Tuesday, May 10, 2016

When to Hand Out Your Business Card?



Have you ever been at a networking meeting and you’re having a conversation with someone and a person walks up and hands you their business card?  And you notice they go from one person to another doing the same.  These people are known as the ‘Card Pushers.’  As they say….’there is a time and place for everything.’

I typically want to do business with someone I know, like, and trust or someone who comes highly recommended.  Someone I know is qualified to do the work.  When someone shoves their business card at me at a networking meeting, when I didn’t ask for it, that card and/or marketing material is more than likely going to end up in the round file before I get out the door.

Recently I read a blog post by Dr. Ivan Miser about when to pass out your business card.  He gave, what I feel is excellent advice…’Don’t hand it out unless someone asks for it.’  Your goal at a networking meeting should be to make 3 to 5 good connections, not see how many business cards and/or pieces of marketing material you can get rid of.  Save some trees and some money and only give this material to those who are truly interested in your products and/or services.  Take time to get to know people and build a relationship.

Below is the link to Dr. Miser blog post so you can read the full article along with a couple of other links about how to get the most out of networking.
 
Here is a link to a blog post on ‘Networking Etiquette.’  
Here is a link to a blog post on ‘How to Build a StrongNetwork.’  

What other advice would you give on this topic?  Your comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Happy Networking,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Ten Things to do to build Your Network which increases Your Net Worth.



This past week was International Networking week. I thought I would pass along these tips for networking.

1. Brand Yourself – By Name, Business, Tag Line, Appearance, etc. Be consistent in all your material.

2. Have a 30 Second Infomercial - Your Elevator speech – Be able to tell someone what you do that peeks their interest and makes them ask questions and want to hear more.

3. Noticeable Business Cards – If someone doesn’t comment on your business cards after handing out 5 of them – You need new business cards. (And even if you do order them from Vista, add a little something so you don’t have the Vista logo on the back.)

4. Get a website – (You can always buy your own name as a URL) And have something on it that is useful information. Useful information, tips, lists, etc. So you can refer them to your website to get the information.

5. Say what you do and Do what you Say – Deliver and give Exceptional Customer Service. Be passionate about and stand behind what you sell or get another line of work.

6. Keep in touch with people – Email, Snail mail, Drop by, Just Because, birthday, anniversary, etc. Any good real estate agent is taught to ‘touch’ their warm market at least 10 times per year – why – because Everyone knows somebody that will be buying or selling real estate. This same principal can be applied to any business.

7. Show up – Network – Follow up – Brian Tracy recommends being a member of at least 5 networking groups, 2 closed, 2 open, and 1 volunteer. Remember it takes people seeing and hearing you 7 to 8 times before they remember you and what you do.

8. Take advantage of Free stuff – Submit articles to papers, magazines, and websites. Look for places to leave your business cards, flyers, brochures, etc. Comment on internet forums. Have a blog. Join and participate in on-line social networks, i.e. FaceBook, LinkedIn, Ning sites, etc. and set up and post to Twitter.

9. Let people know how to reach you. When you call someone, unless it’s your mother, leave a phone number and repeat it twice. When you email someone, include a signature line with a phone number.

10. Be a referral source. The ‘Go To’ Person. Who do you know? Givers Gain. Be a referral partner. When you meet someone, be thinking about who you know you that you could introduce them to. Zip Ziglar says that if you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.

In BNI we are taught V+C=P – Visibility builds Credibility which leads to Profitability.

Happy Networking!

Annette

Virtual Assistant specializing in Relationship Marketing

www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

 

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