WAHM Forums

Hi all. I read on another site a few weeks ago and I got to thinking about it recently. One of the suggestions of getting your name and business out there was to include your business card in with your bill payments.

Has anyone done this?

Do you know if you got any bookings/sales/recruits from this?

Any other info/tips/suggestions?

Thanks
TK

One of the suggestions of getting your name and business out there was to include your business card in with your bill payments.

Has anyone done this?

I've never tried that, but I've enclosed a drop-card/sizzle-card with bill payments and many other "administrative postal things" (when I used to live in the UK). On two occasions that I know of, people who opened the post and saw the card called our recorded message, listened to the 7-minute spiel about the business and left their numbers to be called back. It actually turned out that we weren't willing to sponsor either of them (I can't remember the reasons, but it wouldn't have been suitable for them, anyway) but the idea's clearly a good one, and with free drop-cards from VistaPrint it costs absolutely nothing to do. :cool:

I know a couple of people who've "found people" by inserting drop-cards in "business opportunity books" at libraries (though my guess is that one isn't "supposed to do this", really?).

Most people "today" pay ALL their bills online or through tele-banking. I know I do.
Before the internet boom networkers actually did do that, put their cards in with their bill payments.
If you still pay the odd bill by snail mail I say why not?
But like Yulia said I would be careful about doing that in Libaries etc..

I worked in a library and I'll tell you what. There are worse things (I've been told from co-workers) that has been found in library books then business cards. But that is a thought. For all the next person knows, someone was using the card as a bookmark.

I am planning on making up a brief FYI small excerpt to include with the card.

I'm going to look more into this drop-card/sizzle-card you mentioned. I'm off to Google...

I'm going to look more into this drop-card/sizzle-card you mentioned. I'm off to Google...

If it helps, I wrote a bit about it here (http://www.dontforgetthisurl.com/drop-cards/) (there's nothing promotional, nothing affiliate, nothing commercial, no company named and no opt-in: purely information).

Several years ago I wrote a blog post titled "Is it Marketing or Littering?" I wonder what kind of impression you really leave by dropping business cards all over the place. For the few prospects you may find, how many others will remember you in a negative light?

If you start dropping cards, I recommend that you track results (use a special email address or web page for responses) so you know whether or not it works. And I'd ask you to leave your cards where you've been invited to leave them (like community bulletin boards).

If you're interested in my blog post, it's here (http://www.irepnetwork.com/blog/39/is-it-marketing-or-littering/). (It's an old post, but still relevant).

Great blog post Linda! Frankly, I think dropping biz cards all over the place yields very little if any results...more often than not, they are trashed by those who come across them which means wasted time and money.

I have to disagree with it being a waste because business cards are so cheap now. I also have to disagree with it being littering. After all one is not dropping them on the ground. I still pay my bills by writing a check and sending them in the mail and yes I have put my business cards in there! ( I don't trust online banking etc just me though I know lots of people do it). I also have put them in my deposits in the ATM machine and I have put them in magazines where my product is being advertised. I have left them with a every tip I leave in a restaurant as well. If anyone needs something written down from me such as an email, phone # or address, I give them my business card or write the info they requested on the back of one of my business cards. Post your business card on community bulletin boards too when appropriate. Hand them out with candy at Halloween. There are a ton of things you can do with them!

Business cards are an inexpensive way of getting your name out there and they won't do you any good at all stuffed in your purse or sitting in your drawer at home! Get them out there! I have had many calls and sales over the years by doing this. good luck!

I still pay a few bills the old fashioned way (the companies still charge a fee for electronic payments). I do drop a business card and scent sample into ALL outgoing mail. I have had zero response from doing this.

My take on it is you NEVER know where your next big lead will come from. It costs me no more to do this than to send the bill by itself, so why not. I also believe that a lot of our work in MLM/direct sales is closely related to personal connections with people. Dropping business cards here and there probably isn't the best way to CONNECT with others, but if it is something you are willing to do, go for it! Like I said, you just never know.

I would have to say, don't drop and bunch of time or $$ into it... Good luck.

I still pay my bills by writing a check and sending them in the mail and yes I have put my business cards in there! ( I don't trust online banking

Funny,thats how I feel about the mail system! With technology there are no worries about it not getting there and "every" business transaction is date, time stamped and recorded. Not to mention its faster.

As for littering you are not littering.

I have seen people put flyers on cars in parking lots for the wind to come and blow them away or people throw them on the ground. THAT is littering! :D It is also tacky and can get you into trouble.

Deb

I have to disagree with it being a waste because business cards are so cheap now. I also have to disagree with it being littering. After all one is not dropping them on the ground. I still pay my bills by writing a check and sending them in the mail and yes I have put my business cards in there! ( I don't trust online banking etc just me though I know lots of people do it). I also have put them in my deposits in the ATM machine and I have put them in magazines where my product is being advertised. I have left them with a every tip I leave in a restaurant as well. If anyone needs something written down from me such as an email, phone # or address, I give them my business card or write the info they requested on the back of one of my business cards. Post your business card on community bulletin boards too when appropriate. Hand them out with candy at Halloween. There are a ton of things you can do with them!

Business cards are an inexpensive way of getting your name out there and they won't do you any good at all stuffed in your purse or sitting in your drawer at home! Get them out there! I have had many calls and sales over the years by doing this. good luck!

Thank You! That is my thinking as well. The cards are cheap and besides the community boards that I have put mine up, I think taking it another more step further isn't a bad idea. I have already decided that this months bills I'll pay by the postal service. Maybe they will just toss, but then one never knows if you don't do it.

I have to get a better habit of leaving a card with the tips and I always carry cards with me.

I pay most of my bills online but I think that if you can afford it, it can't hurt to leave business cards everywhere and anywhere.
Personally I always get better results from brochures than cards, when I leave them locally.

I pay most of my bills online but I think that if you can afford it, it can't hurt to leave business cards everywhere and anywhere.
Personally I always get better results from brochures than cards, when I leave them locally.

That is probably a better idea. I was thinking if I put in business cards, that I might type up a short insert that informs them of the products and such. But the brochure would look more polished and put together.