Does anyone have printed promotional materials to give out to your booth visitors? I have business cards only but was pondering over have some post cards printed with samples of my images. Should I place these on a table for anyone to take or I should give out only when asked? For those that do offer promotional materials..do you ever get return calls or emails resulting in sales? Blaine

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  • I just received 2000 business cards for $30 from Uprinting.You can get the back printed for another $10 or so.

    http://www.uprinting.com/standard-business-card-printing.html

  • I am a jeweler, and I have business cards that I hand out. When a customer purchases they get a "care card" with jewelry care instructions and all my business info, and in every bag I also place a future show listing. I also keep a small stack of these beside my guest book, for those who want to take one.  When I have an upcoming "Open House" in my studio (1 every season) I have batch printed Open House cards, which match my biz cards, and give these out at shows also. That way I am bringing business into my studio. My sign-age I have posted, is my Artist Statement, my tax i.d., and "Services Offered" sign, and pay options sign, along with my banners, and photos of work. I print the upcoming events list, services offered, care cards and Artists Statement. The rest is done to match my my biz card theme/logo. I hire that out to professional printing service- it's more cost effective for me to do it that way.

  • One promotional item that I forgot to print this year is a list of upcoming shows you will be in.  If you print your own cards, you can print that on the back.  In addition to letting people know where you are, the show promoters appreciate the advertising. 

    This year I took 20 images and sized them for business cards.  I printed them on the backs of cards, using Avery Glossy Business Card material.  A couple of them I gave away specifically to people that were "thinking" about one of my photos, and a couple I gave away to kids that were well behaved and seemed interested in the birds I photograph.  It's costly to print them that way, but I think it's worth it.  I figure it costs me about .10 cents a card. 

  • To answer a separate part of Blaine's question ... the card I give away for free is not a business card. It is slightly larger than a business card. It contains several photos of my work, and my company name and website. This way, I don't give out my home address and phone number to complete strangers. I think the photos and the website are the most important things to convey.

    I do pack a small stack of business cards (business card size with my complete contact information) for people who say "I'm from ABC Gallery and I'm interested in carrying your work." Those people will get a business card.

     

    • Don't forget that every card you give away at an art show needs to have your booth number written on it so if people want to come back, they know where to find you.

      Larry Berman
      http://BermanGraphics.com
      412-401-8100
  • I agree with Jim and Annette about giving away cards for free. I print them 2000 at a time (printing is something that gets MUCH cheaper with volume), and I let people take them at will. I find that customers often come back during a show to make a purchase, and use the card to find my booth again. I also find that the number of cards taken for free correlates with the sales. I don't think card takers are cheap people who don't want to buy, I think people use the card to help them decide. So the more cards I see leaving makes me happy.

    As for a general advertising campaign that has value for your company beyond the show, a few cards leaving your booth doesn't mean much, but if a few hundred cards has a cumulative effect of advertising and name recognition. 

    Again, there are so many online print houses now that are very affordable, printing really isn't cost prohibitive anymore. Using a desktop inkjet printer is the most expensive way to print by a mile! Both in terms of ink and time. It really isn't worth "saving" money that way. Spending about $100 for a year's worth of cards is definitely worth it!

  • I always have business cards out and I'm happy for anyone to take these - if its kids, you never know, the parent may see it and go "ooooh" ;)   I often have postcards out too and find that its mostly interested people who take them as they have a number of photos on them.  If the odd child takes them, I take the same view as for the business cards.  Every purchase gets a care card and a business card in the box, regardless of whether they have already taken one.

     

    I take the promotion idea further too - my boxes and carry bags have my name on them so that each time the customer sees the box or reuses the bag (nice heavy gloss bags with cord handles) they see my name.

     

    Yes, I have received calls and follow up business from people who just take cards or postcards - sometimes its the day after the show sometimes its months later.   Probably only a couple of percent of the cards taken, but that pays for the cards and gains a customer or two!

     

     

    • I tape a piece of string to the back of a business card, then place the card outside of my booth.  When someone reaches for it, I tug gently on the string, pulling it closer to the inside of my booth.  They reach for it again, I pull a little more.  Eventually, they're inside my booth, buying everything in my booth except the clothes on my back (my shoes are for sale, too).

      Or, sometimes, I'll just get those giant yellow feet stickons and have them trail from the front of the show all the way into my booth, where the people then buy everything in my booth.  

      If someone wants a real business card, I do what is done on the lottery shows:  I give them a 20 lb. card that's about 3 feet by 5 feet.  It's great advertising as the person carries it from the show back to their bicycle or Humvee.  People rush into my booth after seeing this giant card, then buy everything in my booth.

      Sometimes I make one or two times my booth fee, so I know I'll get rich in this business!

      • Thanks for the laugh!
  • In only 2 or 3 days of exposure in a festival if you  don't advertising your bussines for sure you will forgetable.

    So, to invest in your own business never is a bad idea. I could garanty you , how much  the number  of visitors in my web site  increase  at  night after of the  festival day.

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