Avery Pitzak, president of the American Business Card Club, is a fan of bizarre cards. He believes few people go far enough with their business cards. “Business cards are the most overlooked, underexposed business device on the planet,” he claims.

And, Pitzak says, “the only reason for a business card is to bring in business.”

One of the best cards, by Pitzak’s standards, is a printer’s black-and-white card with everything wrong on it from spelling to an inky thumb print.

“When the guy started handing them out, he didn’t change anything else about his marketing,” Pitzak declares. “In the first two months, sales were up 15%, and in six months business was up 35%.”

Pitzak tells of a man who sells branding irons. When people at trade shows ask for his card, he pulls out a card-size piece of plywood and brands it right there.

“They smell the odor of the burning pine, hear the crackle,” Pitzak says. The more senses you can appeal to during a sales pitch, the more likely you’ll make the sale.”

A copier saleswoman prints her cards in full color onto transparencies while potential customers watch, Pitzak relates.

“People in the Middle East like to put their cards on sterling silver or real gold.” Although that’s out of the question for our readers, they can certainly have business cards made in silver, gold or copper foil—which is just as eye-catching.

10 Ways To Make Your Business Card Different

Color: Most commonly used technique, the more the better.

Direction: Card is held vertically instead of horizontally.

Size: Larger, longer, smaller than the standard 2 by 3.5 inches.

Fold: Double it over, tri-fold it, tie it in a knot.

Shape: Sunlike circle, moving van, you name it.

Non-paper material: Pine plank, gold bar, transparent plastic.

Useful: Calendar printed on back, nail file, etc.

Interactive: Holograms, card changes in the heat of holder’s hand.

Photos: Of the card’s giver or relating to something the company does.

Deals: Print discount coupon on the card.

Check with your local barter company for business cards available on trade. For a list of trade exchanges see right-hand column, scroll down to “Top Resources.”

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