot less useful. Why go through the trouble if you’ll never be handing them out?
For many online freelancers, though, the cost of business cards is easily worth it, if only for the ability to give them to family and friends. Other freelancers swear that business cards are incredibly useful no matter what business you’re in.
So, what about you?
Do you have business cards? If so, how do you use them to get more business?
Are business cards worth having even for freelancers who work mostly online?
Let us know what you think…
About the author: Mason Hipp is an entrepreneur, marketing guru, and writer. He blogs about life and business at FreelanceFolder.com and is co-author of the Book The Unlimited Freelancer. Follow him on twitter @MasonHipp
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68 Comments
Mark
April 6th, 2009 at 11:47 amYes, I have and use business cards. I’m doing a lot of local projects, and the business cards really help. Sometimes I give out a little stack to a client who puts them on their counter of their store (or whatever).
“Who made your website?” > client passes my business card.
They’re cheap to make, and if you get 1 client off your business cards, it’s money well spent.
Ludwik C. Siadlak
April 6th, 2009 at 11:49 amWell, Business Cards are still essential on offline meetings and conferences. Even if you’re used to rewriting all your contacts’ data onto your PDA, it’s smarter to do it later, at home. Name, 2 phone numbers, website and e-mail address – it’s a bit too much if you want to meet 25+ people on one event.
The more important question to me is Do you have twitter URL on your business card? I even did a quick poll on this one a while back: http://twtpoll.com/o3s24v
So, yes – I do have business cards. :-)
Cheers
Ludwik
–
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/ludwikc
Max
April 6th, 2009 at 11:50 amI still got some older business cards, but can’t give them away anymore because I moved into another office last year and so the information is outdated particularly.
However, I already considered creating some new soon – I often make promising contacts when I expect it least and so they are definitely still useful in my opinion, even though probably not as useful as in other branches.
Christ
April 6th, 2009 at 11:54 amI am in the same boat as Mark. I hand them out to clients to give out. I get a lot of inquiries this way, and they have more than paid for themselves.
Kim
April 6th, 2009 at 12:01 pmI’ve ordered 500 business cards, which’ll come tomorrow. As to how effective they are, well, we’ll see. They’re really pretty cheap to print, so there’s no harm in trying.
Dave Joyce
April 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pmI rarely get a local client. Most are non-local and we communicate over email and chat. I have business cards, but rarely use them. The only time I like to have them is when I’m at a conference. But I don’t go to conferences very often.
So, no, I don’t think they’ve done a lick of good for me at this point.
Rebecca
April 6th, 2009 at 12:20 pmI have and use business cards often. I go to a weekly marketing/networking lunch so business cards are essential for that, but I also give them to friends and family to pass along as well as to certain clients. For example, one of my newer clients has a retail location and they agreed to have a stack of my cards out as many of their customers were asking who did their website.
Business Card Designer
April 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pmSure do . And I get compliments on them all the time. I found a fantastic printer with a fast turnaround and great rates.
Yes I’m happy with my business cards!!
http://www.lifeimitatingdesign.com/lid/business-cards/
Paul Ehrenreich
April 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pmI have business cards for my “day job” however I been thinking about making up some for when I start freelancing.
mayhemstudios
April 6th, 2009 at 1:29 pmEven if all your clients are online, still a good idea to have business cards. It’s so cheap to have cards printed now.
I carry business cards everywhere I go. You never who you might meet while you’re out and about, at the bank or in line at the store. Give cards to friends, family and anyone you might know. Have them pass your card to anyone that may need your services.
Creative Drive
April 6th, 2009 at 1:38 pmI agree with mayhemstudios. Every where I go I leave some behind. I hand them out to anyone who can help or is willing to take them. Sometimes you get jobs from the weirdest places.
Christian
April 6th, 2009 at 1:46 pmI think Business cards are a must have. They are so cheap to get from these online printers that even just ONE new job or client will pay for 1000 cards.
BC’s also are a good tool to give a sample of your design abilities or business qualifications.
I am also seeing trend where designer are creating “more info” cards – a card that simply leaves the holder wanting more. A call to action or website is all that is needed to get someone to take a look at your portfolio or website.
Check out my posting on More Info Cards: http://printedproof.com/printing/dont-hand-them-a-business-card-hand-them-a-for-more-info-card/
Rahul
April 6th, 2009 at 1:46 pmI agree with @mayhemstudios. You never know who you might bump into anywhere. And you might just end up getting the project that you are longing for so long. Business cards is certainly a yes yes for me.
Brent Anderson
April 6th, 2009 at 1:46 pmI have and use my business cards as often as I can. My cards are very custom and cost a lot more than most but they make a big impact. I want every card I hand out to stay with that person or passed along to someone else so presentation is big deal to me.
As mentioned by others I always carry them with me so I never miss any opportunities.
Totonowe
April 6th, 2009 at 2:19 pmYes to business cards! It costs peanuts and saves lots of embarrassment when you wish you had one and you do not (that does not look professional at all). I always keep some in my wallet, some in the laptop bag and when I travel (even for holidays) I take some more just in case.
thenumber
April 6th, 2009 at 2:21 pmAbsolutely… They’re cheap promo, and as mentioned above, it’s great when your clients pass them on to referrals for you. It’s important to make sure that your card communicates what you do and why they should hire you over your competition (seems obvious, but I have some business cards from people I met where I have no idea what they do!). You may not always be handing it to them in person to explain, and if you are, you can’t always rely in them remembering a week later when they look at the card again.
Kristina
April 6th, 2009 at 2:28 pmWhen you can get business cards so cheaply, it seems foolish not to have them. Even if you only give out a few a month – it makes you seem so much more professional having them.
Colin Wright
April 6th, 2009 at 2:30 pmMy business cards have been an integral part of my business’ growth.
I went with very high quality and sustainable materials (220 lb., post-consumer-waste paper, letterpressed with vegetable oil ink), since that fits my market (high-end, generally sustainable or organic products and industries).
I designed my card to be very sparse and elegant. I didn’t want to overdo it, since my design sensibility is fairly minimalistic and geared toward the beauty of functionality rather than overwhelming ‘trendy’ graphics.
Every time a hand a card to someone, they comment on the weight of it, the texture of it, or the elegance of it, which is fantastic because that’s exactly what I was going for (nice when things work the way you planned!). This is usually a good opening for me to tell them about the materials and what I do, which has led to a lot of work. The extra expense for the high quality printing and materials has more than paid off.
You can see my business card here: http://colinismy.name/images/bc.jpg
Maria Zannini
April 6th, 2009 at 2:38 pmI keep a couple of sets of business cards depending on whether I am promoting my freelance work or my novel. I use them constantly, especially when I’m “shopping” or looking for more information. When I hand out a business card I also write something on it (usually my cell #) and hand it to them.
I think it makes them more likely to hang on to the business card if you write something on it. It can be a phone number, a quote or something we discussed.
Also the most popular bc by far is the card for my novel because I used the cover art as the background.
Andrew Maxwell
April 6th, 2009 at 4:37 pmI use business cards nearly once a week. I keep business cards with me at all times; in my car, in my fiances car, in my wallet and in her purse. There has been numerous times that I have talked to someone and a website gets mentioned and BAM! instant connection, and my business card is a perfect way to get someone interested in my work on the go.
Addicott Web
April 6th, 2009 at 4:49 pmAbsolutely – business cards are a must! Carry them with you wherever you go, because you never know who you’re going to meet who could be a potential client, or who might know someone who knows someone who would hire you.
I actually just ordered new ones 2 weeks ago and am expecting them tomorrow. UPrinting.com was running a free promotion for creative-types, where they were giving away 1,000 glossy, double-sided business cards for free (well, I had to pay the cost of the shipping – but almost free). So they’ll be a nice upgrade from the pretty generic looking ones I first got 2 years ago!
D.
April 6th, 2009 at 5:04 pmYes, I have cards. Quite a few of the jobs I pick up are by word of mouth, and if I have people willing to pass out business cards for me, I’ll happily give them cards. Plus I think it gives it a little more of a professional touch. It costs me about $20 for 100 cards, and that’s definitely worth it.
'Mas
April 6th, 2009 at 5:32 pmHave ‘em & give ‘em out fairly regularly. Much of our business is fairly local and aside from word-of-mouth, our business cards constitutes our major “print” advertising. :)
Bob McDonnell
April 6th, 2009 at 5:48 pmI agree. Business cards are alive and well. When I go to a Chamber of Comm. event, I swap them with other people. It is just part of top of the mind awareness.
Today’s cards should have your web site/blog and even your Facebook or Linked account.
Tim
April 6th, 2009 at 5:49 pmWe give these out instead to our customers.
http://www.assaultshirts.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/g/u/guitar_pick_assault_anarchy_1.jpg
There’s not even any contact info on them (We may change that)
The pick is memorable, google the name, there we are. So far it’s paid off.
rcarmstrong
April 6th, 2009 at 6:01 pmI’m squarely in the “yes” camp of this discussion. They’re the perfect on-the-go leave-behind. I keep some at hand at all times– in my wallet, my bag, and it also just recently dawned on me that I could use the pocket in the back of my Moleskine for something other than storing the little pamphlet that comes with it.
Troy Peterson
April 6th, 2009 at 6:18 pmI do!
But, nobody wants them.
Most of my business is through referrals, so they contact me first and already have my information…. Which is a good thing, but I spent pretty good money on those damn cards! :)
Barkingdog
April 6th, 2009 at 10:03 pmI use flickr Moo cards as biz cards. They r unique cause of their size.
Sean
April 6th, 2009 at 10:07 pmOf course I have business cards. I try to attend local events and pass them out that way, but not in such a way that I’m spamming people. Additionally I have given out cards to friends who then pass my cards out to people they know/meet looking for a web site.
One other thing I do is when I complete a client site is I send a bunch of cards in the post along with a thank you note for their business asking them to distribute the cards as they see fit.
Jay Kerr
April 6th, 2009 at 10:16 pmI haven’t updated my business cards in a few years. All of my work comes from referrals and I find that people never ask for business cards when I first meet them anyway.
I tend to think that the business cards are really for me. Most of my clients don’t care about business cards at all.
Craig
April 7th, 2009 at 9:36 amI intend to order some from VistaPrint. I have saved a design. I’m just trying to come up with a tagline. It isn’t easy to come up with something memorable and not cheesy that describes what one does.
Nikki Selene Lamagna
April 7th, 2009 at 9:47 amYou know, for as much work as we do online, I still find the business card absolutely invaluable. Whenever I send out an invoice through snail-mail, I throw a few in the envelope. Or, at the end of the project when I mail a disc of the project files to the client, I again throw a few in. It’s an easy way for clients to pass around your name. And, as Mark stated, I leave them with any businesses that I’ve done projects for so they can put them on the counter. I’ve had a number of referrals from that type of situation.
Plus, there’s something to say seeing your name/company on a printed piece of material that says to others that you are established.
Melek
April 7th, 2009 at 9:48 amYes, have business cards on hand always! I keep them in my purse bc you never know when you’re going to run into someone who wants one. If you’re going to do any in-person networking, it’s imperative you have some to hand out. You can get them printed so cheaply via online printers (ie – VistaPrint.com) that it’s silly not to.
Brandon Rubenstein
April 7th, 2009 at 9:52 amI use both online and paper business cards.
My online business card, which is accessible at the URL I provided as my website. It has all of my traditional contact information, as well as my social media contact information (Twitter name, blogs, etc.). I also have a page on my personal website that links to all of my social media profiles — personal and professional. Since the majority of my business is conducted online, I attach my online bc’s URL to every email I send out…even to family. This way, the information is out there and easily shareable, just like a paper business card.
I also have paper business cards, branded with my WebYourCamp.com logo. I distributed them at a recent trade show (a camp conference) that I attended and at which I presented on a topic related to the services I provide. I also distributed them with other industry professionals I met at various events throughout the conference. The key is to take advantage of opportunities to interact with others in and out of your line of work — an activity that this excellent blog has addressed in several posts!
Anne
April 7th, 2009 at 9:57 amI always carry business cards with me. For me, b.cards are an essential marketing tool, especially with local clients.
Catherine Cantieri, Sorted
April 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pmOh, totally! Basically, a business card is a way to save yourself from having to spell your name, rattle off your phone number, and hope that the person you’re talking to will remember the punctuation of your URL. All that for pennies a card. What a bargain!
Craig
April 7th, 2009 at 1:58 pm@Bob McDonnell – I had not thought of listing my LinkedIn account on my cards. Thank you.
Bodek
April 7th, 2009 at 4:20 pmOf course, YES! I have a lot of my own business card. Some of them are from online printers, some are my own designs. I also collect a business cards. Sound strange? Maybe, but I like look at cards – sometimes they are a huge pieces of art. Want you see? Look here: http://www.bodekm.prv.pl
P.S. If you have any unwanted cards – send them to me!
JB Design and Photo
April 7th, 2009 at 4:21 pmI find that business cards are absolutely essential. You never know when you’ll be out and about and need to give someone your contact information. Even if its an unrelated side job or project, it always helps to pass out your cards and you never know who else will find you because of it.
I find that it also helps to bring a bunch of cards when eating out because many restaurants have a drop box or bulletin board to put your cards and its free advertising!!
Karen Swim
April 7th, 2009 at 7:03 pmGreat question! I don’t attend many conferences and do no local networking either but still believe business cards are one of the cheapest and underused forms of advertising. You do not have to be in a business environment to hand someone a card. You can send them in note cards to clients and prospects, give them to the person you chat with in line at the grocery store, leave them with a business and invite them to call you for questions in your area of expertise. So, yes, we should not overlook the power of the card and remember that every encounter is an opportunity to share your solutions with others.
Nicole Foster
April 7th, 2009 at 10:43 pmSadly, I have not had the time or the money to print out business cards: I plan to soon though.
I have many connections with my town through my mother and father and with that, I would be able to put many business cards throughout the town in different stores and attract local clients. I value local clients and hope with business cards, I can get more from my town.
Business cards are powerful and I hope I can print some up soon and I would recommend anybody making business cards for their company/services.
Alexander Langer
April 7th, 2009 at 11:02 pmI started out with local projects and I am now getting more and more work online. I still consider business cards as a must though. I pass them around whenever I can and I definately don’t buy the cheapest I can get. A business card is part of my business.
Sometimes it’s the first and only thing someone will see from me and it may play a role being somewhat attracted by my card if he looks me up on the web or gives me a call or not.
Also there’s local meetings, user groups, fairs, you-name-it and of course gigs and pitches where business cards are a useful tool to have and share.
Surely doesn’t hurt that mine stick out a bit. The green is REALLY cool: http://www.alexander-langer.de/2008-12-01/gruen-gruen-gruen-sind-alle-meine-karten.html
Kirsten McKinney
April 8th, 2009 at 1:38 pmYes – business cards are a must. I keep them on me at all times. The small businesses and nonprofits that I work for like to return a favor by offering to display or give out my cards – it’s a low cost bargaining chip.
I also use them for identification purposes. If I need to send a CD to a printer, I attached a card on the case. I glue them to the back of presentation boards that I leave with clients, and I staple them to any invoices I snail mail out.
Gotta have’m.
Adam Pieniazek
April 8th, 2009 at 3:23 pmYes!
I carry business cards everywhere I go and have gotten business via them. When I’m walking around Boston I’ll overhear people talking about blogs/writing or the web in general I’ll politely interrupt them and introduce myself and hand them a business card.
Part of my base is people who are not online and want to be, so business cards are a great way to give them my contact info in a handy format. They’re so cheap that it’s worth buying a few, you never know who will ask for anyone and you could lose a great client just because you didn’t spend $30-$40 on a stack of cards.
Cody Jensen
April 9th, 2009 at 6:59 pmMy work was sparse and slow until I got business cards. My work has increased 95%
Jeremy
April 10th, 2009 at 12:47 amI personally don’t use them much at all, in fact I have a box of about 950 left out of 1000 that I ordered a little under a year ago. Most of my business is conducted online and via telephone, face to face meetings are few and far between.
However I think it is definitely a good idea to fork over a bit of cash to get yourself some decent business cards printed rather than get caught in the situation where you wish you had. The way I look at it is one of those cards in the right hands could potential pay for the whole stack and then some.
alexandra
April 10th, 2009 at 1:42 pmi still use business cards for image and branding purposes. i run a photography company and getting the word out using this method is something rather than nothing. however, i feel that it is definitely a method that may be losing the steam it once had. cards with a simple twitter id tag or with your social media profiles seem to be much more effective in driving folks to the site you wish to promote.. curiousity marketing ;)
Alexander Langer
April 10th, 2009 at 1:46 pmYeah, but make sure the one you pass a Twitter ID card know what Twitter is and use it already.
Karen Swim
April 13th, 2009 at 10:27 am@Alexander, I completely agree with your observation about cards that have nothing more than a twitter id. For those of us who are long term users of social media, we forget that the majority of the population does not use these tools. Not all of your customers or prospects are on Facebook or Twitter. We need to lower the barrier to entry for customers to contact us. I have heard many complaints from the consumer side of wanting to do business with someone and then becoming frustrated by not being able to easily contact them. I have even gotten calls and new customers simply because my competition did not have a phone number on their site. We should be mindful that trendy may be eye catching but can ultimately lose you business if you don’t think like your customers.
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June 15th, 2009 at 9:34 amExactly business cards are must.We can get new client by circulatng these card……….a chain process………..everyone will know about our business also.
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