Do you really need business cards?

Mr Daniel Joloba, an expert on SMEs working with Enterprise Uganda, says using business cards is one of the most powerful, yet ignored weapons in marketing.
He says, they give you a platform to leave your impression on potential clients.

Kampala

On my recent trip to Mali, one of the West African countries, I was surprised at how market vendors were quick at dishing out business cards to every client that went to their stalls.

This is not so popular here in Uganda as business cards are considered a waste of resources. But experts say, every business needs these small pieces of paper in whatever quality.

Business cards are cards bearing business information about a company or an individual. They are shared during formal introductions as a convenience and a memory aid.
A business card includes the giver’s name, company affiliation (usually with a logo) and contact information such as street addresses, telephone numbers, fax number, e-mail addresses and website.

Business cards are inexpensive items, costing about Shs200 each, yet indispensable tools of introducing yourself and what you do to prospective clients and other business connections. They serve as mini-resumes that can be dispensed to anyone, anywhere and at any time.

Mr Daniel Joloba, an expert on SMEs working with Enterprise Uganda, says using business cards is one of the most powerful, yet ignored weapons in marketing.
He says, they give you a platform to leave your impression on potential clients.

“Remember, when people leave your presence/confines, majority of the time they forget you, your business premises and anything to do with you forever,” he says.
However, every time a customer looks at your business card, he/she is reminded of your company. Chances of using your services or buying your products increase exponentially.

Business cards give you an opportunity to express yourself and your business at impromptu times. They are a good way to introduce your company and/or products to a stranger without necessarily offending them.
Mr Joloba says that people always take a discussion with you to the next level when you offer them a business card.

“Their curiosity is increased with a business card as opposed to complete verbal explanations,” he says.
Despite their small size, they include a great deal of information about your business, which normally arouses a potential clients’ interest.

With business cards, you are able to communicate. Good communication is the key to advancement and growth in business.

“When you communicate properly, you connect with customers. When you connect with customers, you generate business. Business cards have the ability to be a form of communication with your prospective and existing clients,” Mr Joloba says.

Businesses survive due to regular customers and having new clients. This will bring additional revenue for the company and allows the company to grow.

However, having a business card doesn’t mean that one has to clog it with all the details the company is dealing in.

This is where the question of what information you should put on your business card comes up?

Mr Joloba says it all depends on you but it is important to illuminate your business name and logo at the top. This should be clear and devoid of spelling mistakes.
The name of the person and position they hold in the business is very important.

The contact address (telephone, street name, building name (if applicable), suite number (if applicable), the floor number (if applicable) and the services offered (preferably at the back of the card).
However, you need not put each of these items of information on your card.

It is highly recommended that you put a picture on your business card. Studies have shown that people are more likely to hold on to a business card with a photo on it. It could be your picture, a picture of your product or a combination of both.

Picture cards get attention! A tagline is a one sentence benefit statement. So using this is also valuable for your business.

Your business card should represent the perfect image of your company; in fact, it is the one item that will be remembered on that first encounter!

It is also not advisable to be mean with the key information needed as itemised above.

The wording should be easy enough to read without straining one’s eyes and care should be taken not to misspell names and addresses. Avoid fancy images and difficult to read fonts. The card should not be easily destroyed even when water accidentally pours on it.
It should not be too big to fit in a pocket size wallet, and not too small to be easily fitted in a card holder.
In Uganda, business cards can be accessed anywhere along Nkurumah Road and Nasser Road.

The charges depend on the quantity and type of paper used for instance, when you print on bond paper, you are charged Shs25,000, while on any normal paper one pays Shs20,000 and those laminated are highly charged between Shs40,000-50,000 for every 100 cards.