This is another topic that I wish I didn’t have to write, but apparently everyone still doesn’t get it.
Always have your business card with you! Especially at networking events, trade shows, during one on one meetings or any other time you might meet a potential contact. At those times, you need a stack large enough to be able to give them away to everyone you meet and talk to. At the trade show I worked last Friday, I had a basket out for a drawing. Three people had to write their contact information on the back of my card because they didn’t have cards of their own with them. They went to the show to make contacts, right? Why didn’t they have cards?
Business cards are cheap. I’m not a fan of Vista Print or cards printed on your home printer, but it’s better to have those than nothing. When I started my coaching business, I ink-jet printed basic cards with my name, business name, phone number and email address while I waited to have my cards designed and professionally printed. Were they great? No, but they gave someone the information they needed to contact me. And I only used them for a couple of weeks. As soon as my professional cards arrived, I tossed the temporary cards.
Do not print temporary cards on plain paper to cut out with scissors. Invest in business card stock. Even if you are a job seeker, you need to present a professional image and not look desperate and destitute.
Don’t use an old card and write new information on it. Invest a few dollars in new, temporary cards.
And carry them with you always. Keep a couple in your wallet or purse for those times you get caught out without your big stack and still need a card.
Anyone else have a good business card story?
[...] parties and the like? Definitely bring business cards. (Remember my post from last week about business cards?) But keep them in your pocket until the conversation goes in that direction. You will want to have [...]