Drop Cards, Sizzle Cards, Dollar Cards, And Business Cards – What’s The Difference
Drop Cards, Sizzle Cards, Dollar Cards, And Business Cards – What’s The Difference
What to do with all of these options? Which plastic card is what, and what is best? Aren’t they all the same, or are they different? Or, are they almost the same as being different? Okay, calm down… Let’s see if we can sort this stuff out and decipher what the differences are between all of these marketing tools.
Since ‘business cards’ were first on the scene, let’s start there. As a brief history, business cards were originated in 17th century France, although some research shows they were first used in 15th century China. In either case, they were referred to as “Visiting Cards” which were more like invitations. However they were utilized for just about any purpose where brief plastic card printing writing would be appropriate. Visiting cards soon evolved into “Trade Cards” where they specifically provided business information including a map to the business. As printing methods were developed to become more efficient, “business cards” became a more popular means of distributing advertising for one’s business.
Business cards have not changed much in the last couple hundred years aside from adding Plastic Photo ID Card Printing color and maybe glossing them up a bit. Now if there’s any wonder why business cards haven’t changed much in the last couple hundred years, the answer is simple; as bland as they may be, they’re still somewhat effective and they serve their purpose.
Relative to the business card, the “drop card” has a rather brief history. So brief in fact, that you’d be hard pressed to find any factual historical information on them at all. In conducting any research at all, you’re most likely to see someone advertising their version of a drop card for sale or their advice on how to use them.
Sizzle Cards are essentially synonymous with drop cards. With an even more recent history, the term “sizzle card” was simply coined as a marketing term to emphasize that a drop card should have a message so hot that it sizzles. So if drop cards are the same as sizzle cards, how are they different than business cards? While a business card is simply a card that contains as much information regarding a business as possible, a drop card typically has very little information. They generally have just enough information to peak someone’s curiosity to make them want to call or log on to a website. It may not have any real information at all, but more of a statement with a call to action that “sizzles.” An example of a drop card message might be something like, “WE MAKE MONEY FOR YOUR BUSINESS! Visit http://www.DollarCardMarketing.com for details” or “PUT OUR MONEY TO WORK FOR YOU! Call (888) 282-6887 for more information.”
As young as drop cards and sizzle cards may be, they are also beginning to see some evolutionary progress. As many things evolve and develop, they tend to go through a series of trials and errors. Such would be the case with dollar cards. Dollar cards are a brilliant innovation to the drop card and sizzle card concept, but unfortunately, were initially poorly executed. I believe the first attempts at this novelty were created with a million dollar card. Although seemingly an interesting idea because you could use such slogans as, “Thanks a million!” or “This opportunity could be worth a $Million Dollars!”, it just smacked of being entirely phony when executed.