Business cards??

Question

Account Closed · Answer

@Jessie Boyce I've been going to Real Estate Meetups without business cards for months and it works fine for me. If I make a true connection at a meetup, I just send them a text and save their number in my phone. Then I call them up or send them an email asking them to lunch. As a new investor with little experience, there's not a lot you can offer someone else, so creating and handing out business cards is not effective (after all, what is their motivation for contacting you even if they have your information). Focus on creating genuine relationships and bond over a common interest (real estate). Once you become seasoned, you can create business cards and hand them to clients to make yourself seem more professional.

Best of luck,

-Sean

Mindy Jensen · Answer

Business card suggestions from a former Graphic Designer.

1. Use an easy-to-read font. Nothing script-y, or ultra fancy. People aren't going to spend time trying to decipher what your name is, they'll just throw it away. Boring is best.

2. Use one font. At the most, two. You aren't trying to win awards for best design on a business card, you're trying to get business. See #1.

3. Use a logo. If you don't have one already, hop on fivrr.com and find someone who can design a nice, simple logo for you to use on all your communication. Start to build your brand with a unified look. Did you read the part where it says S-I-M-P-L-E logo...

4. Contact information. Any possible way to get in touch with you, put that on the card. Phone, email, an address they can send a letter to, even if it's just a PO Box. You want people to be able to contact you in whatever way makes them most comfortable.

Janet Voss · Answer

@Jessie Boyce I carry "personal cards" and have for years.  When I travel for pleasure, and meet people I'd like to keep in touch with, I give them a card.  When I go to an event, and network, I give them a card.  It's up to you what you want on the card.  I usually have my name, address, email and phone.

Nicole H. · Answer

@jessieboyce I was also wondering the same thing. I will be going to my first REI Meetup in a couple of weeks and I don't want to go without a business card. The dillema is what do I put on the card? I guess I'll find out soon lol

Jessie Boyce · Answer

Yeah you're right @Kelly Bochna. We should just go for it. At least just to have something even if it's superficial.

Good luck to you as well!

Meghan O'Connor · Answer

Hi Jessie,

There are a bunch of online companies where you can pretty easily design a relatively inexpensive business card.  I'm sure there are a lot of good ones out there...I have used Vistaprint and I continue to do so just because I'm very familiar with their design templates and am pretty comfortable using them now.  There are a lot out there to choose from however.  They are cool, because they have templates with designs available for you to choose from..you just choose what you like, and plug your info in..you can get a pretty nice looking card very easily and quickly.  Check it out and play around with it...as I said, there are a lot of companies out there I'm sure you'd be happy with..

Have fun networking and good luck!

Meghan

Jessie Boyce · Answer

excellent idea @Janet Voss... I will definitely do that! It'll be nice to just have something because I hate telling people no I don't have a card. Might as well stamp "I'm new at this and have no idea what I'm doing" across my head!

Thanks for sharing Account Closed! I do love vistaprint. I've used them for my other business (I make wedding cakes) and have been nothing but happy with them. :)

Account Closed · Answer

I would also recommend Vistaprint. About 6 months ago my post office where my PO box is located failed to inform me of the oversized Vistaprint package waiting for me. I didn't catch it until after they were supposed to return to sender (10 days) so I contacted Vistaprint and explained the situation. Without hesitation they immediately produced and sent out a 2nd order to me free of charge (this was 1000 business cards along with multiple other items) and were very friendly in our exchange via email.

I pass on this experience as I was genuinely surprised with their amazing response to the problem they had nothing to do with (post office was 100% at fault here).

Jessie Boyce · Answer

thank you @Meghan O'Connor. Any advice on what to put on them in addition to my information?

What I'm aspiring to do in REI?

Kelly Bochna · Answer

@Jessie Boyce I was actually wondering the same thing.  I have a attended a few meetings and would love to give cards out but haven't established my business yet either.  I am thinking there is no harm in making a card with my contact info so that it is easier to network while at events.  Good luck with your REI journey!

Business cards??

Most Popular Reply