In the past, business cards were used to simply state a person's name, business, address and phone number. Today these are often still the most important elements on the business card, however with the increased complexity of today's business climate, new ingredients must be included if your cards are to compete with your competitors.

Imagine the difference to your bottom line, if instead of simply being thrown away or placed in a pile of other business cards, your card ignites a spark of interest which motivates your prospect to look closer at what you have to offer?

Today, there is no excuse for having ineffective business cards! See below. Don't buy business cards unless they contain the following important new ingredients!

If you already know about what others are doing to make their cards work smarter for them, and you just want to purchase some great business cards at the most reasonable prices around, find out more about Visual Distraction's top-value business cards here.

#1 Most important new ingredient

What if there were a way your business card could convert a higher percentage of prospects into customers, how much more would you earn as a result? A business card is a terrific way to generate more interest in your website.

The most important new ingredient to be included on your business card is actually a combination of two things - your URL or web address, and your Email address. This combination invites your prospect to look closer at what you have to offer, and to be able to quiz you about details. What more can you ask?

If they didn't ask, or you didn't tell them when you first handed them your card, this is EXACTLY what you want them to do. The Internet has brought small business many benefits, perhaps most importantly the "level playing field". These days every business can appear as large, established, or as professional as any other. This combination of a Business Card and a Website means you have an effective, flexible and efficient marketing machine at your disposal.

Are you losing market-share to your opposition? In 2007, if you haven't got an Internet presence you should ask yourself how serious you are about being in business, because if customers can't find you on the internet, then they will find someone else on the internet.

Even if people aren't buying directly from your website, they are increasingly researching their next purchase, and forming the basis for their decision, whether it be for a product or service, on the net -- just like what you are doing now. If your marketing machine fails to attract, inform, and impress them while they're hot, they are gone. Probably forever.

Therefore, when you think about printing some new Business Cards, ask yourself if you are ready to compete on the Internet, because that is where the market is now being played out - and it will continue to become more important as people grow more confident shopping and buying online.

Want to know something about email addresses? It's important - learn about it here.

#2 Most important ingredient

What if you could double the space you use to spread your vital message, without spending a single dollar extra? In the past, people under-utilized their cards by using the front only. Often this was because designers or printers would charge significantly more to print both sides. Other times it was because it was thought "proper" to use the front only. Yet other times it was because people couldn't think of anything they thought important enough to make it worthwhile printing on the back.

A prospect said to me recently,
"No-one reads the back of business cards anymore".

Well, I can understand why he thought that. There was nothing on the back of his! Sometimes this may be the case, but only if there is nothing on the back to make it worthwhile looking. But, and here is the #2 most important ingredient, if you place something that makes your prospect value your card on the back, they will not only read it, but they will KEEP it and USE it! Discover 7 different options for the back of your cards here!

#3 Most important new ingredient

What is your business, if it is not UNIQUE? Why do people buy from you? Is it because you are the same as every other business of your kind, or is it because you stand out; because you offer them something better or different from the rest?

If you are unique (and I'm sure you are, and that you're proud of it), then why in the world would you want a Business Card that didn't represent your uniqueness? It just doesn't make sense. Effective visual communication uses a special blend of obvious and not so obvious graphic, colour and textual elements in a way which, if done properly, should influence a client in a certain way.

It is almost impossible to reflect a specific, meaningful message using a template as a basis. Cookie-cutter cards just don't cut the mustard. If over 90% of Business Cards are thrown away the day they are received, how can you ensure yours is one of the 10% that are kept and used?

For a start, your card should be unique.

• It should impress,
• It should be attractive,
• It should be interesting,
• It should pass on a little bit of YOU, and hopefully,
• Represent something that you do.