Keep business cards within hands reach. You should place some in your briefcase, purse, pocket, and on front desk or reception area of your business. With cards readily available, you’ll always be able to introduce yourself with them.

Hand your card to receptionist at doctor’s office, hostess at restaurant, or technician at auto repair shop. Include your card with all correspondence, including letters and thank you notes to customers, potential customers and business associates. And don’t forget including one in all your bills. Someone is opening your bills, and you never know who that someone may be.

When you hand out your card, it’s important that you make it memorable. Write a brief message on it before handing it to someone: your extension number or direct phone line, “Ask for me personally,” “Best wishes!” or “Thanks!” all work well.

Make your business card do double duty – and point it out to person you’re giving it to. Print a coupon or special offer on backs of your cards. Also include these special cards with invoices to current customers. If you offer a referral incentive, print it on card.

It’s all in thinking outside box when it comes to box of cards sitting in a desk drawer. The French don’t use hard-sell like Americans do, but they realize ‘Le Card’ is quickest way to turn a brief encounter into a long-term customer.

People also make buying decisions based on their overall experience in your store or place of business. Here are influencing factors:

1.Ease of business. Are you easy to do business with or do I, as a customer, have to jump through hoops to return something? Are you well staffed or do you reduce your costs by scheduling a skeleton staff at any given time? 2.Staff accessibility and attitude. Is your team friendly and well trained in customer services procedures? Do they exhibit mentality that customer is important and comes first or do they spend their time gossiping and gabbing? Do they eagerly approach customer or do they wait for customers to come up to them first. I recently bought an aquarium and although staff was knowledgeable at store I felt like I was intruding on their time. 3.Product selection and availability. Do you have a good supply chain management or order fulfillment process in place. Prior to buying my aquarium I placed my order at one store and at time of writing this article almost six weeks later I still haven’t been advised that my tank has arrived. And this was a stock order! 4.Store cleanliness and layout. Is your store clean, tidy and visually appealing? I recently visited a new store in city and, even though they had been open for less than a week, many of shelves were in complete disarray and products were scattered haphazardly. Make it easy for people to find product, prices, and to maneuver around store. In his book, “Why We Buy” Paco Underhill states importance of having aisles that are sufficiently wide enough for every type of consumer.

Lastly, equip your team with tools they need to properly do their job. Take advantage of product training most manufacturers provide, invest in on-going development of your people, and help them succeed. I’ve worked with companies who invest a great deal in their employees and others who spend a bare minimum. The difference in their overall results is always significant.

Today’s business environment is more challenging and competitive than ever before which means you need to give people a clear reason to do business with you rather than someone else.