1. Staple it to any check you send out. Everyone needs your product at some point and if they see your name every month, they’ll remember you when their need arises.
   
2. Paper clip it to any letter or document you send. They can’t remove a letterhead, but they just might save your business card.
   
3. When asked for your card, give that person an extra one to give to someone else. Enlisting the help of your customer is an extremely effective sales tool and you make it easy for happy customers to refer you.
   
4. When receiving a card, ask for a second for a customer, friend, etc. Then when you give your card, they probably will also ask for a second.
   
5. Don’t worry that your card might be discarded. Instead buy more cards. Get them out there. It’s a numbers game. The cards you give out may not turn into business tomorrow, but a month or a year from now … who knows.
   
6. Pin more than one card on bulletin boards set up for business cards. Surprisingly they work. You have a beautiful eye catching card. Fan them and pin them and watch what happens. Just don’t forget to go back and replenish every so often.
   
7. Call people you have given your card to. Ask them to bring it in for a promotion you’re doing. Give them a lottery ticket, discount coupon, etc. If they’ve lost it tell them you’ll send them a new one in the mail and then bring that one in. You’ll know who kept your card and you get a chance to talk to that prospect again.
   
8. Put a number from 1-10 on the back of the cards you receive. You’ll know who to get right back to and who is probably not interested.
   
9. Send thank you notes as often as you can. Yeah you hate to send them, but people love to get them. Throw in a business card. They’ll more than likely keep it because of your thoughtfulness.
   
10. Use a small sheet of stationary (not 81/2 x 11) and staple your business card to it. It makes for a very attractive thank you note.
    
11. People don’t react the first time they hear a TV commercial or hear a radio spot, so don’t be concerned about giving out too many cards to the same person. The more times they see your name and what you do, the better your chance of getting their business. If they say they have your card, ask them to pass it on.
    
12. Once a week send out:
    
    • 4 cards to people you do business with. Thank them for their business with a personal hand-written note.
      
    • 4 cards to people you want to do business with. Include a note telling them about something new or different about your product, service or business.
      
    • 4 cards to people who you saw in the daily paper. Congratulate them on the press they received and send them a copy of the article.
      
    • 4 cards to people you know and ask them to give them to people who might do business with you.
      
    That’s a cost effective use of 16 cards, and it beats keeping your cards in the bottom right hand draw
    
13. If a meeting goes bad and it looks like you won’t get the business from that particular client, ask for your card back or if it’s sitting on a desk, take it back. It’s bold, but you’ll be surprised how that small action can change the tone – and if it doesn’t you probably didn’t want to do business with them anyway.

Thanks to Bob Popyk “Here’s My Card” Renaissance Books 2000