You’ve probably heard this before. In fact, you may very well have SAID this
before: “Oh, I don’t need business cards. I do most of my business online.”  

That seems like a pretty safe assumption. After all, one of the advantages of
conducting business online is the reduction in conventional paperwork and
printing costs. If your prospect is in Australia and you’re in the United States
(which is certainly possible over the Internet) the odds are pretty slim that you’re
ever going to meet and exchange business cards in person.

However, like many assumptions, this particular one is worth examining more
closely. Should you, as an online marketer, use business cards? (For that
matter, OTHER offline marketing methods, too?) It depends on your answer to
these questions:

• Is everybody who might *possibly* have an interest in your business currently
--online? 

• If yes, do they know how to find your site? 

• Will they be able to find your site six months from now? 

• Is your site getting all the traffic you can handle? 

• Does everyone you discuss your business with around town have a pen and
--paper handy so they can write down your URL?

If the answer to ANY of these is *No*, you could use traditional printed business
cards very profitably. 

Business cards are among the most versatile, affordable,portable, & accepted
marketing tools you can use. You meet people all the time: at church, the
grocery store, the school function, the tradeshow, and so on. One of the first
questions you're probably asked is "So, what do you do for a living?" You tell the person about your online business, don't you? 

Now ask yourself this. Suppose you spell out your website address. Do you
think they'll remember it after the game or after the meeting, when they get back
to their computer and actually have a few minutes to go check it out? Not much 
chance. 

And say your product or service intrigues them, but they have no need of it now.
Could they find your site again in a few weeks or a few months? Maybe, if they
remembered to bookmark your site. No guarantees, though. And they probably
won’t bookmark your site anyway if they don’t anticipate the need for your
product or service in the near future.

So a business card would sure be a handy way to give that person your URL. 
And if your URL changes, they might even be able to find you the old-fashioned
way (through your postal address or phone number!)

A business card is also a terrific way to generate more interest in your site,
simply because there are so many ways to prospect creatively with business
cards. You can tuck a card with your URL on it in all your *snail mail*. You can
introduce yourself with your card. You can tuck your card in related books at the
library. You can post your card on bulletin boards. And you can hand your card
directly to that really hot prospect you just met, with a big sincere smile and 
a firm handshake.

Finally, like it or not, having a business card legitimizes your business in some
people’s eyes. It’s concrete evidence that your business is real and that you
take it seriously.  

So do you, as an online marketer, need business cards? Only if you want more
business.

Copyright  2003, Diana Ratliff.  All rights reserved.
Diana Ratliff <diana@dratliff.com> is a nationally published writer, entrepreneur,
and BizCard Guru.  Browse the web’s largest (and growing) collection of
business-card-related information at http://www.businesscarddesign.com

Then order gorgeous, full-color cards at http://www.bizcardguru.com