The LA Times just headed an article “Business cards get filed under obsolete.” I’m hoping none of my author friends read it, but just in case, here is my rant. They said that young people especially think that now we have e-mail (and, yes, I presume e-mail signatures!) business cards are redundant.

I remember back in the 70s (hippie days, remember?) when my husband and I opened our retail shops. We thought business cards were too, well—hoity toity. We were wrong then and whoever these “young people” are—well, they’re wrong now.

Yes, more business is being done by e-mail. And yes we do have e-mail signatures (though most business correspondence I see doesn’t do a good job with branding or information in their signatures. In fact they don’t do as well as most business cards I see!).

Yes, people can easily punch details into their iPhones when they want to keep information. But business cards can be (should be as far as I’m concerned!) more than a way to exchange phone numbers. They should be mini advertisements. That phone number in someone’s iPhone will not sell a book, but a business card with your book cover, a blurb, and maybe even a little award logo on it sure can. And it can do it more than once. It can remind people of you now and every time they run across that card in the future.

I am so convinced, I’ve included a little section on designing effective business cards and ideas for how to use them in The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo). Here’s but one quick example. I’ll be speaking at the Book Publicists of Southern California meeting on April 11. (By the way, there is a list of my appearances–most of them free–in my newsletter. Anyone who would like to sign up need only send me an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and I’ll do it for them.)

There are usually 50 to 100 people at these meetings. What a shame if I let that kind of opportunity pass by just speaking and then saying “See you all later.” Of course! Business cards! They will appear magically near each attendee’s dinner plate. And yes, they have my book cover, an endorsement from Dan Poynter, and a USA Book News award-winner logo on them. And essential ordering information, of course.

I use business cards when I travel, too. They are crucial for those doing business in China, as an example, and yes people there still respect them enough to present them with both hands. People who think everyone lives and breathes by their smartphones are just as out of touch as those who ignore them in their marketing plans. Business cards are complementary to apps and other digital marketing, not an anachronism.

Some of you may remember when everyone thought that TV would make radio obsolete. It didn’t. Radio just evolved. So will business cards. And in the meantime, I hope you won’t let the opportunities they offer pass you by.

~Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a multi award-winning poet, writer of fiction and author of the HowToDoItFrugally series of book including one series for business people: www.howtodoitfrugally.com/retailers_books.htm.

Just an interesting story to share about business cards after having checked out this great website.

It was 1984 and I had just turned 26 and told my father who was a very successful business owner that I had made the decision to go off on my own. I had only worked for the company just under a year. He didn’t think it was a good idea saying that he thought I should get some more experience. I persisted and the next day I went to my local printer and had 1000 business cards printed since that quantity was a better deal than just 500. I was already thinking like a business owner. Then I quit my job.

My first business cards sported a pretty involved design and had a bronze inlay for my initials. I wanted to make an impression on my clients. About a week later I met with my father and told him the news about my new business and gave him one of my business cards. He must have been impressed because a few weeks later he dropped off one of my cards that he had encased in a plastic block. The heating process had faded the bronze a bit but it still showed up pretty well. It was a great gift and one that I still have that sits proudly on my desk reminding me of my very first business owner’s card and my father.

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I had to blog about this absurdly cute item. Maybe because it is snowing and below zero in Chicago. It made me think why shouldn’t your business cards be cozy and warm? Nicole is a blog designer and weekend crocheter (that’s a person who crochets on the weekend).

Check ‘em out on her blog  Here or purchase one at her Etsy shop Here

Just think how cozy your cards will be.

There are a number of marketing lessons lurking between each of these diamond chips. The first that occurs to me is the power of exclusivity. Do you have the nerve to turn down a client because their company does not fit your exclusive profile of who you want your client’s to be? Maybe we should all do that more often. Do you even have an idea of what kind of clients you want. Consider this before you just toss this off as arrogant or stupid.

As a related example, I attended an online webinar this week given by a marketing consultant that offers some of the same services I offer. I learned she charges almost $15,000.00 (fifteen thousand dollars)  for a one day consultation. Makes me think I may be selling myself a little short. Maybe we all need to be fishing in a bigger pond.

Another lesson is to ask “what does your business card say about you?” Are you just trying to get the cheapest deal you can find? Are you maybe getting a nice card but then you don’t want to give them to anyone because you determine no one is worthy? I have seen this happen often.  Would you spend $150.00 on each business card? How about $15.00? What about  $1.50?  The average card is closer to three cents and many people act like that’s too much to invest in a potential client.

The third marketing lesson is the idea of offering a seemingly outlandish product for the purpose of getting free publicity. How could you elevate your product or service to a seemingly outlandish level? What would you have to do to offer your product or service for 1,000 times the current price?

Add three zeros to your average price then ask what you would have to do to get that price. For example my book sells here for $15.00.  If you are the sole owner of your business, and have been in operation for at least two years, and are stuck trying to figure out how to market or position your product or service; for $15,000.00 you can get my book and one full day of personal consultation with me (lunch included) just email reno(at)renoweb.net for more details.

Stop and consider some of these questions. I would love to see some comments.

Here is a link to an assortment of clever business cards recently shared with me. Enjoy!

http://www.graphicfetish.com/and-another-list-of-inspiring-business-card-ideas/#comment-29866

http://www.trustudiodesign.com/blog/?p=3306