The first thing that you want to do when you have your online business is to get business cards. You can get them in a variety of different places, including offline printers as well as online printers. You can often save money by purchasing businesses cards online. There are many different online printers who will print up professional business cards for you for a nominal fee or, in some cases, no cost at all.
Vista printing is one of the online sites that offers free business cards for your business. You only pay for shipping, which is under $5 and you can get your business cards delivered right to you. The company does have their information printed on the back of the card, but for a few dollars extra, you can have this information eliminated.
The cards made by this company and others like it online are not those business cards that you imagine that you print yourself in your own printer, with perforated edges. Forget those - they do not look professional and should not even be considered. These are colored business cards in a variety of different designs that look attractive as well as professional. You will be proud to hand these out to those who you encounter in your daily travels.
The information on your business card should reflect the nature of your business so that people do not have to guess what it is that the card is for or what business it represents. You may like the idea of a very stylish logo and simple design, but you want to be sure that anyone who looks at your business card knows why they would be contacting your business.
You should always have your business cards on hand and they should have the information of your website as well as your e-mail address so that people can contact you. Often today, people ask us for our email address when we encounter them. It is far less personal than asking for a phone number and most people are glad to give out this information. You should make sure that when you strike up a conversation with anyone that you hand them your business card.
A business card is a curious thing. People tend to hold onto them. Whereas a scrap of paper with a number or address may get lost, a business card fits snugly into a wallet or purse and is easy to keep track of. Many people even collect business cards and file them appropriately. As they are very inexpensive to purchase, you should not think of operating any business without having these valuable cards. And remember, they are only good if you have them on you. Have them with you at all times and be sure to re-order them when your supply runs out.
There are other items that you can have printed that can explain more about your business. Flyers and brochures are two that you can create yourself or have professionally created for you online. There are various off line places where you can go to have these items printed as well as online printers who will usually give you a better price.
Flyers can be put up in a variety of different places where such items are posted. Community centers, churches, grocery stores and even Laundromats all have bulletin boards where you can post flyers. Some business owners will even allow you to put flyers on their counters for their customers. Flyers are cheap to make and you can even make them yourself on your own word processing program. You should be sure to have flyers that have your information on them so that others can contact you. One way that many people use to promote themselves with flyers is to have tabs put on the flyers so that those who are interested in contacting you can pull a tab, rather than take the entire flyer. The tab can have your e-mail address as well as your website so that those who are interested in learning more about you can do so by visiting your website or sending you an email.
You can also distribute flyers on car windows as well as in stairwells. While some people get annoyed at this constant distribution of flyers, others pick up the flyers and take a look at them. When you are marketing a product, you have to remember that the marketing efforts are a numbers game. For everY 100 flyers that you put on car windshields, you may get one or two prospects. But if you do this often enough, you will end up building up your business. As flyers are inexpensive, it does not cost you much to market your online business in this way.
Brochures should be used to give a better description of your business as well as the benefits that it can offer those who become customers of your online business. While you can make brochures yourself on your word processing program, it is often better to have these items made by a professional. Again, you can go to an online printer who can print up color brochures for you for a fraction of what you would pay at an off line printer. You should hand out brochures to those who express a keen interest in your online business and who you feel may be in earnest when it comes to contacting you. You should have all of the information included in the brochure, especially contact information. Some people will staple their business cards to their brochures.
There are other printed items that you can use as well to promote your online business. Postcards, for example, can be used in direct marketing campaigns. These work well for off line businesses and can do the same for online businesses as well. You can print up post cards rather inexpensively and also have them mailed out in bulk. One of the best aspects about using postcards is that they are cheaper to mail than any other type of mail and will actually get to your target market by way of US mail. They are less likely to be thrown out than the flyers that you leave on windows.
You should try all of these products when you are planning on using offline marketing tactics to market your online business. But above all, have those business cards. Have them on hand at all times. Make an effort to come out of your shell and talk to others no matter where you happen to be.
Example One:
You are standing in line at a grocery checkout and the line is long. You strike up a conversation with the person in front of you or behind you. You mention the economy, how things are going and talk about the weather. You make the effort to make small talk - most people are not aloof in this respect and welcome a diversion, especially in a long line. You steer the conversation over to your business and then tell them to e-mail you if you can help them. Always use the phrase “if you can help them” as it does not seem like a sales pitch, but rather an opportunity. And always steer the conversation in a way so that it comes out natural that you are talking about your business and not just using the time to try to pressure them into a sale.
Example Two:
You are at a football game for your son. You are sitting with a bunch of other parents huddled on the bleachers and watching so that their kids get to play and if they play, that they do not get hurt. You start to talk to other parents. Ask about their kids and compliment them on their play. Start steering the conversation off to other matters when there is nothing exciting happening on the field and then give them your card as you leave, if they ‘need anything.” Again, you are offering your help, not trying to sell them anything.
Example Three:
You are at a party and you are socializing with other people. Your method of employment is bound to come up in these social situations. You give them your card and tell them what you do. This is one of the easiest ways to give out your card and is not only a good way to get clients, but also a very socially acceptable custom.
Example Four:
You are at a social gathering and someone asks for your number. You give them your card. Then you give their companions your card. If you are interested in knowing someone at the gathering in a more personal way, give them your phone number on the back of the card that you give them. This not only saves you from having to scrounge around for a piece of napkin or paper, but also gives them the card. They may discuss this business with others and you may get a client from such an encounter. Or a date.
If you are waiting in line at a restaurant, to see a movie or just about anywhere else where there are people, you have an opportunity to give out your business card and procure business for your online website. You never want to come off as a salesperson. You always want to come off as a friendly individual who is more than willing to share information, make small talk and also give them some information that may be able to “help them” in getting what they need.
Take a look at the business cards, brochures, flyers and other printed materials that you can purchase online and get them to promote your business. Then, move out of your shell when you are out in the public and start looking at long lines in grocery stores as an opportunity to promote your business instead of just picking up the tabloids and reading the latest exploitations of your favorite Hollywood stars.
Continue reading Chapter 3...