Marketing yourself with great business cards

~~Only a few small number~~ Everybody uses white rectangles for business promotion. So many ~~utterly unique~~ posts along the lines of "Help me get noticed by Bank XYZ, Seller XYZ, RE Agent XYZ."

Why not use a unique business card? Personally, I use a round edged, red glossy card. ~~They often get lost~~ After a while, folks began to connect me with the color.

It should be ~~kept at home in a nice shiny display~~ used everywhere. I do not leave the house without them & my ~~constant companion~~ laptop.

What's your "self"-marketing strategy? How do you stand out in a flood of ~~overnight millionaires~~ investors?

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:52AM

Chris Oshea

Real Estate Investor · Chelmsford, Massachusetts

46 posts
325 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Dec 16 '09, 09:27 PM

I agree, your business card says a lot about you as a person and investor IMO.

I do think there can be such thing as being TOO different (I probably wouldn't use a florescent yellow business card with reflective red letters), but I scratch my head when someone hands me a business card that's obviously been torn out of a sheet of paper, printed on an old inkjet printer that's running out of ink...

I got my most recent batch of business cards (they're fairly generic, just have my name, email, phone, and website on a blue design background... glossy on the front, nothing on the back) for less than 15 bucks shipped OVERNIGHT 'cause I needed them the day after, 250 for free, only pay shipping... so there's no excuse for cheap looking business cards in this day and age!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:52AM

J Scott

Real Estate Investor · Atlanta, Georgia

6089 posts
66763 Influence
13 Awards

Icon_minipost Dec 16 '09, 11:41 PM

Originally posted by David Breitzmann

How do you stand out in a flood of investors?

I do what I say, when I say I'll do it, and try to promote win/win scenarios to build strong long-term relationships.

In my experience, this helps me stand out from most in this industry...

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:52AM

David Breitzmann

· San Francisco, California

176 posts
1104 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Dec 18 '09, 12:36 AM

Chris:

What company do you use? I find that Overnightprints.com works very well. My experience with vistaprint was quite negative.

J. Scott:

It's awesome to hear that as my aspiration would be to build a similar model. How do you balance opportunities for short term gain with long term potential? Has that spilled into your choice of portfolio mix?

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:53AM

Chris Oshea

Real Estate Investor · Chelmsford, Massachusetts

46 posts
325 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Dec 18 '09, 01:28 AM

I've always used OvernightPrints.com

There are coupon codes out there (Google) you can get 250 single sided glossy business cards for the cost of shipping, which is 8-10 bucks. I designed the card in Adobe Photoshop and uploaded it to their website, make sure it looks good and there you are! 250 decent looking business cards for 10 bucks! I figure at this stage of the game I'm learning and gonna be changing my business with time so I'll make more frequent orders and change the cards up as I need to. A box will probably last me several months so I should be planning on spending maybe 40 bucks a year on business cards at this rate, not bad at all, and that's new cards every 3 months if I need to, too!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:53AM

David Breitzmann

· San Francisco, California

176 posts
1104 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Dec 20 '09, 02:51 AM

Chris,

How do you get those codes? Just a global search for "overnightprints coupons?" What is the ususal discount as a percentage?

I really didn't find that much a difference between the "premium" cards and the standard from Overnightprints.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:55AM

Anna Khan

2 posts
-111 Influence

Icon_minipost Dec 20 '09, 05:49 AM

I designed the card in Adobe Photoshop and uploaded it to their website, make sure it looks good and there you are! 250 decent looking business cards for 10 bucks.I needed them the day after, 250 for free, only pay shipping... so there's no excuse for cheap .
...........................
[SPAM LINK REMOVED]

Edited: 12/20/2009 at 06:16AM by Moderator

Chris Oshea

Real Estate Investor · Chelmsford, Massachusetts

46 posts
325 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Jan 02 '10, 07:43 AM

sorry for the delayed reply, yeah, just google "overnight prints coupon" and you'll have a few to choose from. I've been using the 250 business cards for free code.
I've always gone for the UV glossy coating, I think the standard cards are matte not glossy, but it's a choice they give you, they don't charge extra for glossy IIRC.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:04AM

Richard J.

Real Estate Investor · Carlsbad, California

153 posts
883 Influence
3 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 02 '10, 08:01 AM

I've had some luck with postcardpress.com, they are kind of pricey, but they do nice work.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:04AM

Richard J.

Real Estate Investor · Carlsbad, California

153 posts
883 Influence
3 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 02 '10, 08:45 AM

Hey Guys, Thanks for the useful advice. I followed your instructions and scored some decent b. cards for a very decent price. Went took google as you suggested and did a 25% off for new customer. Thanks so much! Not as fancy as the one I suggested, but we are not out to impress anyone these days! All the Best! -- Dawn

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:04AM

Chris Oshea

Real Estate Investor · Chelmsford, Massachusetts

46 posts
325 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Jan 02 '10, 09:02 AM

8-) Cool!
You'll be happy with OverNightPrints I think

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:04AM

David Breitzmann

· San Francisco, California

176 posts
1104 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 02 '10, 09:55 AM

Dawn,

Very glad to hear it. Let me know any interesting stories in trying to "card" someone.

Happy 2010,

David

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:04AM

Chris Oshea

Real Estate Investor · Chelmsford, Massachusetts

46 posts
325 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Jan 02 '10, 11:44 AM

Maryann L.

Real Estate Investor · Methuen, Massachusetts

677 posts
5872 Influence
9 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 14 '10, 10:47 AM

Hi David,

Overnight prints/vistaprint/ to me, they all produce the same generic cards.

These cards are truly unique.
I have no idea who made them, but it gives a GREAT idea of what you can do with a business card
http://creativebits.org/cool_business_card_designs

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:13AM

David Breitzmann

· San Francisco, California

176 posts
1104 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 15 '10, 09:14 AM

Smit,

It sounds like you are talking about the entire package. Other than color, shape and messaging what else are you looking to do with a card?

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:14AM

Chris Guthrie

Real Estate Investor · Oxnard, California

134 posts
796 Influence
3 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 15 '10, 01:54 PM

Check these out.

http://www.100dollarleads.com/53.html

David Breitzmann

· San Francisco, California

176 posts
1104 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 15 '10, 01:57 PM

Chris,

Interesting idea. I've seen a few, have you found them to be effective? What type(s) of business have these helped you secure?

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:14AM

Maryann L.

Real Estate Investor · Methuen, Massachusetts

677 posts
5872 Influence
9 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 15 '10, 09:04 PM

David I was merely saying Vistaprint and Overnight prints are the same generic cards that everyone uses. I don't really find anything unique using them.

I guess my point is there really truly are original cards out there, such in the example I posted.

It all depends on how you want to be remembered by who you are targeting.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:14AM

David Breitzmann

· San Francisco, California

176 posts
1104 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 16 '10, 02:27 AM

Smit,

Understood. It is a personal decision and without follow-through as mentioned by J Scott, the marketing will mean very little.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 11:14AM

David Breitzmann

· San Francisco, California

176 posts
1104 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Jan 16 '10, 06:27 AM

Smit,

Understood. It is a personal decision and without follow-through as mentioned by J Scott, the marketing will mean very little.

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