Thanks to my friend Willyam for providing this business tip.

Note: Technically, this is a paid endorsement. Willyam recieved $5 (beer money) and a copy of my book as a thank you.

I had this guy do this cool sleight of hand card trick to help promote my book.

Please re-tweet or otherwise share if you enjoyed it.

Okay so maybe there is the possibility of being too successful. There was a story at UPI.com and hearladsun.com about two men who were arrested in New York after police stumbled upon a business card they were using to promote their marijuana and cocaine drug dealing operation. Their card advertised 24 hour delivery.  Anyway I guess in some weird way this proves that business card advertising can be an effective way to get noticed. In case you missed the moral of this story, here it is: Probably not a good idea to use business cards to promote illegal activities.

You’re Invited !!!

Call it a happy hour or coffee break if you prefer 

but this is a chance to rest from your mundane

chores and meet a few new people.

 This is a real time,

online networking event 

where you can actually talk with actual people.

Since you are doing it from your own location 

 you will need to provide your own beverage and snacks. 

but we will provide the opportunity to interact with

some interesting individuals  and learn a bit about each other.

Here are the guidelines. 

  Ideally you will call in to the phone number provided

using your landline, cell phone, Skype, VOIP

 ship to shore radio or whatever you have.   

  Simultaneously you will monitor

your Special Event Internet console

that will automatically display the profile

of the person you are speaking with and

display your profile to them. 

  So be sure to take 3 or 4 minutes

to prepare your profile in advance

of the meeting.

 Ideally when you register. 

Like right after you finish reading this.

  When the meeting begins,

and after a few introductory remarks,

probably from me, (about 5 minutes)

you will be randomly paired with

someone else on the call 

(by our online magic randomizer)  .

During your short (3-4 minute) meeting

I suggest you tell your partner something

you did this week to help a client

or how you introduced someone to your product

or service as a way of explaining what you do. 

So for instance, instead of saying: “My name is Reno

and I produce short multi-media web videos.”  

 You might say, “My name is Reno

and I just completed the production

of a short web video for a client who

recently published a novel 

 and I am working with a potential client

who owns a sign company and wants a

short web video to show people the different

kinds of signs he manufactures. 

In this way in a short period of time

you can give your new contact an idea

of what kinds of projects you do and

the benefits of your product or service. 

 He or she will likely respond

with a few questions to clarify

and then share his or her

business experiences with you. 

This is a bit like speed dating

or networking on the subway.

When your time is up

you will be abruptly

and unceremoniously

switched to a new partner. 

 But no worries mate!

You’ll have a chance to send an email

through the system when the event is over

 and follow-up with those individuals that

  you want to follow up with.         

 Be not afraid.

This is a fun new way to make business contacts

and expand your sphere of influence,

and you don’t even have to comb your hair.

 Register now!

Click on these very words you are reading now.

Oh yeah … It’s Tuesday – June 8,2010 at 4 PM (CST) for 55 minutes.

Video of some guy throwing business cards.

I promise it is very cool.

Many of you have maybe seen the piano staircase video. If not here it is.  Thanks to YouTube.

The notable thing from a marketing and particularly a video marketing standpoint is how VolksWagen engineered this interesting story to promote their message of  “the fun theory” which ultimately suggests that VolksWagens are fun without actually ever showing a car.

Through this campaign they have created a viral video that promotes their message without being obvious.  Just some food for thought for those of you thinking how you can reach out to your target market.

Designers today can take a tip from many of the business cards printed in the 19th and early 20th Century. These cards are full of information and presented in an artistic manner that is simply lacking today in spite of our advanced technology. Much of this may be due in part to the aesthetics of the post modern era and the idea of “less is more.”  But look at the sense of balance combined with attention to detail and shear artistry exhibited in this example provided by Halcyon Rare Books of Adams, TN.  The cards of this era were painstakingly etched, reflecting the craftsmanship of their time, with great care to faithfully represent the product being sold and to convey an image that would resonate with the intended customer.

Vinatage Business Card - South Bend Pulley

This example of South Bend Pulley proudly announces its business as manufacturers of Wood Split Pulleys with Iron Hubs and Iron Bushings; no doubt the state-of-the art pulley technology of the day. The card displays the names and titles of each of the company’s key personnel, includes a detailed drawing of its product and presents it all on a decorative bed of roses adding a sense of elegance and good taste to an otherwise cold and industrial enterprise. The shaded hand drawn font is effective and unique.

The main criticism I have of this card is the repetition of the “South Bend” which appears four times on the card. Arguably the redundancy may be there to reinforce the name however the South Bend, IND on the bottom of the card could have easily been left off with no harm to the message. In fact it appears to me to have been an afterthought as it is perilously close to the bottom and is rendered in a font that is less delicate than the rest of the card.

I believe this is a business card that company president M.F. Milton would have been proud to hand out when calling on captains of industry who might be in a position to use his product. It is important to note that people do business with other people and this card suggests that he and his associates are Victorian gentlemen of refinement.

Photo courtesy of www.HalcyonRareBooks.com .

Here’s a tasty or possibly tasteless idea.  A business card made of beef jerky with your message laser printed into the dried flesh. Yummy.

I suggest making a membership card  so your members can claim to be “card carrion members” of your club or organization.

How about a business card that is also its own wallet.

For any accountants out there. Is this a printing expense or a meal expense?

Consider getting these cards for your next “meat-up.”

To learn more about this protein rich business card alternative visit http://www.meatcards.com/.

Eye Catching Business Card

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could keep track of where your cards travel? J.R. Ballard literally “kept an eye” on his business cards in this vintage card offered for sale on Ebay by Midwest Resale Store.  www.businesscardtobusiness.com/blog