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title: Marketing, Business Cards, Website & Advertising description: [AFW S.8.16] Securities Prospecting Method #20 published: true date: 2026-06-30T08:12:25.302Z tags: editor: markdown dateCreated: 2022-02-08T04:31:01.011Z

Notes

  • Building visibility before they need you is powerful. "Farming" vs "Hunting". Farming wins because most high-quality clients come to you when life happens.

  • Remember, you are marketing you - not the product. Visit The Messenger is the Message for more details.

  • Your objective is to get your prospects and clients to think of you when they think of investments.


Professional Profile Photo

To set yourself apart from other advisors in our industry, make sure to get a professional photo of yourself (get multiple). It is money well spent. Don't have your spouse or kids take your photos, and God-forbid don't use a cell phone photo.

Update all of your online profile with your pro photos, even your non-business acocunts.

Use your photos in all of your marketing pieces, advertisements, web sites, etc. And change them up - don't use the same photo is all of them.


Business Cards & Notecards

Watch MKOM 1606: Why I use $1 Business Cards & $2 Notecards YOUTUBE VIDEO

Watch Business Card Tips, v1 (2023-01) VIDEO

Watch Business Card Tips, v2 (2023-01) YOUTUBE VIDEO

Are quality business cards worth it? Get some and judge the results after answering this question every day: "How many business cards have I handed out today?"

You business cards are a physical represetation of you. They have three purposes:

  1. Provide your contact info.
  2. Proivde a information on what you do and offer.
  3. Make a positive impression.


Tips & Tricks

  1. If you not securities licensed yet, wait until you are before gettting cards.
  2. Keep you cards clean and pristine. When handing them out, treat them like they're preciouos (like it's a $100 bill). Use business cards holders (see below).
  3. However, feel free to write or draw on your cards.
  4. Hand your cards out to everyone, even if it's for none business reasons. For example, you meet someone who wants to join your bowling league and you want to exchange contact info, hand them your business card.
  5. If the recipient says, "Just give me your phone number". Respond with, "Go ahead and take it, that way you have my email and web site, as well".


Card Design

  1. Get the highest quality, best designed physical cards that you can afford. The ones I get (see below) cost almost $1 a piece!

  2. Use the highest quality and heaviest paper possible. This because weight is often unconsciously correlated with importance. In one study, participants evaluated resumes using either heavy or light paper. Resumes on heavy paper were judged as more serious and the candidates as better qualified compared to those on lighter paper.

  3. Don't glossy paper. Make sure you can write on them with a pen to make notes for whom you are handing them to.

  4. Have your profile photo on your cards (get professional photos done). I recommend putting the photo competely one on side with no text.

  5. Keep the data simple: one phone number, one email address and one web link (either an approved client web site or use your LinkedIn profile). If you don't have a branch office, don't include you address.

  6. Have a brief list of the products/services you offer. Such as:

Helping Families Make Smart Choices About Their Retirement Since 1989

Retirement Planning • IRAs • Roth IRAs • SEP-IRAs • 401ks • Mutual Funds • Variable Annuities • College Planning • 529-Plans • UTMAs • Term Life Insurance • Living Trusts • Land Trusts


My Business Cards

I get my cards and postcards from MOO. Use this link for 20% off your first order.

  • Luxe paper (very highest quality paper). Here's the story behind the Luxe paper.
  • Rounded corners
  • Each card has a different profile picture.
  • $56 for 50 business cards.



My Notecards


  • Luxe paper (very highest quality paper)
  • I uploaded three different images: "Thank You", "Congrats" and "Happy Birthday". You can upload as many as 10 different fronts but all have thhe same back.
  • $146 for 50 notecards and 50 envelopes.
  • It's best to use felt tip pens to write on these Luxe notecards (and the business cards above).



Custom Client Email Address & Website

For details on how, and why, to have a custom email address and client web site vist AFW M.14.


Reasons To Have a Client Website

  • Having your own website is like having an entry in the Yellow Page of yester-year. It let's people know that you're "serious" about being in business. Pro-Tip: you should also have your Linkedin and Facebook profiles updated (this is where most clients will "check you out").

  • Re-affirms your messaging. Your principles and beliefs that you describe on your web site (see below) will match what you tell people.

  • Your website is your electronic business card. It is an easy thing to give your prospects, especially when you're on the phone or don't have your business card handy. It is the easiest thing that your client can give to those they want to recommend to you.


Tips

  • Don't use broker/dealer-provided web sites (unless they don't allow you to have your own). build your own. 1) You don't want to promote your B/D, but yourself. 2) You don't want prospects "discovering" other advisors that are listed on the B/D web site (maybe another advisor is geographically closer to the them, or the their profile photo is "better"!). 3) Many pre-created company websites have a lot of marketing-speak, industry jargon and very common propoganda. You want to stay away from than.

  • Your website should be just one page and a simple as possible.

  • There are four main parts:

    1. About you: profile photo, contact info, summary intro (coffee script).

  • Your principles. At least two, not more than four. These should be what you really believe and how you run your business. Not marketing gobble-de-gook. when you speak to prospects the same things should said. Visit Origin Story and Principles AFW S.8.19.

  • A list of products that you offer.

  • Call to action:

    • Schedule a call using cal.com.
    • Sign-up to for your monthly client newsletter.


IP Approved Marketing Pieces


Cup of Coffee & and a 2nd Opinion


Bread-and-Butter Fundamentals


Five Facts about Roth IRAs


Roth for Kids


Four Facts About 529 Plans


Five Facts of UTMA/UGMAs


ABLE Accounts


401k Rollover


Simple Wealth, Inevitable Wealth Book


ICA


Equity Market


Variable Annuity Tip #1: Income Rider


Variable Annuity Tip #2: Tax-Deferral


Variable Annuity Tip #3: Death Benefit


Variable Annuity Tip #4: Estate Protection


Variable Annuity Tip #5: 10-Year Rule


Variable Annuity Tip #6: Mosche's Quotes