The distribution of your business card should not be just an afterthought, but a thoughtfully conceived marketing campaign in and of itself. There are many ways to develop a unique plan that can buy you top of mind awareness—so when someone thinks of mortgages, they think of you.
Your business card can be an unusual size or color. It can be printed with useful information. Or, the distribution methods can be the unique part of your business card marketing plan. With those thoughts in mind, here are 33 things you can do to get the most marketing mileage from your little old business card.
Unique Size or Color
1. Make it the size of a size of a dollar bill. Have a copy of a dollar bill printed on the backside and your information printed on the front of the card with a headline that says, "I Have Millions of These to Lend!" Hey, how about having your picture on the dollar bill (where Washington's picture is located) as well?
2. Make it the size of a bookmark. Your information is printed on the front, with a list of financial books and authors' names that may be of interest, printed on the back.
3. Have your business card folded. The top of the fold says something like "I can save you thousands of dollars on your next mortgage—open to learn how."
4. Attach an object to your card like an aspirin and the words "no need to take one of these when you get your mortgage from me."
5. Produce your business card as a label where the back can be peeled off and attached to something as well.
6. Make a magnetic business card.
7. Use wild background colors like lime green or bright yellow.
8. Have your business card die-cut into different shapes like a dollar bill sign ($), or in the shape of a house.
Valuable Information
9. List your niche market: "I specialize in working with first-time home buyers" or "You can get a mortgage, even if you have had credit problems in the past."
10. On the back of the card, list one mistake people make when shopping for a mortgage, and then ask them to call you for a free brochure on the other nine mistakes.
11. Print the name of your affinity-marketing partners on the back of your card (e.g. your insurance agent, financial planner, CPA) and most importantly, ask them to do the same for you.
12. Print only your website address and e-mail address on the front of the card with the rest of your information on the back of the card. This is especially important if you wish to have your clients apply on-line.
13. Print a testimonial from a client on the back of your business card.
14. Tell something about yourself on the back of the card like your favorite sports team, hobby, family information, or your favorite classic car. The information can be used to start conversations and share something personal about you.
15. Print only your picture on one side of the card, with your information on the back. It could be a glossy photo of your face, a full-length photo of you sitting at your desk, or an action photo of you golfing, standing by your favorite car, skydiving or whatever.
Distribution Methods
16. Send a supply of business cards to your client after closing. Furthermore, send it to their place of employment, not their home, as this will give them a chance to distribute your cards to more people.
17. Include your business card in all verification of employment and verification of deposit requests.
18. Give to the waiter/waitress when you pay your bill.
19. Give to the tollbooth taker.
20. Pay the toll of the person behind you and ask the tollbooth operator to give them your card and that the toll has been paid compliments of you!
21. Send it to TV, radio, and newspaper reporters.
22. Include your business card when you pay your personal household bills.
23. Give to convenience store clerks.
24. Send to the seller. After all, you have their name and address on the contract.
25. Co-op with a Realtor or builder and send your card with a mailing to their clients.
26. Send your business card to all Chamber of Commerce members.
27. Send your card to all members of the clubs and organizations you belong to (you have the membership lists, right?)
28. Distribute your card to all businesses located in the area around your office. If you are located in an office complex, distribute to every office as well.
29. Give it to your dry cleaner, barber or beauty shop, housekeeper, car wash attendant, and all of the other people you do business with every day.
30. Give it to your doctor, dentist and/or chiropractor.
31. Give to the tellers at your bank or credit union.
32. Give your card to your children’s teachers and coaches.
33. Don't forget your family. Send a supply of your cards to them (even to family members who live outside your state)
I want to share with you a business card marketing plan developed by a friend of mine. His goal is to distribute 5,000 business cards per year. That's one heck of a lot of cards if you think about it. The business card is over-sized, includes a picture of him on one side of the card but instead of having a title (like loan officer), it says "I Have Mortgage Money to Lend. Please turn over card for more information." He prints all 5,000 cards at the same time but only the front side. However, on the backside of the card, he changes the message on 1,000 cards at a time.
While the front of the card remains the same, the set of 1,000 cards may have a testimonial printed on the back. The next set of 1,000 cards may be a mistake people make shopping for a mortgage. The third set of 1,000 cards has a mortgage tip on taking out a 25-year versus a 30-year mortgage.
Well, you get the picture. By printing 5,000 at one time, it reduces the cost and by changing the message on the backside, he can selectively distribute the card to niche markets.
Oh, just one more idea! Consider changing your title to something unique like Mortgage Money Distributor or Finder of Mortgage Money. Creative titles will also help you stand out and be different than everyone else.
If you use a creative title on your business card or use an unusual business card, I'd love to hear about it. Just e-mail me at
