“Make it simple. Make it memorable.
Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.”
Lee Burnett (Advertising Executive, 1891-1971)
Giving out business cards is crucial to marketing your skills or services. Anyone who is serious about their business should have a professional business card and always be looking for places to hand it out!
Here are some steps to getting them done most professionally, quickly and at the best price.
1) Do some personal research. What are the other investors have on their business cards (or even their websites)? What do you like? What do you not like?
• Your business card is a direct reflection of you and your business. It’s important you like them or you will not feel good about passing them out.
• Create a basic business card layout. If you are not internet or graphic savvy, I list some companies below that offer many examples you can take from. However, you will want to add your own personal touches.
• Keep in mind your niche. Who is your customer? Put on your card what you want people to know about what you can do for them. What problems do you solve?
• Do you want a picture on your card? Of what? Your photo? your logo? A house?
• Do you want to offer a $500 to $1000 referral fee? People will be more likely to keep and pass on your card if you are offering to pay them a referral fee for referrals.
• Research printing companies that regularly focus on printing business cards.
Here are some questions you might want to confirm they will give you what you need:
• What is the turn-around time once the order is placed?
• Can you e-mail me a proof before printing? (this is a must)
• How much do you charge to create a personalized business card design?
• Is there a printing set up fee? If so how much?
• Is there a shipping fee? If so how much?
• Below is an online resources who usually offer 250 free basic style cards or 500 color one –sided color cards for less than $20. (I am not offering any guarantees. However, they have done a good job for me in the past)
• http://www.vistaprint.com
Powerful Tips To Get More Out of Your Business Cards
Business cards speak volumes about who you are, what you offer and how serious you are at marketing your real estate investing as a business. A school bell rings letting kids know class has started. Your business card is your bell announcing it time to get together too. The following are some proven tips using business cards to increase your chances of creating and maintaining more business opportunities.
1. Never leave home without them. Before leaving home, your checklist should be expanded to include business cards, as part of "do I have my wallet/money, house keys, driver's license'" Any 'per chance' meeting is an opportunity to give out a business card. A morning run or a quick trip to the local store could be an opportunity to network in line. Make it a habit to always carry business cards. Give out your card to everyone and their mother!! My kids even have their own supply to pass out. Someone told me they taped their cards inside outhouses when they attend fairs, festivals, concerts and frequently received calls from them. Hey – whatever works!
2. Insert a business card when mailing bill payments. Bills contain advertisements. Why can't you advertise your skills or services the same way? My reasoning for this… A movie, entitled '6 Degrees of Separation' points out that we are 6 people away from knowing someone of influence. Eric Horvitz of M Microsoft Research and Jure Leskovec of Carnegie Mellon University analyzed 30 billion conversations among 240 million people using Microsoft Instant Messenger in June 2006. It turned out that the average path length, or degree of separation, among the anonymous users probed was 6.6. You could be 6 people away from knowing the President of the United Sates, your favorite movie star or someone who is in a position to hire your skills or services. Each of us knows someone, who knows someone (X6.6 on average), who we need to know...
3. Use proper business card etiquette. Whenever you give a business card, ask for a business card. When given a business card, don't just take it and place it in your pocket. Make the person feel important by looking at their card for a few seconds. You might see something that could be a topic of discussion. Write comments on the card such as date, location and common points of interest. These comments will prove valuable when following up with that person. This also demonstrates a sincere interest in the other person. Then place it in your wallet. This lets them know they reside in a special place with you. "Skill with People" by Les Giblin is a book that expands on this approach. Make people feel important, in order to make yourself important to them.
4. Be generous. Give business cards out to everyone, including family and friends. Hoarding your business cards only makes your wallet feel full, not your bank account.
5. Ask for referrals. When giving a business card, people feel more comfortable when you ask; 'I would appreciate a referral, if you know anyone that could use my services'. Give them 2 cards.
6. Maximize every "per chance" meeting. You never know when you might meet someone who can help you. Small social events, like a birthday party your son is going to, could produce unexpected encounters with people you will want to network with. You never know who you might meet
7. Place yourself at the right place at the right time. Have you ever been to a REI club meeting to find out you were not really given an opportunity to pass out your cards. Volunteering for REI speaking and networking events for big name speakers has been a very successful resource for me to grow my business. Zig Ziglar, one of the most successful sales trainers in the world says "if you help enough people get what they want in life, you will get what you want in life".
8. Do consistent follow up. Immediately after a meeting a person who could be part of your REI business, I suggest you “snail mail” a hand written note thanking the person for their time. Insert your business card. Now you're in the driver's seat in standing out from other people. If you get no response and were expecting one, do it again. Patience and persistence pays off. . Make it a habit to do this once a week. Remember '6 Degrees of Separation'. You just never know. Remember, people open invitation type envelopes faster than any others.
Below I show you a picture of the business card I use for my internet business. I have included many of the recommended elements. Evaluate my business card and feel free to post what you think would make it better. What is missing? What do you like about it? Feel free to post your input here, on my blog, so that others may benefit and learn from what you have to say.
Your Business card is a very important representation, yet a very inexpensive, way to get the word out about your business. It’s important to share them with everyone - everywhere you go. There is no better way to let others know what makes you and your services special and unique.
Spread the news!
Tamera Aragon
www.TameraAragon.com
Top 10 Marketing Strategies for Real Estate Investors
Part 1 -Aim-Ready-Fire- Talley The Score
Part 2 - Networking
Part 3 -Business Cards
Tamera Aragon has been studying and successfully investing in the real estate market since 2003. She is a full time real estate investor and entrepreneur who found success in real estate investing and pre-foreclosures right from the start.
www.tameraaragon.com