If they are just sitting in a pile, it's hard to grab the attention of the person if it's just dormant, or if there isn't a ?catch' to it. Instead of just leaving business cards at the counter, offer various retail places a fishbowl. Yes, I'm talking about those small, clear glass fishbowls. Provide a small sign to encourage other patrons, business owners, corporate employees, and anyone who has business cards, to drop in their cards, conducting a monthly drawing for a free prize. Of course, on the sign, you would indicate what the prize would be.

It can be a free service or product that you currently provide, gift certificates to local restaurants, or even tickets to a Broadway show. You will find that you will get more people to take your business cards because you've ?hooked' the patron in participating in your contest. People just love to do things for free, and if it only takes dropping in a business card to enter a simple contest. Each month, after you conduct your monthly drawing, you would announce the winner on your website for others to see, and even put a small article in the newsprint about who won the monthly drawing. This will get people to keep dropping their cards in those fishbowls, because people are always ?fishing.' What a great way to ?lure' potential customers.

That's what I call a serious ?hook' to new consumers!What's even more appealing about using this form of tactic is that you've gained two valuable things through this process. One, you have gathered email addresses, and pertinent information to build up your email database. Secondly, you are promoting your business through an effective means of offline advertising that gets noticed. Business cards are a terrific way to ?reel' in more visitors to your site, simply because you are offering something of interest and value for potential customers. Business cards go fishing! It's the most versatile, affordable and portable form of marketing tool out there.

Get your marketing ?tackle' box out and get those ?minnows' to your website. So, cast away folks, because people are always ?biting' for the next free deal!.

When your clients place your magnet, you instantly have an advantage over the competition. Now, all the client has to do is pick up the phone and call when they need you. They will appreciate the fact that they didn't have to spend countless minutes or hours flipping through the yellow pages trying to pick one company to fulfill their needs. With their satisfaction comes repeat and referral business for you. It's a snowball effect that can't be beat! On my fridge, you'll find magnets from Hooters and Wing Stop restaurants, Domino's and Papa John's pizza, a heating and air specialist, a massage therapist, the local veterinarian, as well as the nail salon my wife goes to.

I have no idea when these magnets were placed there. All I know is that they don't move from the prominent spots they were placed months or years ago. Creating Magnetized Business Cards Now that you are convinced of the positive effects that magnetic business cards can have for your company, what's the best way to obtain them? Option #1: Buy stick-on magnets and attach them to the back your current business cards You can buy magnets of various shapes and sizes at your local craft store at a relatively cheap price. Take a hot-glue gun and glue the magnets at each corner on the back of the cards. The upside is that this is a cheap and easy method of creating magnetized business cards.

The downside is that it can be a very time consuming process to attach the magnets and the end result usually looks less than professional. Option #2: Buy magnetized business card stock from your local office supply store and print them yourself Avery is a popular brand that offers these types of do-it-yourself inkjet cards. With these, you print out your card design multiple times on a sheet of paper that already has a full magnetic backside. There is less work involved in creating them; however, magnetic paper can be costly. Another downside to this method is that inkjet printers don't print well on magnetized card stock because the paper surface is so thin.

The ink from your printer will tend to glob on the surface once the paper is saturated making your cards sticky with the possibility of staining clothes and hands. Inkjet printer ink cartridges aren't cheap either, so be sure to figure that into your costs as well. Using this method, you will end up paying the same, if not more, than the next option... Option #3: Have your magnetic business cards printed by a professional commercial printer While you may pay slightly more money for this method, taking this route will save you time and earn much more business in the long run. Your magnets will be printed on glossy, full sheet, magnetized card stock paper specially formulated for high-resolution press printing.

Your magnets will look and feel professional to your customers, and will have a better chance of getting placed in a prominent spot on the fridge or file cabinet..

If you're not judicious with the money in your bank account, how can you be judicious when it comes to the use of someone else's money, which you'll have to pay back with interest? Don't fool yourself. Be honest and be willing to make the decision not to get a credit card if you feel that you won't be able to control it.That being said, there is a difference between thinking you can handle a credit card and actually handling one properly. It can be like a loaded weapon if you're not careful. But, if you're wise, it can be a valuable tool that can reward you for proper use. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of credit cards:?Shop Around: Don't just fill out any application and hope for the best.

Look for the best deal. Make sure that the card you get will fit your lifestyle and your financial management style.?Pay It Off: Never charge more than you can afford to pay off within 30 days. With most credit cards, you get a grace period that allows you to pay off balances without being charged interest.?Leave Home Without It: Don't carry a credit card with you. If you have to go all the way home to get the card in order to make a purchase, it will force you to think about the purchase before you make it. This can reduce the number of impulse purchases you make.?Look for Rewards: If you can, try to find cards that offer rewards for using them.

Some cards offer free gasoline, frequent flier miles, cash back or other incentives for using the card.?Pay Your Bills on Time: Late fees can cost anywhere from $20 - $40 for one late fee. This adds itself onto your balance and if you don't pay it off immediately, you will pay interest on the late fee as well. Late fees can put you in the whole very quickly and many credit card companies may increase your interest rate the very first time you are late with a payment. Needless to say, it can be very costly to be late on your payment. It doesn't look good on your credit score, either.?Don't Go Over: Some cards may allow you to go over the credit limit you've been given to some extent.

But, when you do this they may hit you with $20 - $40 charges, just like late fees. Again, this is bad news. It also does not look good on your credit report to have maxed out credit cards.Credit cards can very quickly get you into a lot of trouble. But, if you avoid impulse purchases, pay them off every month and make your payments on time, they can reward you for purchases and help you build up a solid credit score. Just use your cards wisely and remember that you should be in control of your credit, not the other way around..

• 80% of adults received at least one gift card to an apparel or food store
• 33% received at least one gift card to a restaurant
• 14% received one gift card to a mall or shopping center
• 10% received a gift card that could be used at a variety of stores (e.g., an American Express gift card)
• 5% received at least one for a personal service such as a manicure or massage
• 5% received at least one gift card for an Internet site (e.g., ebay, Amazon)

Bank gift cards are more likely to be used in January. Nearly 74% of these gift cards have been redeemed or partially redeemed by the end of January.People were more likely to buy full price retail items with their gift cards. Many analysts believe the "gift" aspect allows consumers to treat themselves to new full-priced merchandise.Retailers also benefit when consumers redeem a gift card, nearly 62% spend more than the face value of the card. This is an opportunity for retailers to increase sales, as sales cannot be reported until the gift card is redeemed.Consumers also expressed an interest in receiving gift cards for other holidays. For example, a gift card for an "experience" is widely received as a result of people being time-pressed.

Getting a gift card for a trip to a restaurant or massage or even a weekend getaway seems to be a trend people are enjoying.Teens enjoy gift cards because they are more eager to shop with their friends and are more apt to redeem their cards quicker than adults. The survey showed teens redeemed 76% of their gift cards vs. 61% of adults. Gift cards keep on giving, after the holidays, especially for retailers. Gift cards are here to stay.

Consumers enjoy using them and retailers enjoy getting them. Gift cards are an appropriate gift for all occasions..

Each color that is printed has a separate plate, and the cards have to be run through the press for each color chosen. These types of cards have a very elegant and refined look about them, especially if the colors and stocks chosen are complimentary. There are hundreds of varieties of stocks and inks to choose from.Full Color printing is much like printing from your ink jet printer at home. All the inks are printed on the page at the same time, and combined to create hues, shades--photo images. So, one run through and the cards are printed.

These cards have been traditionally used by real estate agents, insurance agents and the like. But now, with this type of printing becoming more affordable and available, anyone can choose this option. These designs most of the time seem jazzier, sharper, more upbeat.2. The cost difference is an oddity. Spot printing (the process of laying the colors on one at a time, as in Raised Letter cards), can be much cheaper--if only one color or black is chosen.

White plate (65 lb stocks) will be cheaper than a cordwain or linen. But, if you start adding more colors (equals more time through the press) then you'll start racking up the cost. If your colors touch each other (called registration--the printer must make sure the cards run through correctly) then you'll tack on some extra expense there.If you have a full color logo, the least expensive way to go would be with full color (process printing). But, you generally have to get a minimum of 1000. You can get 250 from some places, but you'll pay about the same price.

It's the setup fee from the printer that is the biggest expense. Printing them is the cheap part, which is why the more you get, the better the price.3. To choose the look that's right for you, I would think first about the image you are projecting for your company. Are you a doctor? You probably would rather have a classier linen stock with black and gold inks. Same for lawyers and other professionals.

A handsome bordeaux (burgundy) on grey fiber stock would speak volumes about your professionalism. The raised letter would add to the expensive feel. There is really no need to add more than 1 color and black in printing raised letter cards. If that's the way you're heading, then you probably have a flashier business image and would need full color cards. A doctor or lawyer is usually using cards to provide clients with contact information, not get more business.Full color is proven to get a 30% better response rate than regular printing, but this is only a bonus if your business aims to use the business cards to get more business.

If you sell a product, using full color cards would be a brilliant idea--you can have a photo of it right on the cards. If you're in a service industry like real estate, you'll want your prospects to remember your face. Add your professionally taken photo to your cards. If you're trying to express a concept of what you can do for customers, then finding the right stock photo image can speak thousands of words with just one image!In reality, cost usually dictates the biggest part of your decision making process. However, I would caution you to consider your IMAGE first.

You might find that if you choose the card that has the best representation of your image, the cost ends up being less than if you choose the wrong one..

In order not to break the fragile process, customers and most importantly printing companies should know exactly what to do. And what to do involves knowing the latest technologies that can be applied in various printing needs. Latest technologies resulted to the birth of different kind of business cards which include basic business cards , colorful business cards , parchment business cards, pre-printed business cards, colored speckled business cards, full bleed business cards, magnet business cards and folding business cards .Aside from the aforementioned cards there is the latest craze on metal business cards. Metal business cards are flashy cards with a protective coating which makes it resistant to scratching and fading. It is virtually indestructible.

Metal business cards are printed using the anodizing process on well-built gold colored brass or silver aluminum. To create round cornered cards, a special die is used on its dull edges and then printed on .011 in. silver shiny aluminum or gold colored brass plated aluminum. The card is easy to use and has a friendly design interface with one color one side or you can include three standards colors.You can attach a photo to your business card. It can go right to the edge of the card to give it a greater visual look while providing more spaces for the vital information.

The photo may be replaced by a logo or colored text at your choice. Multi-colored business card, on the other hand, is great to those companies who want to maintain an impact without using a photo. With this kind of card you can maintain your corporate identity or include a logo or illustration. Another kind is the photo inset. When you want the profile of your business to be included, you can use this to have through personal touch the professional look you desired.

By reason of the personal touch, retention of the vital information will be ensured. To remove the unsightly backgrounds that detract your subject, you can use the deep etched photo. One thing about business cards is that they should draw attention to your subject. First business impressions may last thus, it is necessary to have it done through the help of the latest technologies made available by time..

Consider the following tips as guidelines to traveling safely and affordably with your credit cards?. Plan Ahead:Anytime you travel you should make photo copies of all of your credit cards airline tickets and documents, both front and back. You should leave these photocopies with a friend or family member. Be aware that if you make copies of your cards and documents to take with you, you may be giving thieves another opportunity to rip off your personal information. Consider blacking out details such as expiration dates, verification codes and social security numbers.

If you decide not to carry photocopies of your credit cards, be sure to have the card cancellation numbers from the backs of the cards written down and stashed in your luggage.Leave a Paper Trail:Save receipts and keep track of the places you used your card. Make sure receipts are stored in a safe place so they can be checked against your credit card statement to ensure unauthorized charges have not been made and/or gone unnoticed.Two accounts are better than one:When traveling with other family members, even spouses, bring different credit cards that are on separate accounts. When a card is lost or stolen and must be cancelled, all cards on the account are cancelled as well. Having at least two cards from separate accounts will prevent the situation from leaving you stranded.Keep it light:Carry only the personal information absolutely necessary for vacation, such as a passport or driver's license. The less personal information you have, the better off you will be if your purse or wallet is stolen.

When traveling by air, always keep copies of important documents in a separate part of your luggage, such as a carry-on bag. Keep cards on your person. Most travel stores carry small bags that you can keep cards, cash, and other items you will need to access while out and about. Consider a money belt or security wallet.Look out for fees: When traveling abroad and using a credit card, watch out for the conversion fee that many banks levy to convert charges in foreign currencies to dollars, generally 1% of the purchase amount. Some banks charge a fee and some don't so, if you have several cards, it's worth checking with the issuers to see which one has the best deal.

Even with the conversion charge, many times ATM machines will have the best possible exchange rates and the lowest fees.With proper planning, credit cards are a convenient, secure and cost-effective means of payment when traveling. Just keep these tips in mind, and the next time you're balancing on one foot at the security gate, you'll be glad you did.Copyright ? 2004 Luggage 'n' Travel Accessorieshttp://www.luggage-n-travel-accessories.com.

And there's no way to get into debt with them...when you run the limit you set, they run out, so you can't overspend even if you want to.Use your prepaid credit cards almost any place where MasterCard or Visa cards are accepted, without racking up any interest charges whatsoever.Got kids? A prepaid credit card makes a great instructional tool and present. Buy them one for an initial setup fee (usually from $5-50), and let them pay the smaller fee to renew it when it runs out. Explain that if they let it lapse they have to start all over again with a much larger fee than if they simply renewed in a timely manner. Suddenly, your kids become financially responsible!Pre-funded cards are not a bad way to keep your own finances in line either. Just come up with the initial scratch and you're on your way to enjoying the ease and flexibility of plastic again!.