Question on business cards

I know some of you have companies or sell products besides farming or collecting tractors. So the question is how usefull are cards now a days??? How much effort do you put in them? Seems like they are just a source to give some one your phone number.

To us they are very important. we put 1 in every sack of honey we sell. we now ship honey almost all over the world

Depends on the recipient. I have a vinyl book like card file that has the BCs of local people I may have a use for. Hospital, Dr., tractor parts house and on and on.

One thing I did when I was in business after being in the big corporation was to get one that was not white. I remember one suppler in particular when working for the big corporation that had a blue business card. When I wanted the products he sold, I just looked through the 2" pile of cards for the blue. Worked for me then so I had mine yellow for my business. Did it work? I don't know as no one told me but seemed to be the thing to do at the time for me.

Mark

Your business card could also contain your website address (if you have one)... and/or your email address.

My husband also has a card-holder book and saves all cards that are important to him... i.e. Nebraska Cowman, Gordon Rice, our machinist, the guy who fixes alternators/generators, etc. Honestly, I still think there is a fairly large number of people who don't really use computers.

Even if folks use computers, they could scan your business card and save the file as picture or PDF and keep "em all in a folder on the computer.

You're right, its indeed a source to give someone my phone number,,,,,,and my address,,,,,,,and my E Mail Address,,,,,,and my cell phone,,,,,,,,and my line of business,,,,,,,

They come in awful handy when we meet new friends especially when we travel the country and also to hand out to business prospects, no way they would rememebr all that otherwise. Mine have brought me a good deal of business, I wouldnt be without them. If others dont like them thats fine and their free choice, different strokes for different folks as they say.

John T

I think they are still useful. If you don't want all that information available, just don't include it on your card.
A couple of days ago, I met a large semi in traffic on a two-lane highway. A large tennis ball-sized item rolled off the roof of his truck and shattered my windshield. I tracked him down (about 6 miles later) and pulled him over. He was very polite about it and gave me his business card just in case my insurance company gives me grief. It was a busy highway, so writing down names, addresses and contact numbers could have taken quite a few minutes longer. We quickly went our separate ways.

Gambles, he probably gave you one of John T.'s business cards! LOL

I agree with Mark, depends on who you're giving them too.
I hand them out all the time, many people even ask for them.
The younger crowd usually prefer a V-Card that you give
them just by bumping smart phones, or send via text/email.

For me it is a fast and convenient way to give perspective suppliers and customers your contact information. But equally, and maybe more important, is the message of being a businessman when contacting someone face to face. For me they are invaluable in face to face contacts with someone you want to do business with. Walk in and ask questions and you are just another tire kicker. Hand them a business card and automatically you are someone who gets more respect and attention. I wouldn't be without them. One goes in the invoice of a first time customer. Yes, they also were given one in the initial contact but this gives them a second chance for one for the files. My desk has a notebook of those I have acquired over the years. Those accumulated cards come in very, very handy.

Now all that is new to me!!!!

Used to be in the drilling buss. Passed Out as many Buss cards as I could. You ALWAYS want Your company name in everyones mind and pocket

I have some that I am sure are more than 40 years old maybe even 50 years. Always hand them to new folks I meet. Even being retired still have folks that want to call me. Computers are nice but nothing replaces that business card as far as I am concerned. Kubota started doing something years ago that was novel or at least interesting. The folks from Japan will hand you a card that is standard English on one side but printed upright in Japanese on the back. Over the years got where I could read quite a bit off it.

I picked up 2 new custom baling customers this year. Each of them had been given my business card by someone I had given the cards to. The more you give out the more business you get.

I like getting two cards from people. File one under name, and the other buy what they sell or do.

I think business cards are the cheapest way to spread your business around. When I was selling equipment for a living I made sure to have a few cards on me at all times, even dress cloths. Sold a lot of stuff over the years talking to guys at dances, supper clubs, while the wife shopped, etc. Just hand them a card an tell them to call when they had time. Then go have fun.

In the equipment repair or aftermarket world they still are very good too. Spend some money on a Good high quality card. Not some cheap piece of white paper with plain black writing on it. Make it a bright color. I have used Bright yellow on mine for years. It stands out in stack of cards.

Best Business card I every saw was made of plastic and was Fluorescent PINK in color. The guy resold warranty returned equipment. You know that generator Bubba had quit after only two hours of use. This guy bought all of this stuff from several national retailers. He would fix it and resale it. I first got his card in 1986. I bought a Dayton Generator from him. I still have the Business card he gave me from that first transaction. He passed away a few years ago.

I make my own here on the puter, I use a print shop program with co name, Phone and E-mail info. I do use good Business Card stock.

jocco,Do you have a real Biz or You just Playing at what you do? I hand out 20 to 30 cards? day > I want My name and Phone # in Front of them!!!
I will have been an Ins. Agent 20 yrs come Sept. As other have said a Biz card is cheap Advertisement. Something to give someone when you meet, make notes on for him and you!. Go get some Biz Card Magnets, The kind you peel of the paper cover revealing the sticky side to place your Biz card on....Place it on their Refrigerator,..... It will Never get thrown away.... Do yo ever throw away magnets on your Frig?
I was taught by am old Ins agent Do Not Go home till you hand out 100 Biz card / Day in 10 days time you have handed out 1000 cards, 10% of the Card will get back in touch with you! I have Biz card on me at all times!!!! Even the Gypsy Painters and Asphalt Layers give you a Biz card!
So What is the point of your Question???????
Later,
John A.

I hand them out all the time. Heck here's a pic of mine for everyone to check out. I used one of the computer programs and designed what I wanted. Now I just print them on the "clean edge" cards that you can get from pretty much anywhere that carries office supplies. I also found a couple of boxes of the business card sized magnets with the sticky backs that you can put the card on to make it a magnet. It's not fancy, and it hides the back side, where I also have info, but it gets my name out there. Too, even if it hides the back the magnetic one can still be used to hold another one in place.

The front side of the card gives potential customers my name, my contact info, my experience, and my work ethic all in one shot. To me that is the most essential info you can put out when looking for business. Then when you turn it over there's somewhat of an overview of the types of things I am set up to do. Between the two sides about the only thing left for a customer to do is to call and get some work done when they need it.

Things were kind of tight, and business was really slow a couple of years back when I was designing them. At the time I was busting my but and seemed to be getting nowhere. We were joking one night about a slogan that was appropriate for my cards and I jokingly made the comment that I was "Hardly working, and needed your business". That turned into the slogan I put on the card that states my work ethic to a T...because I always 'Work hard to earn my customer's business'.

John Honestly i hate anything on the fridge!!!! they look like a vertical desk!!!! Just seemed to me all they were good for was a phone number after contact was made. After your insurance (or whatever meeting) they end up in the dump or bottum of desk!!!!! Also my point was in this electronic age are they the way of the dinasaur, the cooper, the shoemaker you get the point. In the past there was a study on those penciles, ballons, notebooks etc. with your name They were ranked not very effective.

jocco, I understand some folks may not clutter up their Fridge with various Magnets, Biz Card magnets, or Biz Cards at all on a Desk, Contrary to the report you saw They Do Work!, People will keep and do keep a certain amount of Biz cards in a drawer for future reference They do work, they are cheap, a large portion do get thrown away, But the Portion kept more than makes up for the thrown away portion!!! Biz card are still here, and will stay!
Later,
John A.

John: I am in the process of redoing some. (I have a local print shop lady do this stuff) I tried it once on the puter and it was :well a disaster!!!!! I find it amazing that people today has no clue in these rural areas as to who does what or even where something is or a road goes!!!!!

jocco, That happen everywhere, the Newbys move in and don't try to integrate into the community. They move in and drive to work they don't have a clue to where the pavement or dirt road goes if they turn the other direction. Try to find the Locals who are in the Know! Try the local Cafe where the locals meet for coffee at 6:00am most every morning but Sunday. Hope this helps.
Later,
John A.

Business cards on a bulletin board are worthless.You have to get them into potential customers hands.I used post card size cards over the years.I do a lot of fence charger service and had people tell me the couldnt remember where they got it fixed the last time.I used some small mylar labels I put on every fence charger I repaired.This works good on lawn mowers.When the customer picks up an item I ask if they would like a label on the item.New people that move in now do little business in town.Running the roads seems to take up most of their time.

John well said on the resturants Used to be that way, all the mom pop ones closed. Now chain resturants and the people are passing through from Timbuck too!!!!