The first thing we need to keep in mind is that a business card does not sell your business. It does keep you in peoples minds. It also can spark conversation. For example, I just recently changed my logo from very professional looking triangle, company name imbedded (lots of symbolism if somebody asked, which nobody did), to a picture of a flamingo dude relaxing under a palm tree hoisting a cocktail. (Symbolism – everybody has a dream, goals..so what’s your dream? Hey, I’m a business coach!) It’s colorful, takes up a hefty half of the business card & everybody notices and comments on it, all favorably. But even with the flamingo dude, it still hasn’t gotten me any business. But cards still perform an important function.
1. So the first thing you need to do is keep it current. There is absolutely no excuse for a card with someone else’s name crossed out, number scribbled on, etc. No excuse. If you can’t order them quickly, then make some up. You can use your regular programs (like Word) download templates from the web (like Microsoft) design a decent basic business card with the right information and get sheets of business cards from any Office Depot (sorry these are just examples, I’m not getting anything for product mention here!) In a half hour, you can have a couple of dozen business cards that may not be exactly “perfect” but get you through a networking event. It could even be a discussion point. “I apologize for the business cards, haven’t got them from the printer yet”. Employee of a big company that gives you their business cards with their logo? Still waiting for the cards? Same thing. Don’t take a co-worker’s card and put your name on it. Make them up without the logo. You want to have potential clients holding the right information to contact you.
2. The next thing is to put them EVERYWHERE. Every networking event I have been to (and I go to a lot of them) there is always someone who is out, or forgotten them. Put business cards everywhere, stuff a few in anything you might carry around. Put 50 (or more!) business cards in a baggie and put them in the car, glove box, do-hickey between the seats or even in the trunk. That way, when you’re out of cards or forget them, you have an easy supply to restock with.
Rule of thumb about when you should have your business cards with you? Every place, but when you shower. Really. If you are going out with friends, family dinner, going to the gym, have business cards tucked away somewhere (can be in your gym bag, don’t need to be doing Pilates with your cards). You just never know when there is an opportunity for someone to do business with you. So don’t make lack of contact information a stumbling block. Have the card nearby.
3. Don’t use that cute little business card container when you network. I have one. It’s beautiful, made of brass and different kinds of wood, I love mine. It’s also heavy and holds about 8 cards. It also becomes a ritual when someone asks for a card. You take it out of the pocket, stviking style hoodiegle a bit opening the case, pull it out and then present the card. I don’t mean to be sexist here, but it’s even more complicated for women, because now the case has to come out of a purse and so on. Presenting business cards should be an easy, seamless flow in a conversation. The smart networker puts them in a pocket (the best one, the shirt pocket) with nothing else in it, so when it comes time for the exchange, hand goes in, grabs a card, presents.
Does that mean you have to get rid of that cute case? Not at all. Just don’t use it when you are at a “networking” event where cards are sure to be passed around. If you’re at the more social occasion, then you can use the case.
4. Okay, so now you have your cards ready in an easy to reach pocket (or pocket in your purse), what do you do with the cards you get? Put them in a separate pocket, keep them apart. Have you ever had the exchange of card moment, and the person pulls out this wad of cards and they’re trying to figure out which one is theirs? It looks disorganized; you might wonder are they just “card grabbers”, it just doesn’t look professional. There is also an uneasy sense that you just aren’t that important to them if you’re going to be thrown in this stack.
The perfect scenario is the three pocket system. The first for your cards, the second is for the “hot prospect” that requires immediate attention and the third is for the rest. This way, the next morning, you don’t have to fumble through your cards; try to remember who you promised to call, etc. The right stack is there to take action on first thing. Can the 3 pockets be in a purse? Absolutely, as long as they are quick and handy to reach.
5. Lastly, go ahead and write on the business card. Did you promise to do something, call and make an appointment, send them the name of the book, a contact you were talking about? Go ahead and jot a quick note on their business card. It shows them that you think it’s important enough to make a special note of it. Make sure that goes into the priority pocket.
You also now have a golden opportunity to write down other things. Did they just mention that they had a birthday, marriage, baby? Have a certain interest? The super-networker takes that kind of info and uses it. Send a card congratulating the person (that you want to get to know better) on their birthday, baby, marriage. The super-networker might pass on a tip, newspaper article relating to there interest. You help to create a relationship based more on you being a thoughtful person and that their interests are important to you (isn’t that a good foundation for a business relationship?) instead of “Hi, I’m ___ and I want to sell you something”.
Business cards are like the wire coat hanger of business. They seem to multiply and you never run out of them. So spread them around. Have cards that look good, are up to date and easily accessible. Use them and receive them effectively and go ahead and write on them. I wrote at the top of the article that business cards don’t “get” you business and that’s true, but they CAN be useful tools in helping you to get that business you want.
So use this business tool with intelligently and effectiveness. And these are 5 ways you can do just that!
black t shirt
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write by Lionel