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How To Stand Out at Your Next Trade Show: Engage All The Senses
In the hyper competitive world of trade shows trying to stand out from the crowd can be quite challenging. It seems that everyone has a nice display, great graphics, brochures and the typical ball point pen or koozie with logo which makes it difficult to be different. Below are a few strategies that can be used to create that unique experience and leave lasting impressions.At a typical trade show your eyes and ears are pretty much being taken care of, but what about the sense of smell, touch and taste? Here are a few strategies that can help engage all the other senses.Smell - Smells can create quite an emotional response in most individuals. In fact, you probably have a fond memory attached to the smell of your grandmothers freshly baked cookies or the smell of wood in your fathers workshop. For example, every time I smell gasoline I think of working at my grandfathers gas station as a child in the summer. ScentAir, based in Charlotte, NC, offers scent delivery systems that are normally used in retail, medical and entertainment venues but can easily be adapted for the trade show floor. The company offers over 1000 scents and can even custom create a branded scent just for your company.Touch - Touch is how we learn as children and is also a valuable learning tool as adults. Put p

, grab a blank sheet of paper. Come up with as many ideas as possible. Let your creativity run wild! And to help you get started, here’s a list of 16 creative ideas to make your business card UNFORGETTABLE:

1. Size or Shape – Rectangle, schmectangle. I’ve seen squares, circles, ovals and triangles. Each shape made a connection to the brand, and each shape stood out amidst the endless regression of the same old rectangles.

2. Chocolate Business Cards (yes, these DO exist) – Several companies have online catalogues for personalized chocolate cards. Expensive? Yes. Delicious? Probably. Memorable? You better believe it.

3. Trading Cards – If your company is team oriented, get trading cards with your “players” pictures and stats. Then encourage your customers and prospects to “collect all 12!”

4. Cartoons – Get a custom cartoon commissioned for the back of your card. It’s cheap, royalty free and absolutely unique to your business.

5. Table/Chart – Include a mortgage loan interest table or some staggering statistics on the back. These are helpful r

What Is Costa Mesa Mold Abatement?
Are you a Costa Mesa homeowner or business owner? If you are, have you ever heard of a process that is sometimes referred to as Costa Mesa mold abatement? If not, you may want to take time to familiarize yourself with it, especially if you feel that your home or business may have a mold problem.Although a Costa Mesa mold abatement process is a relatively common one, there are some California homeowners and business owners who are unfamiliar with the term Costa Mesa mold abatement. What you should know is that Costa Mesa mold abatement is the same thing as mold removal. Mold abatement involves the removal and cleanup of all mold types. In addition to being known as mold removal, mold abatement is also commonly referred to as mold remediation.No matter what the name, Costa Mesa mold abatement is something that your home or business may have to undergo. Although it is not always healthy or safe, many homes and businesses all across the United States, not just in California, have mold problems. The good news is that if you have mold, it can be treated or removed. To have your home undergo a Costa Mesa mold abatement process, you will want to contact a mold remover or specialist. There are some instances where you could work to have your own mold removed from your own home or business, but there are too many things to learn, as well as too

Every time you hear someone say “May I have one of your business cards?" you should get excited. I know I do. That’s because I LOVE my cards. I spent thousands of dollars on printing, several hours on designing and went through 10 different layouts until I got them right.

And it was all worth it.

A business card is an entrepreneur’s best friend, his most valuable marketing tool and an essential element to becoming UNFORGETTABLE. Unfortunately, too many people have business cards that simply blend into the multitude of cookie cutter crap. And that’s a shame, because a business card is more powerful than you think.

Of course, it’s impossible to know this unless you actually have a card that’s really, really good. Therefore, this article will examine The Four Corners of Unforgettable Business Cards:

1. Stacking Up
2. Standing Out
3. Creative Enhancement
4. Implementation

CORNER #1: How Does Your Card Stack Up?
Think back to the last trade show, networking event, seminar, convention, social hour or association meeting you attended. How did people react to your business card? Did they compliment its design? Quickly shove it into their pocket? Show it to someone else? Rip it up?

Whatever the response was, your card made some type of impression. But only the most creative, unique and memorable business cards make UNFORGETTABLE impressions. And those types of cards elicit reactions like…

“I showed your card to everybody in my office!” says a hot prospect.

“Can I have another one? A friend of mine will LOVE this!” exclaims your tablemate.

“Oooh! I want one too!” begs the person in looking over your shoulder.

“Hey…can you show my friend Paul your business card!” asks a colleague of yours.

“You know, I’ve never thrown your card away!” says one of your customers.

If you’ve ever heard a compliment along those lines before, congrats! You’re on the right track.

That reminds me of Gus. He and I sat next to each other at a sales seminar a few years ago. During the program, the facilitator asked the audience members to exchange cards and get to know each other. Gus’s card was amazing: thick, colorful, double sided, bold, shiny and best of all, simple. (That was no surprise – he was in advertising!) But it was one of the best I’d ever seen. So we introduced ourselves, exchanged cards and talked for a few minutes. And that was about it. Nice guy, I thought.

Now, here’s the cool part: although Gus and I didn’t really keep in touch, I’ve never thrown his card away. I show it to everyone! In fact, I even use it as a prop in some of my networking workshops! His card was just that good.

Is yours that good? Keep that question in the back of your mind as you read on. Now let’s move into the next section and find out why certain cards stand out more than others.

CORNER # 2: Standing Out
Recently I took 66 business cards I've collected over the years and spread them out on a table. I closed my eyes for 30 seconds, opened them and took note of which cards stood out the most. And here's what I noticed:

Red: every card that had red on it stood out.

Picture: only a few cards had pictures of the cardholder. This not only made them stand out, but helped me connect faces with names and companies.

Vertical: several cards were formatted vertically, which caught my eye.

Black Background: most cards have a white background, so the black ones REALLY stood out.

Image: cards with some sort of colorful image that took up at least one fourth of the total surface area captured my interest.

(To view a high quality image of this game of 66 Card Pick Up, go to http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/2005/03/does-your-business-card-stand-out.html)

This was a valuable exercise in understanding UNFORGETTABLE business cards, and I recommend it to everyone. Try it out! Gather dozens of accumulated cards from your desk and discover which ones stand out. Oh, and don't forget to put your OWN card in the pile. You’ll be amazed at what you see.

Or don't see.

CORNER #3: Creative and Unique Ways to Enhance Your Card
Now that you’ve analyzed your own card and have been exposed to a large quantity of other people cards, your mind should be swimming with new, creative ideas. This is the perfect time to brainstorm ways to enhance your card. So, grab a blank sheet of paper. Come up with as many ideas as possible. Let your creativity run wild! And to help you get started, here’s a list of 16 creative ideas to make your business card UNFORGETTABLE:

3. Trading Cards – If your company is team oriented, get trading cards with your “players” pictures and stats. Then encourage your customers and prospects to “collect all 12!”

4. Cartoons – Get a custom cartoon commissioned for the back of your card. It’s cheap, royalty free and absolutely unique to your business.

5. Table/Chart – Include a mortgage loan interest table or some staggering statistics on the back. These are helpful re

The Top 10 Steps for Organizing Your Office/Workspace
Do you run late for meetings, misplace keys, files, important documents, or other items, run afoul of deadlines, or forget appointments? If so, you're not alone. Americans lose/waste nine (9) million hours per day looking for misplaced items, according to the American Demographics Society. If this is an area of challenge for you, follow the 10 simple steps below and get your work environment organized once and for all!1. Think at a helicopter level and identify the major categories of items to be kept in your office/workspace. Limit the number of categories to a maximum of 7 or 8. For example: 1) operational items - phone numbers, expense reports, instructions and procedures, 2) customer files, 3) product samples, 4) tax and legal - contracts and receipts, 5) reading, 6) tools - assessments and articles, and 7) future projects.2. Sort every item, every piece of paper, every file in your office/workspace into the piles that represent the major categories identified in step #1. Start with all visible items, then move to the items stored in drawers, file cabinets and overhead bins. If you have an extraordinary amount of material to categorize, you might want to get a large box for each category so your piles don't get mixed up.3. Cull each category. Be determined to eliminate everything but the absolute necessities. Dispose o

ur business card? Did they compliment its design? Quickly shove it into their pocket? Show it to someone else? Rip it up?

“I showed your card to everybody in my office!” says a hot prospect.

“Can I have another one? A friend of mine will LOVE this!” exclaims your tablemate.

“Oooh! I want one too!” begs the person in looking over your shoulder.

“Hey…can you show my friend Paul your business card!” asks a colleague of yours.

“You know, I’ve never thrown your card away!” says one of your customers.

If you’ve ever heard a compliment along those lines before, congrats! You’re on the right track.

Is yours that good? Keep that question in the back of your mind as you read on. Now let’s move into the next section and find out why certain cards stand out more than others.

Red: every card that had red on it stood out.

Picture: only a few cards had pictures of the cardholder. This not only made them stand out, but helped me connect faces with names and companies.

Vertical: several cards were formatted vertically, which caught my eye.

Black Background: most cards have a white background, so the black ones REALLY stood out.

Image: cards with some sort of colorful image that took up at least one fourth of the total surface area captured my interest.

(To view a high quality image of this game of 66 Card Pick Up, go to http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/2005/03/does-your-business-card-stand-out.html)

Or don't see.

3. Trading Cards – If your company is team oriented, get trading cards with your “players” pictures and stats. Then encourage your customers and prospects to “collect all 12!”

4. Cartoons – Get a custom cartoon commissioned for the back of your card. It’s cheap, royalty free and absolutely unique to your business.

5. Table/Chart – Include a mortgage loan interest table or some staggering statistics on the back. These are helpful r

The Multi-Purpose Character of the Innovative Text to Screen Software Products
Text to screen software systems are the innovative approach to entertainment, marketing and advertising. Such tools are extremely adaptable, easy and quick to use, reliable and very effective in closing the gap between businesses and their targeted clientele. The variety of features comprised by text to screen systems renders such tools perfect for businesses that want to achieve better exposure and promote their services the simple and cost-effective way.Text to screen systems refer to interactive text messaging software products which allow users to display messages on screens in real time. Such systems are guaranteed to enhance events by encouraging clients or guests to participate actively in games, shows and contests, and also enable users to boost profits through live advertising. The best characteristic of interactive text messaging systems is that they can serve for multiple purposes simultaneously. For instance, such software tools can be used for live chat while also advertising for sponsors. Companies that use such systems can easily combine entertainment with advertising, thus being able to substantially increase profits.In addition, text to screen software tools are very quick and easy to use, require minimal installation and input, and are compatible with a variety of hardware equipments (digital monitors, projector screens, etc

and best of all, simple. (That was no surprise – he was in advertising!) But it was one of the best I’d ever seen. So we introduced ourselves, exchanged cards and talked for a few minutes. And that was about it. Nice guy, I thought.

Is yours that good? Keep that question in the back of your mind as you read on. Now let’s move into the next section and find out why certain cards stand out more than others.

Red: every card that had red on it stood out.

Picture: only a few cards had pictures of the cardholder. This not only made them stand out, but helped me connect faces with names and companies.

Vertical: several cards were formatted vertically, which caught my eye.

Black Background: most cards have a white background, so the black ones REALLY stood out.

Image: cards with some sort of colorful image that took up at least one fourth of the total surface area captured my interest.

(To view a high quality image of this game of 66 Card Pick Up, go to http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/2005/03/does-your-business-card-stand-out.html)

Or don't see.

3. Trading Cards – If your company is team oriented, get trading cards with your “players” pictures and stats. Then encourage your customers and prospects to “collect all 12!”

4. Cartoons – Get a custom cartoon commissioned for the back of your card. It’s cheap, royalty free and absolutely unique to your business.

5. Table/Chart – Include a mortgage loan interest table or some staggering statistics on the back. These are helpful r

Small Cards, Big Ideas: Alternative Uses for Business Cards
Aggressive business card marketing isn't about handing your business cards out to everyone you see.The card itself must have a new use, an innovative design, or something other than the usual contact information printed on it. To make your little card stand out, try these other ideas.Print something other than a business card on biz card-sized cardstock.You may have seen loyalty cards for "buy 10 get one free" offers; why not print one of your own? Print a frequent buyer card or other promotional offer on your card. The whole card can be a coupon for a free consultation, a discount, or a free gift with purchase. Remember include an expiration date on them! Then hand them out to all your customers.Print a short survey on a card.Offer an incentive for people to return the card to you with the survey answered--they can get a free gift or a discount just for answering a few simple questions. Then give them a new card with your contact information on it.Other things you might print on this size cardstock include: Hangtags Nametags Tickets to an event; or Tiny greeting cards you might attach to a gift basket or other gift. It's always nice to handwrite a personal note when using them as greeting cards. A quick "thank you" or "best wishes

ames and companies.

Vertical: several cards were formatted vertically, which caught my eye.

Black Background: most cards have a white background, so the black ones REALLY stood out.

Image: cards with some sort of colorful image that took up at least one fourth of the total surface area captured my interest.

(To view a high quality image of this game of 66 Card Pick Up, go to http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/2005/03/does-your-business-card-stand-out.html)

Or don't see.

3. Trading Cards – If your company is team oriented, get trading cards with your “players” pictures and stats. Then encourage your customers and prospects to “collect all 12!”

4. Cartoons – Get a custom cartoon commissioned for the back of your card. It’s cheap, royalty free and absolutely unique to your business.

5. Table/Chart – Include a mortgage loan interest table or some staggering statistics on the back. These are helpful r

Corporate Events
Corporate events often include a variety of fun activities. These activities that are planned may be for a company picnic or even a holiday party, or a summer bash. Furthermore, these could be events that take place just as an employee incentive. Corporate events that include fun activities help bring a company together. They also help employees see each other in a different context than just in the office. These events could include anyone who is in an executive position and higher, or they could include everyone in the entire company.Often families are allowed to bring their children and spouses to corporate events as well. In fact, more often than not they are encouraged to do so, because they know how important it is for working families to have time together. Therefore, companies will work hard to make their corporate events as meaningful as possible for all. Sometimes corporate events also have a business theme as well, and provide a way for many different companies to put their ideas together. Furthermore, these events provide a form of public relations for many organizations that choose to collaborate, even if otherwise they may be considered competitors. These are the type of corporate events which encourage the sharing of business amongst various employers and businesses.Regardless of the reason that a corporate event occurs it is o

3. Trading Cards – If your company is team oriented, get trading cards with your “players” pictures and stats. Then encourage your customers and prospects to “collect all 12!”

4. Cartoons – Get a custom cartoon commissioned for the back of your card. It’s cheap, royalty free and absolutely unique to your business.

5. Table/Chart – Include a mortgage loan interest table or some staggering statistics on the back. These are helpful reminders for the mathematically challenged and effective methods to position yourself as a resource.

6. Pop-Ups – Just like kid’s books, some business cards can be printed as folded, pop-up cards. Talk about thinking three-dimensionally!

7. Credibility – The smartest thing I ever did to my business card was add color images of my two books. Instant credibility. And, I noticed an immediate change in the reactions from the people to whom I gave cards. One lady even said, “Scott, this is the coolest business card I’ve ever seen!” Money well spent.

8. Rubber Stamps – Buy 10 different customized rubber stamps for the backs of your cards. When someone asks for one just say “Pick a card, any card!”

9. Die Cutting – My friend Lisa works for the Rock Island Fire Dept. Her business card has a charred hole burnt right through the middle of every card! It looks incredibly real. And most printers offer this feature for a nominal feel. You can also specify various shapes, bite marks or hole sizes.

10. Recipe – If you work in an industry connected to food, kitchens or homes; include one of your favorite recipes on the back!

11. Material – Use leather, blinking or brail business cards (yes, these actually exist too!)

12. Language – If your business requires international travel, consider offering multiple languages, or print the phonetic spelling of a difficult to pronounce name.

13. Motivation – If you’re the motivational type, include a famous quotation, bible verse or movie line that connects to your brand. And be sure to read it aloud when you give someone your card, it might just make their day!

14. Stickers – Print one side of your cards on adhesive label paper. This gives the recipient a peel off sticker for reminders, appointments or phone numbers.

15. Non-Cards – Who says a card has to be a card? After all, the first rule of creativity is “break all the rules!” I’ve seen million dollar bill cards, coin cards, even a banker in Boston who uses business cards that are actually miniature checks he tears off of a pad each time he gives one out! The possibilities are endless.

16. Double Up – Make your card “double” as something other than a card. For example, mine doubles as a business card AND a nametag. As a result, people stick it on their shirts all the time. Thanks for the free promotion!

CORNER #4: Implementation
Once you’ve come up with the layout for your new, creative, UNFORGETTABLE business card, there are only two things left to do: print ‘em up and hand ‘em out!

First, as you approach you printer, remember a few rules:

It’s OK to Spend Money – when I did my taxes this year I calculated that I reprinted my business cards 11 times and spent over $1,400 on printing costs. I also doubled my income from the previous year. Once again, money well spent.

Local is Better – by choosing a local printer you can work closely with the designers; touch, feel and smell your paper and even do a few test runs until you get the card perfect. Some businesspeople choose to use online sources, which is fine. The only problem with that approach is that most cards designed, created and ordered over the Internet look like they were designed, created and ordered over the Internet.

OK. Once you have your new cards in hand, keep a few final rules in mind:

Reminders – be sure to tell people you’ve got a new card. They’ll be happy to accept it, even if they already have your old one. Highlight some of its newest, most unique attributes. Also, if you printed on both sides of your new card, remember to either tell people about the back of your card; or hand them the card back side up, so they know there’s more to it.

Etiquette – don’t “Deal the Deck” by inconsiderately throwing thousands of your cards to everyone in sight. If so, you will not only become a practitioner of Highly Horrible Networking™, but you will waste your money. Remember: people throw away business cards from those who failed to establish rapport or make a connection.

The Card Creedo: finally, when you’re ready, reach into your pocket and grab one of your business cards. Look at it closely. Then say this affirmation out loud:

“This is my business card. There are many others out there, but none of them are like mine – because ther

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Added for You - 16 Ways to Make Your Business Cards Unforgettable

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