SeaJay's
New member
- Aug 2, 2010
- 3,070
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Thanks!
And I don't think you got too aggressive! It was a heated discussion! lol.
What do you think about my business card?
- Thread starter slickooz
- Start date
Thanks!
And I don't think you got too aggressive! It was a heated discussion! lol.
slickooz
New member
- Nov 8, 2010
- 2,657
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- Thread starter
- #82
I have to agree with everyone here Slick. I'm sorry to say. It's just too "busy". I'd go with something a little more simple. I went to one of the online print sites and designed mine. It's simple and cheap. And it's not busy and not too much info. Basically gives the customer my business name, what I do, and my contact info.
Of course I don't have an official logo yet, so I might incorporate that eventually but for now this is what I have.
Yeah we going try something simple this time, see how it goes. Nice clean card. :dblthumb2:
Kristopher1129
New member
- Jan 3, 2011
- 2,861
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I agree, card looks good!
Also, it's funny you say that Anthony. Cause I was just thinking...Man! What a #### Anthony was last night! lol
oke:
Bates Detailing
New member
- Jan 11, 2011
- 3,074
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I agree, card looks good!
Also, it's funny you say that Anthony. Cause I was just thinking...Man! What a #### Anthony was last night! lol
LOL - really Kris?!?!?!? Sorry bro
Kristopher1129
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- Jan 3, 2011
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C. Charles Hahn
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- Aug 27, 2007
- 3,103
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Gary, I'd make the "Logo" a bit bigger and move it over to the left side of the card so it looks more balanced. Right now you have a ton of blank real estate over on the side of the card that just looks awkward IMHO.
Kristopher1129
New member
- Jan 3, 2011
- 2,861
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:iagree:
But a part of me also likes it smack in the middle. You could try putting the info in the bottom right, to the bottom left. I think it will balance the info out, and allow you to leave the logo in the middle.
Southern Stang
New member
- Nov 16, 2009
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I like it. Simple, clean, gets your attention. Well done my friend.
XB70
SELF BANNED
- Jan 29, 2010
- 157
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It's amazing how most business owners do not know what a business card is supposed to do.
MAKE THE PHONE RING.
That's it. Period.
You can have the best logo and colors, you can have a great or stupid name, but the name of the game is getting appointments.
To that end:
A business card needs just a minimum amount of information about the business.
Like the name. the name should tell people what kind of business you're in.
The location
....should be provided ONLY IF YOU CAN HANDLE WALK INS / DRIVE INS. Don't put your detailing business's address on you card if you do not work out of a fixed location and if you cannot deal with a drive in customer.
If you have to book appointments, do not put your address on the card as the customer will roll in expecting a quick wash or wax only to be disappointed when you tell him, "How's next Tuesday at 10:30?"
Telephone number
Provide an EXCLUSIVE number that you answer with your company name. Get a Straight Talk cell phone for $30 or $45 a month if you have to. If that phone rings, you know it's a client and not your girlfriend calling about her problems.
You can get a free Google phone number tied to a Google email account. It has a lot of features, but one is especially nice for small business. Lets say your free Google phone number is 234-5678. You can put that number on your business card and set Google phone to forward to another number like your existing number. Then you can set the Google phone caller ID to show the Google phone number on your cell phone when it forwards a call. In other words, when a client calls 234-5678, it will forward to your cell and you'll see 234-5678 on your cell phone (not the caller's ID).
If you only use the Google phone number for detailing business, you can use your existing cell phone and know which incoming calls are business and answer accordingly.
Type face and font and size
People who can afford to shell out the kind of money you want to make are typical over 40 years old. Guys with Ferraris, Lambos, CTS-Vs are not 22 years old. They are in the middle of mid life crises.
MAKE YOU CARD EASY TO READ
That means readable type faces in larger font sizes. My personal rule is throwing away any business card that has a phone number too small to read without reading glasses.
MAKE IT UNIQUE
I've been self employed real estate broker for 33 years. This is my business card (altered to a fake detailing business name and fake phone number).
It's a copy of the last generation Wyoming license plate. The Bucking Horse & Rider is an iconic copyrighted Wyoming image. People instantly recognize the card as a Wyoming license plate. People presume I've been in Wyoming for a very long time. that's a very good thing up here. People don't remember my name, but they say, "Aren't you the guy with the license plate real estate for sale signs and cards?"
Wyoming license plates have a county number on the left. I made it the area code. Wyoming appears on the bottom. I copied the font and color. My business name is Wyoming XXXXX XXXXX. If you cut the bottom 1/4 inch of my business card, it is a duplicate of a license plate. Wyoming truck plates have TRUCK on top (my real estate card has REAL ESTATE on top).
My name does not appear on the card. It doesn't need to be on the card because I'm a one man show.
Let's review:
Come up with a memorable design.
Your own name isn't important, the company name is.
The card's purpose is to MAKE THE PHONE RING.
The phone number is the most important thing on the card.
Old people have money and bad eyesight. Don't make them reach for reading glasses. Mock up your card and show it to grandma. If she can't read it, change it.
Don't give customers 16 ways to contact you. Leave fax numbers, Facebook, Twitter accounts and US Mail addresses off the card. You don't need to spend your time checking a bunch of different places.
When somebody decides to get his car detailed, chances are he'll pick up the phone and call. Don't give him the option of putting it off and emailing you when he gets home. HE WILL FORGET. He's reading your card. he's got a cell phone on him. Let him call you RIGHT NOW. If the phone is the only contact option, chances are he'll call right now, when the idea hits.
Your address isn't important unless to take drive-in customers. If you don't, leave it off the card.
Your voicemail message should be something like, "Thank you for calling Wyoming Automotive Detailing, you've reached me on my DIRECT LINE, but I'm on another call right now. Please leave a message with your name and phone number, and I'll get back to you very soon.
I hate dealing with secretaries who mess up messages. telling the caller they've called you on your DIRECT LINE lets him know he's bypassing everybody and calling the guy in charge.
These are my suggestions. I've been called a bunch of different things on this forum, but I've been self employed for 33 years and I know what works.
MAKE YOUR PHONE NUMBER BIGGER
And for crying out loud, if the name is Big Slick Detailing, the Big Slick logo needs to be bigger, not tinier. You've got way too much blank black real estate on your card.
MAKE THE PHONE RING.
That's it. Period.
You can have the best logo and colors, you can have a great or stupid name, but the name of the game is getting appointments.
To that end:
A business card needs just a minimum amount of information about the business.
Like the name. the name should tell people what kind of business you're in.
The location
....should be provided ONLY IF YOU CAN HANDLE WALK INS / DRIVE INS. Don't put your detailing business's address on you card if you do not work out of a fixed location and if you cannot deal with a drive in customer.
If you have to book appointments, do not put your address on the card as the customer will roll in expecting a quick wash or wax only to be disappointed when you tell him, "How's next Tuesday at 10:30?"
Telephone number
Provide an EXCLUSIVE number that you answer with your company name. Get a Straight Talk cell phone for $30 or $45 a month if you have to. If that phone rings, you know it's a client and not your girlfriend calling about her problems.
You can get a free Google phone number tied to a Google email account. It has a lot of features, but one is especially nice for small business. Lets say your free Google phone number is 234-5678. You can put that number on your business card and set Google phone to forward to another number like your existing number. Then you can set the Google phone caller ID to show the Google phone number on your cell phone when it forwards a call. In other words, when a client calls 234-5678, it will forward to your cell and you'll see 234-5678 on your cell phone (not the caller's ID).
If you only use the Google phone number for detailing business, you can use your existing cell phone and know which incoming calls are business and answer accordingly.
Type face and font and size
People who can afford to shell out the kind of money you want to make are typical over 40 years old. Guys with Ferraris, Lambos, CTS-Vs are not 22 years old. They are in the middle of mid life crises.
MAKE YOU CARD EASY TO READ
That means readable type faces in larger font sizes. My personal rule is throwing away any business card that has a phone number too small to read without reading glasses.
MAKE IT UNIQUE
I've been self employed real estate broker for 33 years. This is my business card (altered to a fake detailing business name and fake phone number).
It's a copy of the last generation Wyoming license plate. The Bucking Horse & Rider is an iconic copyrighted Wyoming image. People instantly recognize the card as a Wyoming license plate. People presume I've been in Wyoming for a very long time. that's a very good thing up here. People don't remember my name, but they say, "Aren't you the guy with the license plate real estate for sale signs and cards?"
Wyoming license plates have a county number on the left. I made it the area code. Wyoming appears on the bottom. I copied the font and color. My business name is Wyoming XXXXX XXXXX. If you cut the bottom 1/4 inch of my business card, it is a duplicate of a license plate. Wyoming truck plates have TRUCK on top (my real estate card has REAL ESTATE on top).
My name does not appear on the card. It doesn't need to be on the card because I'm a one man show.
Let's review:
Come up with a memorable design.
Your own name isn't important, the company name is.
The card's purpose is to MAKE THE PHONE RING.
The phone number is the most important thing on the card.
Old people have money and bad eyesight. Don't make them reach for reading glasses. Mock up your card and show it to grandma. If she can't read it, change it.
Don't give customers 16 ways to contact you. Leave fax numbers, Facebook, Twitter accounts and US Mail addresses off the card. You don't need to spend your time checking a bunch of different places.
When somebody decides to get his car detailed, chances are he'll pick up the phone and call. Don't give him the option of putting it off and emailing you when he gets home. HE WILL FORGET. He's reading your card. he's got a cell phone on him. Let him call you RIGHT NOW. If the phone is the only contact option, chances are he'll call right now, when the idea hits.
Your address isn't important unless to take drive-in customers. If you don't, leave it off the card.
Your voicemail message should be something like, "Thank you for calling Wyoming Automotive Detailing, you've reached me on my DIRECT LINE, but I'm on another call right now. Please leave a message with your name and phone number, and I'll get back to you very soon.
I hate dealing with secretaries who mess up messages. telling the caller they've called you on your DIRECT LINE lets him know he's bypassing everybody and calling the guy in charge.
These are my suggestions. I've been called a bunch of different things on this forum, but I've been self employed for 33 years and I know what works.
MAKE YOUR PHONE NUMBER BIGGER
And for crying out loud, if the name is Big Slick Detailing, the Big Slick logo needs to be bigger, not tinier. You've got way too much blank black real estate on your card.
Last edited:
slickooz
New member
- Nov 8, 2010
- 2,657
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- Thread starter
- #94
Thanks XB70. rops:
Lots of very useful info that can also help a lot of people trying to come up with their business card.
I really like the extra cell, so when you get a call you know how to answer it.
The Google forward calls is also an awesome idea.
And your right numbers have to be big, because that how most people will contact you for more info.
Great stuff man! :dblthumb2:
rops:Lots of very useful info that can also help a lot of people trying to come up with their business card.
I really like the extra cell, so when you get a call you know how to answer it.
The Google forward calls is also an awesome idea.
And your right numbers have to be big, because that how most people will contact you for more info.
Great stuff man! :dblthumb2:
XB70
SELF BANNED
- Jan 29, 2010
- 157
- 0
Thanks XB70.
Lots of very useful info that can also help a lot of people trying to come up with their business card.
I really like the extra cell, so when you get a call you know how to answer it.
The Google forward calls is also an awesome idea.
And your right numbers have to be big, because that how most people will contact you for more info.
Great stuff man! :dblthumb2:
Just a bit of sales advice. PEOPLE DO NOT CALL FOR INFORMATION. THEY CALL TO HAVE THEIR CAR DETAILED.
You need to have that burned into your brain. When you pick up the phone, you need to close an appointment. You can't detail a car or collect money over the phone.
"I'm calling because I think I want my car detailed."
"That's great. What's the best time for you?"
"Well, uh.... I don't... how much does it cost?"
"Our prices are the best in the business for high quality professional results. How much you pay depends on what you would like us to do and the condition of your car. I do not provide guesstimates, I take the time to consult with you and examine your vehicle. Then, I provide an exact guaranteed price.
It takes about 10 minutes. There's no charge or obligation and I come to you. Is Tuesday at 3:00 good or Saturday at 10:00 better?"
ferret1980
New member
- Oct 1, 2007
- 207
- 0
looks good my changes would be
Ted S.
New member
- Feb 10, 2011
- 1,746
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Dang Gary, they both look great.:dblthumb2: Although I like the all black one better.The original card I had up on different account was limit on bandwidth, so I uploaded it on a different account.
To give some new members of what I started with.
Quick fix, trying to balance the card now.
I tried to keep mine simple but after reading all of this info, I realize mine sucks:
There goes $20 bucks down the potty. I should have done more research.
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 7
Gee whiz XB70
Why don't you extract all the great tips and techniques you posted here and make a dedicated thread here,
How to make money detailing cars
I think it would help a lot of people for years and years to come. If left in this thread on page 10 it's more or less buried...
So please consider extracting the pertinent information you've shared and post a dedicated thread.
Title it something like,
Tips & techniques for creating a business card that makes the phone ring off the hook!
:dblthumb2: