MARKETING IDEAS and TOOLS
Business Card Design Ideas
Brochure Design Ideas
Die Cut Business Cards
Scented Business Cards
Cheap Business Card Ideas
Unique Business Cards
Unique Brochure Ideas
Cheap Advertising Ideas
Business Card Layout
Promoting a Home Based Biz
Competitive Advantage
Email Marketing Tips
3 Ways To Spend Less
Selling With Color
Promotional Magnets
MARKETING STRATEGIES
Differentiate Yourself
Information Marketing
Building Customer Loyalty
Getting Customer Feedback
Testimonials
How to Define a Niche
Discovering Niches
Finding New Customers
Indirect Benefits
The Consumer's Perspective
Promotional Marketing
Pricing Products and Services
Viral Marketing Magic
Marketing Mix
STARTUP IDEAS and STRATEGIES
Home-Based Startup Ideas
Business Idea Brainstorming
Virtual Assistant
Internet Researcher
Event Planner
Wedding Consultant
Telecommuting Strategies
Freelance Job Strategies
WEBSITE MARKETING
Build Traffic to Your Website
Domain Name Ideas
5 Ways to Increase Traffic
Scavenger Hunts
Talking Avatars
Promote Your Web Page
Autoresponders
Internal Links
Link Exchange Tips
Viral Marketing and Email
Attract Your Target Market
Market Your Website Offline
KEYWORD TIPS
Keyword Competition
Keywords and Meta Tags
Prime Spots for Keywords
Keyword Phrases
AFFILIATE MARKETING
How To Get Started
Residual Income
Affiliate Agreements
ONLINE BASICS
Choosing Domain Names
Domain Name Extensions
Website Design Strategies
Learning HTML
Understanding HTML Colors
Are Your Colors Web-Safe?
How to Accept Payments
Bandwidth: Doing The Math
Find The Right Web Host
Publish Your Website
MARKETING YOURSELF
Resume Tips
Ideas for Marketing Your Website
Using Business Cards
If you're a home-based entrepreneur, not having a physical location for your business can sometimes be a challenge. That's why making the most of your online presence - your website - is so important.Using Business Cards
Business cards are an inexpensive way of reaching your market offline. To make the most of this versatile marketing tool, you really have to think outside the box.
To most people, a business card is more or less a 3 1/2 x 2 version of their letterhead.
Instead of thinking in terms of a business card, look at it as a 3 1/2 x 2 marketing tool.
Here are a few ideas of how you can use a business card to market your website:
If you have a domain name that's unusually catchy and descriptive, have it printed on a card. Nothing more - just the domain.Sometimes less is more, and with nothing but your URL, people have less to focus on or to remember. That can greatly increase the chances of their visiting your site.
To get the marketing mileage that you want from a method like this, just make sure that your domain itself is a good marketing tool.
If your domain name doesn't pack enough marketing punch all by itself, include a few words of copy that describe your site.
Make those words sell your site, but do it in as concise a way as possible. In other words, say as much as possible using as few words as possible.
Transform your business card into a gift certificate (to be used for a purchase of a certain dollar amount of greater) or a coupon to be used for an online purchase.
Even if the recipient of the card isn't interested in your website, you've given your business card tangible value. That gives them a reason to keep your card, and maybe offer it to a family member or a friend.
Make your card a real viral marketing tool, and indicate on the card that anyone can use it as long as they enter the code. Ask them to pass it along to family or friends.
Include a valuable tip or resource on your card. Then, invite your prospective visitor and customer to visit your website for more.
You could even print an intriguing first line of an article. Then, invite them to visit your site to read the full article.
Nancy Richardson
CreateYourMarket.com publisher
Need a writer?
Quick Tips:
Enclose a business card promoting your website with each piece of outgoing mail.
Ask customers who frequently do business with you for a testimonial.
Promote your website URL offline on everything from bumper stickers to your answering machine message.
Want to reach the highest percentage of your target market?
Advertise in specialty publications including newspaper supplements devoted to a specific topic.
Marketing is crucial, but it doesn't always have to be serious.
Some of the most effective advertising campaigns rely on humor. Don't be afraid to make your customers laugh!