Business Cards - how are you using them?
Are you a card collector?
It’s been said (can’t remember where, but I am sure I read it) that a business card is one of the most effective marketing tools you will ever use. Certainly it is hard to imagine going through business life, or life in general without them. Indeed I was planning a quiet day recently and to my endless embarrassment I was caught without my usual supply when asked for one. Note to self: Make sure that never happens again.
So, on balance I agree that your card says a lot about you and your company. However…..I have been to numerous networking events where there was a lot of card collecting going on. In other words people handing out cards and taking them almost as if it were a game - who can give out and/or collect the most by the end of the evening.
Why are we exchanging cards
Try asking that question if you are genuinely not sure of the answer. Many times in the past I have been given a card BEFORE any connection was established or we had discussed where the relationship went next. Of course, cards allow us to connect after the event but, let’s be honest, how often do you go through your card collection and think: “Hmmm. I wonder who that was?”
Left Pocket, Right Pocket
Kevin has a great approach. If he knows why he has a card and what the follow up is it goes into his right pocket and then into his follow up process. Left pocket? Don’t know what the next step is, goes into a stack of cards with no detailed follow up.
Make sure you know why you might want to follow up with a contact. Find out what they do and what their concerns are - is that person a good target/prospect/referral partner/resource for you and what can you do for them? If you find that out at a network meeting, by all means swap cards and agree the next stage of discussion.
Then you will save on cards and make sure more of the ones you give out make it to the right pocket!
Tags: business cards, marketing, networking