I know very few writers who consider themselves great marketers. Even some of the really great copywriters I know can produce a whiz-bang marketing campaign to attract buyers and clients for their customers, but are lousy at attracting new business for themselves. Here is an easy, simple, and subtle tool for marketing your writing services or business:

Get creative with your business cards.

If you don’t have business cards, shame on you! Even if most of your business is online and virtual, carrying and handing out business cards can open doors to new opportunities when you least expect them. If you are on a tight budget, you can design and print business cards directly from your computer using already formatted templates so all you have to do is drop in your information and click Print. Voila! You now have a quick and easy marketing tool. Capitalize on that marketing tool by getting creative with what you print on your cards.

Here are five ways to attract new business with your cards:

Think beyond contact information.
Business cards can be used for more than just exchanging phone numbers with someone you meet. Give people a reason to take your card even if you don’t get one in return. A single line on your business card that says, “Free eReport of top ten custom research paper writing mistakes and how to fix them” or “Sign up for free monthly writing tips at: [insert your website URL]” is a great way to start a relationship that could lead to new business. Once they are on your list, follow up periodically with tips or reminders of how you can help them.

Let your card do double duty.
Using a single-sided business card wastes half of your marketing real estate. Use the back side of your card for additional promotion. If you are an author, print the book cover, title and order information of your latest release. If you are a copywriter, print a glowing client testimonial on the back. If you are a consultant, offer a coupon code to get a discount or free consultation. Whatever your specialty is, emphasize it and encourage the person receiving your card to take action.

Promote multiple services with different cards.
This is something I personally do. I print business cards that promote my ghostwriting services, cards that promote self-publishing consulting services, and cards that promote business writing services. They are far more effective than simply using a generic “writer” business card because potential clients like to hire people who specialize in what they need. Be sure you’re one of them.

Stand out in a crowd.
One of my clients printed a fold-over business card of the cover of his book, with his promotional and order information printed on the inside. He stood on busy street corners in New York and Chicago handing out cards, and left behind business cards at coffee shops, bookstores and libraries. He attended a trade show related to his book’s topic and handed out cards there. Doing this led to radio interviews and invitations for him to speak to groups. You don’t have to stand on street corners to “stand out in a crowd” but you can get noticed when you use a highly creative business card. I have a colleague who specializes in writing radio and TV advertising spots. He uses a computer CD in the shape of a business card that has a five-minute video on it. The video auto plays when inserted into a computer and then immediately connects the viewer to his website when the video ends. He gets a huge response and lots of new projects whenever he hands them out.

Include signatures on email.
Just about any email program allows you to set up a signature block that is included at the end of the emails you send. Use them as a form of business card, or go the extra mile and use vCards. It puts a professional touch on your email correspondence and reminds people of what you do. When your message gets forwarded, so does your signature.

Final Words: Business cards are a small marketing tool that can leave a big impression. They are an inexpensive and easy way to spread the word about you and your services and the more creative you are, the more attention you’ll get. Just remember that printing the cards is only half the process; the other half is distributing them.