Marketing 101 : Playing Your Business Card

In the age that we are in, nothing is more valuable than information. This is what drives the generator of knowledge, growth and development. Asking the right question, having the appropriate data, enables companies to utilize a variety of resources more effectively. The more that one knows about a product, service, the competition or a person, the better the decision which is based upon it.

Relating this to job search is vital. If there is a lack of information about what skills and abilities you bring to the table in your network, the less help they are capable of giving. Unless you walk around with your resume on a sandwich board, the question is, how can you create a “buzz” about what you are marketing?

THE LIGHT BULB MOMENT
In a local election for town council, one candidate came up with a distinctive, creative, powerful way for the voters to get to know who he was and what he stood for. It was small, lightweight, ideal to distribute, and saved paper. Because instead of a campaign flyer or brochure, he gave out a business card!

Yes, just a simple, well crafted business card with the key facts that he wanted people to know about him. On the front, there was the typical contact information with something extra, his slogan. The back was where the impact lies. It listed his community service, previous offices held, and a very brief synopsis of his employment history.

For a job seeker, this lesson can translate to you. Your slogan is the one, best reason why an employer would want to hire you. Make sure that what you write s a statement of fact and has value to the career you want. It should be short and sweet, no more than 10 words, but just like a commercial, this will be the message that you want to get across about you. The back of the card will list 2 or 3 job titles and one accomplishment you had, which relates to your slogan. This is a snapshot, with talking points that you chose to highlight.

DIRECTING THE LIGHT
The advantages of this approach are many. When running around, you might not always have a clean copy of your resume handy. A business card fits easily in a pocket, purse or wallet. People save cards because they hold information in a small space. Plus, people might not take a resume, but they will always take a card. This idea shows creativity, a “think outside of the box” attitude that exhibits a pro-active problem solver in action. It helps you focus your message. And it saves paper.

Getting information into people’s hands is vital. Having a quick, easy, imaginative way to do so helps you stand out from the crowd in an uniquely positive way. This will increase the number of people you can contact and who can help you find the opportunity that you’re looking for. So the next time you say, “here’s my card”, make it an ace from your deck.