While obvious, this little fact of life is often overlooked by mail-order start-up companies. They take the time and trouble to send out thousands of letters or publish ads in magazines, but when customers call to order, they are transferred to a voice mail system or answering machine. Since most people are wary of leaving their credit card information through a recorded message they have no control over, many of them will promptly hang up and eventually forget about the order. If you cannot handle orders yourself, considering hiring an inbound telemarketing service with live operators to take care of them for you. Such services can also supply you with a toll free number for a small fee.

A good starting point while searching for such firms to help you would be the “Answer Network”. You can visit their web site by clicking this link for more info online: http://www.answernet.com/

Remember – the easier you make it for your customers to order from you, the more orders you will receive.

2 Ways to use your Business Cards Successfully
by Ron E. Gielgun

1. Make your business card unique and graphically appealing

Once in a while, even the most untidy of business people will sort through their various business cards accumulated and throw away the least important ones. However, interesting or unusual business cards may be allowed to remain regardless of their immediate importance. To make sure your cards survive this selection process, make them unique and graphically appealing.

-> Choose an intriguing color scheme
-> Have important or useful data printed on the back
-> Use holograms and optical illusions
-> Use translucent plastic instead of paper

If your card looks expensive, it will be harder for your prospects to dispose of it.

2. Your business card must be worth money to prospects

Prospects will not throw away your business cards if they are worth something to them. Useful information printed on the back of the business card might help. However, for prospects to think of your card as a real windfall, which should never be thrown away, its value must translate into dollars and cents. To do this, contact

-> Local restaurants
-> Barber shops
-> Pizza parlors
-> Photos
-> Fast food chains

Get them to give anyone presenting your business card a discount on their products or services.

They will not be doing you any favors by agreeing - it is you who will be giving them free publicity and who will be referring new customers to them. In return, your card will become a discount card that is not only worth saving, but that your prospects will want to carry with them at all times. Have the business card made with durable material (e.g. plastic)

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