Saravanan Sahadevan

Sometimes you stumble upon a client or someone who you meet and that person may have requested a business card from you. Did you have one at that time? Well if you did not, probably its time for you to fill up your wallets with it or if you never had a business card, its time for you to get one. 

Why you may ask. Below I gave some key facts regarding why and how you should have or use a card that might put you to ponder. Hope this helps for some. Before that you can ask your self, “Am I ready for a card?”. If you are providing some sort of service and is making a living out of it, probably you should get one. 

Your identity on print - This is all about you. The direct social contact details of yours for others. Having all your important social information on a card is important as it helps people to reach and connect with you. People do not remember everyone, therefore its highly possible for someone to remember you when they stumble upon your card again and may register your details on an electronic medium or on their preferred medium. 

Networking Tool - Have you attended any networking party? A business card is essential here. I once attended one and at that time I did not have a business card but I was amused with the amount of networking going on. Basically, a business card acts as your self-promoter of you and your service to others. So instead of just saying “Hey I do…blah blah blah..”, why not compliment it with a business card. You did your PR and let the card do the rest. You never know where your card ends up. 

Promoting By-Product - Having referral sites listed or a latest product printed does good marketing for a by-product. Imagine this, you have a by-product printed on your card and is with a person you just gave. And when he/she refers you to someone else, he/she ultimately might look for your card and present it. So imagine where would the card go and how much publicity it would get. The main idea here is not only marketing your self or service but a by-product as well. 

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We all know that we have to cut down the users of papers and other materials made out of the tress. We are civic minded and are very concern people as well. But commonly we forget simple things that we do in our daily life’s that harms tress indirectly. Or some people would not have realized this until told. 

Business Cards - Try choosing a card material that is recycled. The reason is because business cards normally after a period of time, practically becomes a waste. Many are now transferring cards into digital form to be saved. Avoid providing your mail in address but emphasis on your email address. Only provide mailing address once requested for some shipping purpose maybe via email.

Mails - One of the main reasons I asked you to avoid providing a mail in address is to avoid receiving, printed materials. Occasionally, it may consist of greeting cards, bank-statements or maybe some marketing materials. By providing only an email address, we would be directly forcing people to send it in a digital form. I do not mind receiving e-greetings as we have a virtual medium today. People could always use upcoming as a medium for RSVP & events. This saves more trees! As well you may subscribe to online versions of your bank statements, bills and for marketing purpose, people may email you. You as well have the power to mark it as spam if unwanted. 

Paperless - Commonly, the question is “how”? Well, if you have a printed document or any printed materials, do scan them and organize it as a digital medium. Once done with scanning, scrap the papers and send them back for recycling. As well, do have various backup hard drives and backup regularly. Now this is even more secured. Where else your papers could get lost. 

Recycled Papers - If at all you were in deep need of printing something. And if it is not something official, consider using recycled A4 papers. In fact, I would even say that official documents should be also be considered to be using recycled materials as today we have very high standards and qualities for recycled papers. 

This principals should basically be practiced. It does saves a lot of tress. Well if you have even more ideas, do share it with us. Or if you have other ideas to save the trees and environment, do mail me at saran at saranx.com. I would also be looking forward to have a continuation series for this post as I think up of more ways to save more tress. 

image credit : John McDonald

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