The release comes with important security enhancements and hardening. All WordPress users are strongly encouraged to update. To download WordPress 3.0.5, update automatically from the Dashboard > Updates screen in your site’s admin area or Download 3.0.4

The idea is that you create a product that Twitter-savvy users would buy. Don’t charge for the product in the traditional sense with dollars, euro, or sterling. Rather, you allow Twitter fans to purchase the product for the price of a Tweet – it’s just that simple. Fascinating, right?

Twits Love Talk & Freebies

Let’s face it, getting people to talk about your product is invaluable in the era of social media. After all, having a method that gets the customer something for FREE whilst spreading the word through the Twitter-verse is a win-win situation – the Twit gets something for free and your product gets spread around like Mad Cow Disease.

Viral Effect

The Twit#1  will be spreading the word and creating buzz around your product and informing his tribe of Twitter fans as to your offer.  I would imagine some of  Twit#1′s fans would also want the freebie and so his Twit#2 will Tweet To Buy too, then Twit#3,  Twit#4 etc  -  creating a domino effect and mass viral marketing could ensue. Wow, that was a mouthful.

Type of Products

The pay with Tweet model is particularly good for high-value-low-cost products such as eBooks, White Papers, Buying Guides, mp3s – basically, it’s a best friend to  downloadable goods.

I can also see the model being used as a great viral marketing method for a service provider too. Maybe you could, for instance, offer a free service to Pay With Tweet customers, then sell the benefits of a premium version (freemium) once the prospect is on your company website.

Twitter & Facebook

Your users can decide if they want to pay with a tweet on Twitter to their fans or with a post on their Facebook wall to tell all their friends.

Pay with a Tweet

There’s a dedicated Pay With A Tweet website where you can learn more and even set up a Pay With A Tweet button. Theyve also released a video to explain their service:

To download WordPress 3.0.4, update automatically from the Dashboard > Updates screen in your site’s admin area or Download 3.0.4

Business Cards For Business

I know a friend who hands business cards to girls, a colleague who proudly collects business cards in a purpose made wallet and a hired gun who leaves cards tucked in his victims’ garment along with a red rose and a silk handkerchief. But I find the best use of business cards is handing them out to prospect customers, planting a seed for further communication.

Business Cards Leave An Impression

You only get one chance to make a first impression. This is particularly the case when it comes to handing business cards to prospect customers.

If you can wedge your card into their pocket there’s a greater chance of being recalled at a later date . Theres a high probability that the prospect customer will also check out your website.

So pull out all the stops to ensure consistency across your branding (card and web) and that you have a clear method for the prospect to take it to the next level and contact you. It wouldnt hurt if your website looked awesome too.

Business Card Journey

Envisage the journey the user may take with your business card:

1. Card to website
2. Card to phone call
3. Card to email software
4. Card to Tescos, then into the bin

Design the business card for the user’s journey and make sure you have the contact details for each journey.

Card To Website Journey

You could create a clear call to action on your website just for business card viewers, or better still, point them to a specific domain: www.mydomain.com/bizcardoffers

Free Love To Prospects

Hand out business cards to prospects like a hippie at a love fest – give each prospect a handful. If possible asking “if they know any contacts as ‘clued in’ as they are about your services”.

Business Premises

You’ll find my business cards in most areas of local commerce and business – if there’s an empty desk, stack of cards on a reception, or an empty bulletin board,  I leave my mark.

Non Business Premises

Your local sandwich shop, hairdresser, local supermarket, local leisure center, Tescos and Morrisons – all the places you frequent should be adorned with your mark. People leave the office – but they don’t leave their jobs at home.

Attach To Letters

I tend to not bother with printed letter heads with my logo, branding etc upon them, mainly due to lack of demand in my daily work routine but also becuause of the environmental aspect.

When I do send a printed letter I attach my business card with a  paperclip to a bog standard recycled A4 printed Paper, leaving the business card to do the branding and call to action.

Having a business card attached to the letter also allows the client to pass it onto other contacts.

Family and Friends

Another great place to store your business cards is in the hands of the people who sing your highest praises. I’ve gained four clients so far this year from my truck driver dad, two from a good friend and my Grandma, well, she thinks I design Spider Kites.

I return the favour by having my colleagues’ business cards upon my person too – they leave a mark for me… I leave a mark for them!

Handing Out Business Cards

At first, it can feel awkward handing out business cards – but believe me, you get used to it. Get into character (Not 007) and practise on your better half or significant other.

I tend to say: “here’s my card in case you want to find out more, my website has more info about that, let’s have chat sometime soon”, “do you have a card?”. I don’t like stiff sounding elavator pitches and I don’t have a script.

Notice within my elavator pitch I asked the question “do you have a card?” – this way you get an insight into their company and more importantly their contact details.

So go forth, be bold and leave your mark on your prospective client. He’ll love it!

The old BBC News Web Design