Folded Business Cards

[admin]

There is no better value in marketing materials for impact and cost than a folded business card.

Also known as a tent card or mini brochure, the folded business card effectively doubles the space you have to tell your message. Folded, it is the same size as a conventional business card; when it's open, you have 4 panels to work with instead of 2 sides of a regular card.

People appreciate having a lot of information in a small place. Inside the card, the possibilities are endless. List your services or give helpful hints to prospects. You can use them to write down appointments for clients or the size and style of item they chose from your store. You have more room to tell them why they should do business with you. Including a teaser gets people talking: "Ask me how to get free widgets for life."

Advantages of Folded Business Cards

Like regular-sized business cards, folded cards are highly portable and easily retained in a purse, pocket, or wallet. They are less expensive than larger brochures and easily changed and reordered, unlike larger pieces. They are also functional, as you can easily measure results of coupon campaigns.

You might use them in addition to larger brochures or as an added piece in a direct mail package. If you choose to eliminate your larger marketing pieces altogether, mini brochures can be used as handouts at trade shows or on the street. They serve the same purpose as flyers, in a portable, more compact format.

With the extra space, you can add more eye-catching graphics or valuable content including a(n)

Mini brochure with photos of your products
Survey, redeemable for a free gift
Order form
Punch card for frequent buyers
Advertisement for a sale
Coupon
Map to your locations
Put Folded Business Cards to Work for You

A beauty salon might use a card with a mirror in it. A vitamin retailer might adhere a trial pack of a few capsules to the inside of the card. Writers could add a list of commonly misspelled words or explain confusing usage. A chef might include a favorite restaurant recipe. A restaurant might print a sample menu on the card, vertically, mimicking the style of a full-sized menu.

Anybody who uses measurements, from carpenters to nutritionists, could print handy conversions on the card. Artists or graphic designers might print a color wheel; a paint store could include sample chips inside. A fabric retailer might include swatches of their best fabrics. Any industry can print a map, calendar, or testimonials from satisfied clients.

By adding something of value, your cards will be kept and used over and over. It's a waterfall marketing effect that will grow with each card you hand out.

Business Card Design Guidelines

Remember to give the card a clean sharp look, and don't go overboard. The card should be legible and eye-catching. With so much extra space, it's tempting to add too much information or to make the card too large. The beauty of business cards is that they're compact and you are forced to tell your message succinctly.

[admin]

In this sluggish economy, are you looking for a cost-effective yet profitable alternative to your four-color glossy brochure?

Consider printing a variation on the business card known as a "folded business card" or "mini-brochure." Here are some more tips for designing and using these enhanced cards to bring a measurable return on your investment.

Always include an offer in any folded card you design.

This will boost response rates by as much as 1000%! With a folded cards, you can include your offer AND your contact information. Include a coupon or survey to return for a free gift. Prospects will hang on to your card longer than others of little value.


Explain who you are, what you do, and why you're different.

Like any other promotion, a call to action is necessary in order for your clients to respond. Don't leave them guessing; tell them what to do. "Call today for your free consultation." "Return this coupon by May 20 for 20% off your next order."


Add your photo to the folded card for even more impact

With your headshot and your tagline printed on the front of the card, it is as if you are talking directly with your prospects, and they will remember you. The photo isn't a new idea yet it's highly underutilized. Be sure to use a professional photo, not one your buddy took of you on the basketball court last weekend. Photographers who specialize in models and actors are perfect for this.
What's in it for Them?

A mini-brochure offers at least four times the space of a regular business card. However, it is quite a bit smaller than a full-sized pamphlet, so you must choose your words carefully. Boil down your folded business card to omit anything that doesn't communicate to your market or add to your offer.

Don't just tell about yourself; tell your prospects how doing business with you will help them:

Do you have extended hours?
Are you available on weekends?
Do you honor your competitors' coupons?

If so, let let your prospects know about it. Stress benefits of doing business with you.

[greatfxbusinesscards]

About the Author:
Linda Elizabeth Alexander of GreatFX Business Cards helps business people get great business results through effective business card marketing. You can get more free articles and order business cards online at the company website, http://www.greatfxbusinesscards.com.

[mschneider.bizhat.com]

:lol: Hi to all,

I think that business card must be very simple and have only few thing ni it:
1) logo of your company;
2) name of company;
3) owners name;
4) owners position in company;
5) phone and contact address;
6) possible web and e-mail adres...

That is really all you need... non need to remember the face of that guy/girl you were talking to. Too many of them in everyday life.

Greets,

[Tak]

Those are some interesting ideas,i like the idea of the folding card
i never really thought of the possibilitys for one.

The added coupon or discount inside is a great idea.People will keep it longer as you say.

[startingline]

any place online where we can get these?

[foxtrotwing]

hmm..... business cards are a hassle for me, coz i always keep misplacing them.

has anyone thought of using electronic business cards?

i mean, you go to one site and right click and straight away, the electronic business cards are downloaded onto your address book?

regards

[ahmed.bizhat.com]

in some countries...such as argentina....the most effective way (despite the population being relatively internet-savvy) of marketing is actually these little crappy fliers that cute chicks hand out on the street outside stores...they are employed for ot much money...but being students...they dotn complain...anyways....the paper method of marketing works best for now....(i hate it...i beleive everyone should be able to look up a website...or go to the mall and use selfserve kiosks with internet access and find out what they want...FAST....but well...time will change all things.)