Leaving Business Cards At Other Businesses?

I live in a smaller town where about the only way to advertise is word of mouth. I have a small business that is pet (dog) oriented, and was thinking about asking some local groomers %26amp; vets if I could leave some cards on their counters for customers. (my business is not in any way competition for them) I know my mother used to do this with her business cards for nursing years ago, but I was wondering if this is still "acceptable".





If so, do businesses prfer you use those little card holders? Is there any rules of etiquete going about this? Thanks for any input!

Leaving Business Cards At Other Businesses?
I actually have business cards printed up and I distribute them for my clients. I leave them at businesses, in magazines at the grocery store, even in bathroom stalls.





I say go for it. If it's not competition for their businesses then they shouldn't really have a problem with you doing it. (By the way you would be amazed how well leaving cards in bathrooms works. LOL)
Reply:Some businesses will let you do it; some will not. The only way to find out is to ask.





They are more likelyl to say yes if you use those little card holders.





You might also investigate card holders that you can thumbtack to bulletin boards. If I had a retail business, I'd be unwilling to give you space at the cash register, because that's the most valuable space in the store. I'd rather sell some impulse item there.





On the other hand, many businesses have bulletin boards, and if you have a holder, people are more likely to take your card with them; they feel like they are removing your advertisement if you simply thumbtack or staple your cards up.





I recommend you read "How to Sell Anything To Anyone". There are a number of ways listed in there to use business cards.





Most business cards become obsolete before 100 have been distributed. Buyers like it when salesmen carry business cards, because if they want to get rid of the guy, they ask for the business card, then throw it in a drawer or a waste basket and go on to something else. As a rule, I recommend that business cards only be given to customers *after* the sale, asking that they pass the cards on to friends and relatives.





What might work better is to set up a joint promotion for the businesses in town. Each participating merchant comes up with a coupon, you get them all printed on one sheet, and every merchant includes a copy of the coupon in the sack when a customer makes a purchase. (Some merchants will want to use a bounce-back coupon - that is, during August 1-7, they distribute a coupon good August 8-14, during August 8-14, they distribute a coupon good August 15-21, etc.)





If the coupon sheet costs $28 to print, and there are 7 other merchants involved, each one pays $4 and yours is free. That's the best bargain in advertising any of them are ever going to find....
Reply:To lower your risk of people saying no, you could get free business cards from Vistaprint:


http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/bcfree.a...





They also have custom postcards and a mailing services program where you could mail postcards to local houses and businesses in your area:


http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/mailings...
Reply:Well, the only way to find out is ask. If it's OK with the business owners, you should definitely use a card holder (preferably one with your business logo already on it).





Good luck with your business Onyx Ninja!