Do you still have a Rolodex? No? Me either. What I do have is a junk drawer and old makeup bag full of business cards I kept but never gave a second thought to. In fact, I have no idea where that makeup bag is anymore, but even if I did find it, I wouldn’t sort through all those cards to find one person I think I might want to remember.
One day I realized the only people I hired, learned from, and followed were those that invested in me first. They impacted me which caused me to see their value in my life. That’s what a business card should be; a way for people to find and connect with those they value.
There are many ways to do this but, in no particular order, we’ve listed the top four for you.
WRITE A BOOK
One of the best ways to establish authority and expertise on a topic is by writing a book. Everyone has content and copy. It’s in all of your notes, napkin doodles, and social media posts. It’s the stories of how you got to this place in your journey. It’s the way you learned and the systems and processes you created to be successful in your niche. Share those ideas. Teach those systems and methods. It can only set you up for success.
Amazon KDP makes it so simple to become a published author. There are no excuses. Besides, I have had to toss many icky business cards I’ve found buried under the seats in my car, but I’ve never lost a book.
CREATE A PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE OR BLOG
Nowadays, the first thing people do upon meeting someone is to google them. They will either find your website and social media accounts or they will close their browser and move on to someone else they have easier access to. That may seem unfair but “word of mouth” has also changed. It has become what is typed on the world wide web and not what Sally said at the picnic last summer.
The best place for someone to learn about you and your business is your website. Connect with your potential customers or clients by sharing about yourself on your “about” page. Let them know what they can expect from you. A website is also a great place to place a video, allowing your personality and expertise to shine through.
MAINTAIN A SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT
My grandmother is now on Instagram. She’s 80. If you aren’t on social media, then a world of opportunity is passing you by. I obtain clients just by posting about family and sharing memes. It’s a great way to connect and get to know people. The old adage of saturation marketing has never been more accurate than on social media. Choose one or two platforms that you enjoy, update the about me section and share yourself and your ideas. The return on investment is worth it.
UPDATE YOUR PROFILE ON LINKED IN
Linked In is a great place to find more business. In fact, ever since other platforms have put restrictions on marketing by small business, Linked In has flourished. Videos are viewed significantly more on that platform than anywhere else. And unlike those paper cards, former clients and colleagues can boost your credibility by recommending you and your skills.
The best part about the use of these concepts as business cards is that they occupy visible space and can gain traction. The plain old paper card could never do that even if it had rounded corners and was gold embossed.