Business cards for treasure hunters

[Dan Hughes]

Many treasure hunters are missing a good bet by not using "hobby" business cards to promote themselves.

A well-thought-out card can open doors for you. It can get you onto private properties that are otherwise closed to treasure hunters.

In this show, we take another look at the do's and don'ts of business cards. (See show #77 for our first discussion of cards).

Why a card can be TOO good-looking, why it can scare people away, with several tips about what NOT to put on your treasure hunting business card.

Listen to this short program at In the Corner with Dan Hughes (treasure).

 

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[TerryC]

I agree with the buz card concept. Mine is very generic. Just name, phone, and e-mail. That makes it a "card for all reasons". TTC

 

[spartacus53]

Honestly, in today's day and age, I wouldn't give out any personal information

There are too many people like me walking around, and they don't need to know your business

I suggest just brushing up and learning how to talk to people

 

[DigginThePast]

Honestly, in today's day and age, I wouldn't give out any personal information

There are too many people like me walking around, and they don't need to know your business

I suggest just brushing up and learning how to talk to people

I have to agree with Spart. In fact, thats why I put his info on the card I hand out.



Seriously though, I'm fortunate in that I have a lot of leads for old properties in my area so I rarely have to go on a "cold call" anymore. In the past though I found that an honest, sincere face to face approach worked best for me.

 

[CASPER-2]

This is one I made years ago
I think by putting the "police & fire dept."
assistance might help you - I do give my cards out to local police and fire depts
and have help police in the past
I have a new card now (will get a pic and post )
but this card pictured - I have made other variations
and have had to change the yrs in hobby
and have changed detector pic too
did this card on MS paint

 

[CASPER-2]

This is my new card
American flag might be helpful or whatever country
flag you live under
got these for free from vistaprint
just had to pay for s/h

 

[CASPER-2]

Oh - forgot - I bought a cheap laminator and water proofed
a bunch too

 

[Diggit]

The world has enough shameless self-promotion. I think people respond better to being talked to than by having a card thrust at them.
You start firing around business cards and people begin to wonder WHY. Makes you look like a slick talking huckster. The majority of people with older sites you would be seeking permission from will be in their 50s or more. Older people are put off by flashiness and prefer honesty.

 

[CASPER-2]

I am a water hunter most of the time - and get asked by lifegaurds a lot for my #
since I dont carry a pad and pen in the water and they seldom have one
it is easier just to hand them a card - this shows them that I am serious about the hobby
and not just some guy playing on the beach
I have had many people come up to me and tell me about a friend or relative
that lost something - but the dont know all the speciffics - so i give them a card
and tell them to get a hold of me
while land hunting have had people ask if i can find property markers - give them a card
if someone gives me permission -after I got an yes after asking - before i leave - will thank them and hand them a card
and tell them if they or any family members ever need me - to give me a call
they have - and it opens more doors

 

[bigscoop]

If the property warrants it......$100.00 leases with 50/50 splits use to do pretty well for me with the area farmers/landowners, of course I already knew a lot of them so that helped. Also provides a means for them to more easily say "no" to others, especially fall game and spring mushroom hunters. Worked out pretty well when I was MDing a lot. Just another idea to consider.

 

[Graddick]

The world has enough shameless self-promotion. I think people respond better to being talked to than by having a card thrust at them.
You start firing around business cards and people begin to wonder WHY. Makes you look like a slick talking huckster. The majority of people with older sites you would be seeking permission from will be in their 50s or more. Older people are put off by flashiness and prefer honesty.

I dunno about that. In this era of targeted online advertising and viral marketing campaigns there is something refreshing about a simple business card. Everyone today barrages you with facebook/digg/tumblr/twitter links that a plain piece of paper with a name and contact info is rather quaint.

 

[johnnycat]

2 years ago I was extremely lucky in that I was able to presuade a rancher to let me detect his property. He has 19,300 acres with 13 old homesteads on them. This area has never been legally detected, if at all. The ranchers in this area are a very tight knit community. As a matter of fact when I started, "looking" around out there I had the local sheriff's deputy on me about 1 hr. after I got there. Anyway...While I was talking to the rancher HE asked me for a, "card or something" with my name on it. Two days later he called me and gave me full access to his property and presented me to 3 other ranchers. So...I'm glad I had some cards printed up.