Business card ideas?

Is anybody here using a single business card for a business that actually represents 3-4 different "profit centers" (services)? How can this be done without the business looking "sloppy" or schizophrenic?

Or should a separate card be produced for each profit center?

You'd be best to have separate cards for each.

If you want to display each, why not have a central box with the address, phone etc and have little arrows/lines off to each of the four corners giving a glimpse of what each service is. Have to really skinny the corner text down, of course.

Better yet: do a two sided card type brochure and put two per side. This way folks will get to know all your services.

You could make it a mailer by simply doubling the card brochure to allow for a 'grabber' on the frontside and mail addy etc on the other with the four ads within.

Sandi Bowman

If they're simular or complimenting services - I say list them
You could set up the card as Sandi suggested, or place contact info in one corner (like lower left) and list the different services prominently in the center.

BUT if the services (or profit centers) are vastly different or of a competing nature and they're listed on the same card - it'll just look like you either can't make up your mind as to what you're doing, or like none of the services is good enough to make it on it's own merits (whether this is true or not, can turn potential customers/clients off from utilizing you for those services).

Sandi & Jafetica --

Thanks for the input. I guess I'm just trying to avoid the hassle of carrying so many different business cards around with me.

Another option I thought of: a simple card with my name and phone number, email, etc. that I just scribble a note on when I hand it to a particular prospect. For instance, I'm talking to somebody about putting a direct mail campaign together for them, and I could just scribble "direct mail" on the back of the card to remind them. If I'm writing resumes, I'd just scratch "resumes" on the card.

Nothing's simple, is it?

Those two items could be considered complimenting businesses...
You could list them together underneath a broader heading of "Business Services"

Hey Wally,
I saw your dilemma and spotted a card design with a format that might give you the flexibility you need. http://cardobserver.com/gallery/genie-alisa

Originally Posted by writeonbro

Hey Wally,
I saw your dilemma and spotted a card design with a format that might give you the flexibility you need. http://cardobserver.com/gallery/genie-alisa

Interesting approach, although it may be a bit flamboyant (sp?) for me.

On a "Dare" I showed 2 people how "easy" it is to make money SELLING "Photo" Business Cards and get....$129 + $30 one-time setup ($60 if I take the Photos...$189)
Re-orders are $129. They cost me $19 per M....shipped to my door.

Back in March there was a "Home & Garden" show at our local Fairgrounds. I went to the 200 or so Vendor Booths of LOCAL businesses and picked up their Brochures, Flyers AND Business Cards.

Something that astounded me was the fact that ALL their Flyers and Brochures were in beautiful FULL COLOR....BUT....most of their business cards were PLAIN...maybe in a colored ink but basically PLAIN JANE.

So....I took their brochures or flyers and Scanned in 4 PHOTOS.

Using MSPublisher, I divided a business card size (3.5 wide by 2 high) into 2 Panels.....1/3rd on the right and 2/3rds on the left.

In the 2/3rds on the left I placed FOUR (4) PHOTOS from their color materials and placed their Logos & Contact Info in the right-side 1/3 panel.

Using the "Business Card Stock" from Staples....I created and printed out 10 Sample Cards.

I then made up a Sales Letter and attached the Sample Card to the top right of the letter (similar to something Gary Halbert showed me back in 1985) and sent them to the Names on the Cards....asking the recipients to call me if they were interested in having me provide Cards for them.

Out of this mailing to just TEN people....I was able to sell 16 orders of Cards at between $159 and $189 each.

On the back of some I placed a MAP on how to get to their business. Others I put a Calendar. Others had other things.

I call this..."BUSINESS CARDS ON SPEC"!

I'd be glad to send you a few Samples, Wally...and my Printing Source. Just email me.

Don Alm

P.S. I also did this for their Websites...which I call "Websites On Spec".

that is a great idea with cards. It may cost a little to get the cards but a great idea