Expert: Peter Gabany - 2/11/2010

Question
Hi Peter,

My partner and I are in the process of starting a home-based business.  During one of our meetings, we discussed what information should be included on our business cards.  We disagreed whether we should (should not) include the business twitter/facebk. accounts; along with the website.  

One believes adding the twitter/facebk. accounts would divert potential customers from spending money (on our website).  Just having the website (with the link to twitter and facebook) is enough.  Whereas, the other believes the more contact information on the business card, the more potential customers  

What do you think?  Thank you
Lisa

P.S. contact information include our p.o. box address, phone number, e-mail address, and website.  One thinks that is enough contact information to go on one card

Answer
Lisa,

Anything that will allow access to the channels that you will be communicating from are eventual reminders to explore your business. And since all the social marketing tools are getting response by silos of users then I would make those avenues prevalent at each step of the way. I WOULD limit the number of social networking tools you use though - all of them represent tremendous markets and to cover all of them… well impractical. I believe that Google's new Buzz will take off. But do include Twitter and Facebook if they reach your audience - Twitter for the 30+ crowd, Facebook for the 50+ and under 30 crowd. And Buzz, if you use it - no one knows where that will settle. And don't forget race or creed sectors - http://www.myblackinfo.com/african_american_websites.html

So in short - put all your contact information on the card. Some people follow twitter religiously on a mobile device and only when in the office will link to the web - but it may be the Tweet that drives them there and without a direction to follow, how would they ever read your Tweet?

Oh yes - do yourself a favour and print the back of your cards - something that will grab someones attention and not get the card thrown out. Cheap advertising/security.

I hope that this is helpful.

thank you,

Pete