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I was reading an article this morning about how one person made business cards for her blog and she would leave them everywhere she goes (doctor's office, library,stores, hotels, etc...)
I thought it is actually a good idea. Anyone done this? If so is it really worth it?
I haven't done it, but I'm strongly considering it. As in, I just haven't gotten around to it yet, but I will.
I had a travel coffee mug made by Designhergals.com and I carry it everywhere (with coffee, of course) and people are always asking about it because:
1. It has my image on it ~ curly hair, glasses, BlackBerry and fabulous bag
2. My URL is printed on both sides
3. It's a conversation started
I think if you're serious about promoting your blog, it would be worth the investment to get something made that can promote your blog. Even a t~shirt would be cute or a tote bag. Make it something fun and representative of you and your blog.
that is great idea
I can tell you from experience that business cards, as old fashioned as they seem, really do work. I have business cards for my website, The Gift Detective, and sometimes I put them on bulletin boards, sometimes I leave them in the fishbowls at restaurants, sometimes I leave a few at businesses that I have a relationship with and, of course, when people ask me what I do, I hand them a business card and use my elevator pitch!
Well, here's the thing - the two states that I lived in and therefore handed out the most business cards in, I have the most visitors from those states. Consistently. I think part of it is having left some in certain places...but also, you make an impression when you actually give someone a business card, and then they remember you. And if they remember you and head to your site and you are doing a good job, hopefully they'll get hooked! These are people, for me, that seem to come back time and again.
I ordered my business cards from Vista Print and they were good quality. If anyone wants to see what they are like before you spend money on something like that (I splurged for the nicer paper!) you can PM me for my address and send me a SASE and I'll send you a few...I was worried to purchase something sight unseen since I was operating on a budget but I'm very happy with them! They weren't too expensive either. They have deals all the time it seems.
Daenel is right, make your business card, your coffee cup or whatever else you decide to market with, represent you! My business card is pretty unique because I add a little something special to each one and I always get a positive reaction whenever I hand it out. It is eye catching and memorable - the design of my business card was great fun for me and I worked with an artist to get just what I wanted and it has paid off!!!
Happy blogging!
Such a great post/topic!
My husband has been telling me to order business cards for months! I just need to do it now that I have my logo/brand.
Here is why:
1) we have an a/c and heating business. my husband goes into many homes every single day. he meets lots of stay at home moms, parents of twins, parents of many children and parents just trying to make it. he is always telling our customers 'you need to check out my wife's blog.... she has great ideas about _____ or your kids'. if is always telling me he wishes he had a business card to give them. (My mom would love some cards as well because she talks about my blog all the time at work- mostly the giveaways. You know how moms are.)
2) i want to be able to hand out business cards when we go to restaurants, stores, etc so i can give them a card and let them know i am going to review their service on my blog because it was such a great experience or to let them know i can review their service/product if they are interested
3) to get my name out there... just like all of you guys are saying... leave them in fishbowls, bulletin boards, etc.
Daenel, love the coffee cup idea!
Excellent topic and very timely!
I ordered a t~shirt from Vista Print and I will vouch for them, they do good work. I think they're reasonable and they offer coupons on a regular basis. I like Designhergals.com because a portion of their proceeds goes to the Gal to Gal Foundation for cancer research. I think it's like $3 to $5 but I'm not exactly sure.
I too have used and do use Vista Print, the one thing you MUST make sure of is your own Proof Reading of your print materials, once printed if there is a mistake, they are not responsible. They have almost every week some kind of special going on where you can get free BC. Yes you might up grade the paper but it is still a good deal,
vistaprint.com
I also paid for premium cards for my design business, ouch, but they get commnets everytime I had on out.
OKAY all I need your input. HELP I just had them reprinted about 4 monts ago, now I have a new website ID( int design) coming out, I really do not want to have to reprint them at $$$, but what options do you know of that are classy and clean to add the website to the BC? Is there any option out there? Thanks for your input.
@Pamelajf - You can sticker the new website over the old website on the card and on the new sticker you can even say "NEW" next to the new address to add a nice touch. You can get black and white vinyl stickers printed wicked cheap at http://www.123stickers.com or you can grab a sticker kit at a nearby office supply store.
Use cool colors if you're going to print them yourself.
@Crystalandcomp - Do it! Don't delay you'll get sooo many hots off your business cards!
@Pamelajf - Belal is absolutely right! I do that with giveaways sometimes if it is a big enough one that will run for a while, I go to PaperSource and get really pretty mailing labels and print whatever info is pertinent and stick it to the ac of my business cards. People LOVE it.
I have a cheap sticker kit that works amazingly well but if you are going to do a lot of business cards I think it is time/cost/looks more professional to have stickers printed as Belal suggests.
@Daenel - Pics of your shirt on your blog or Facebook? If so - link? Would love to see it!
It is amazing what a few well placed business cards or other promotional items will do. I got free cards & a tote bag from VistaPrint a few months ago and just by using the bag at the store and leaving my cards at the library, my local hits have gone up.
I have used Vistaprint for business cards, brochures. Great value I think. @ Daenel I saw your mug on your blog and immediately fell in love. Can I steal your idea? lol
One thing that I forgot to mention, when I made my business cards I made two different ones. One has my full street address and one doesn't. (the overall design is the same though) For my niche, I have a lot of contact with publishers and they need my address to send me books, but not every Tom, Dick or Harry needs that. Having two different cards makes me feel safer, yet still approachable.
@ ChewDigest Books - that is a great tip! It is a safety tip we should all keep in mind. Thanks for the reminder!
@ChewDigestBooks and @Madison-Hill - Yes! Very important to remember that your personal info can and should, in some cases, remain personal! I don't list my address nor telephone number on my business cards - if I trust someone enough, I will give them my address or number personally but, sometimes, I leave business cards in places that allow you to do so and you never know who is picking those up!
@Belal, @ Chewdigest ,@Alyna all great advice thank-you.
Some great ideas here! Love Daenel's tote bag and coffee cup idea.
It's on my list to get business cards printed. Just saving my pennies.
@krisitnglas - Here is Vistaprint's free business card gallery - you do have to pay shipping but, unless you have them shipped very quickly, if I remember correctly, the shipping costs were very reasonable. (looks like it might be around $5 for shipping according to this review on Squidoo)
Not too many pennies required! :-)
@krisitnglas - Here is Vistaprint's free business card gallery - you do have to pay shipping but, unless you have them shipped very quickly, if I remember correctly, the shipping costs were very reasonable. (looks like it might be around $5 for shipping according to this review on Squidoo)
Not too many pennies required! :-)
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