How new business can begin with a new business card

Creating a strong brand identity is one of the most important aspects when starting a business.

Knowing who you are, why you exist and what you can do for your customers ensures anyone approaching your company can clearly define how you can help them.

According to Pietro Pagani, Vistaprint’s design expert and Creative Manager, sitting down to make a simple list of your business aims and goals in a manifesto is a great place to start.

He says: “Unless you know and understand your own skills and therefore what you are able to do, how do you expect to convey that to your potential customers.

“Identifying that and then the types of customers you are hoping to attract will enable you to streamline your networking and lead generation so that you perfectly target those who are most likely to employ your services.”

Pietro believes it is also important to decide what sets your business apart from the opposition so you can clearly market this to your potential customer base.

And when you’ve done all of this, you can flag up your skills and company abilities in a number of ways including business cards, printed banners and leaflets.

He says: “Even though smartphone apps now allow people to swap contacts electronically, the business card has never been more important.

“In fact, recent Vistaprint research showed 56% of small business owners use them with more than half of recipients holding on to them in a drawer or on the fridge for use at a later date.

“A massive 38% of business owners also told how new business had come off as much as six months or more after initially handing out a business card to a prospect.”

He adds: “Having a strong and easily identifiable logo is a must too, something that is memorable and makes you stand out. With Vistaprint you can then use the logo as the centrepiece of a business card and other marketing products easily designed by you using our wealth of simple customisation options or ready-made designs.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Vistaprint.co.uk .