In this post, Roland from In Business shares some valuable advice about how simple marketing can be.

Many times you hear people in business talking about how they are looking for new ideas on generating more business. They will talk about advertising campaigns both on and off line, promotional leaflets, customer vouchers and so on.

All of these different methods are of course valid and have their place. There is one very simple tool that they often overlook. It is something that everyone in business should have and indeed anyone dealing with customers directly ought to be issued with.

What is it?

It is the business card!

Really? I hear you ask. Indeed it is!

Over many years in business I have made sure that I have given out my business card to my customers as often as possible. People will generally keep business cards and will therefore be more likely to remember you when they require your product or service.

Another great advantage that your business will give is that when customers are satisfied they will likely recommend you to their friends and family members. If they have your card they can hand this out with the recommendation. This is much better than simply a verbal only recommendation because people are likely to forget what they have been told and to whom they were recommended.

I have had many new clients from such referrals and one of the first things they often say is “I have been given your business card”.

It is important that the business cards that you use are of good quality and reflect the trade that you are in. Quality business cards are no longer expensive and to have several thousand printed is not going to break the bank. There are many good online printers such as www.vistaprint.com where there are already hundreds of suitable templates to choose from or indeed you can design your own.

To make sure that your customers have business cards in their possession in order to be able to pass them on to others I recommend that every time you send out information to them, and it is a great idea to send newsletters, make sure you enclose several business cards. I always think that 3 is a good number. 1 or 2 seems mean and 4 may be cheeky! It works for me!

Using business cards will work for all types of business and this simple little tool will handsomely pay for itself over and aver again.

Roland Millward is a mortgage broker based in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. He blogs about business at In Business which is one blog you should check regulary! He has written a guest post before called Beat The Recession and has also been interviewed, so make sure you read that too!