Posts Tagged ‘Business cards’

Business Cards and Readability

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

One of my clients was creating a new card, and she was sending me versions to comment on. I think I annoyed her because the designs she liked were not the ones I liked.

I admitted to her that I have a bias. I look at cards from the perspective of “Can I read it?” and “Will it scan well?” I’ve seen gorgeous cards that failed spectacularly on both those counts. But readability and, these days, scanability are important considerations.

Think about it. If someone can’t read your card easily, they’ll likely toss it. Same with being able to scan it. Many people are using card scanners and odd sizes, fancy fonts and lots of background colors just don’t scan well. Anything that makes it difficult for someone to use your card makes it less likely they’ll keep it and refer you.

So think about these things the next time you design your business card. It can look good, be easy to read and scan. Aim for all of those and you’ll have cards people will keep and hand on to others.

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Networking Safely

Monday, July 12th, 2010

I recently returned from a two-day trip to Virginia Commonwealth University. My son starts there in the fall, and we were attending new student orientation. One of the presentations given to both parents and students was on safety, and it got me to thinking about safety while networking. While these tips may seem very basic, sometimes we need reminders.

1. Always meet in public places

I’ve been invited to one on one meetings in people’s homes. It really isn’t a good idea to accept until you know the person well. I’d probably make an exception for certain types of businesses that are run out of a home, like daycare or personal training. They are likely to be safe, and seeing the environment in which they work could be advantageous for determining if you want to refer them.

2. Network with a buddy at night

I seldom feel unsafe going to and from evening networking events, but there are exceptions. Do some basic research on the part of town before going. If you have any doubts, find a buddy. As I’ve noticed in a previous post on networking as a team, there are other advantages besides safety.

3. Should you put your address on your business card?

Obviously, if you work in commercial space, no problem. But what if you work from a home office? It’s really your call. There are a few advantages to having it. For those people who send handwritten cards, they know where to send them. It gives people an idea of where you’re located for scheduling meetings.

If you are living alone, however, I advise against it. A post office box is inexpensive and can accomplish the same things


4. Should you put your address on your website or social media page?

I’m going to advise against this unless you work in commercial space. A business card is usually given to someone you’ve spoken to, at least for a few minutes. Anyone can find you on-line. I wouldn’t take the chance.

These are a few ideas. Anyone else have tips to share in the comments? If I get enough tips, I will do a follow up post with links to contributor’s websites.

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The Networking Tool Kit

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Most professions have some basic tools they use to be successful. Networking may not be your profession, but if you are using it to grow your business, it’s certainly part of your job. Do you know your tools and how to use them?

1. Business cards

You do have them, right? I can’t tell you how many times I meet someone at an event and hear, “I don’t have any cards with me.” The reasons are myriad:

* I ran out
* I just changed jobs, and my new cards aren’t in yet
* I left them in my other jacket

And on and on. The reasons don’t matter. Cards aren’t that expensive or that big. Temporary cards at Kinkos are only a few dollars. I keep three in my wallet, just in case. They are also in my briefcase, in my car and stashed in an inside pocket of my winter coat. Unless I am tied up and stripped naked by muggers, you should never be able to catch me without one. (And if you should find me tied up in that state, I should hope asking me for my card won’t be your first question.)

There is no excuse. Networking is about meeting people, exchanging ideas and contacts and following up. Without cards, you are crippled.

2. A good elevator speech

I’m going to be writing a post soon on this topic, so I won’t go into too much detail here. But you need one. It needs to contain the following:

* Who you are
* What you do
* Who you are looking to meet
* Why we should care

And it needs to be brief and evocative. Even if you never have an opportunity to stand up and deliver your speech, going through the process of writing it will help you be more effective at talking about your business.

3. A good contact management system

Note that I said “good.” I didn’t say “fancy” or “expensive.” A paper address book works. Mobile and smart phones are good. Thousand dollar CRM systems will certainly do it. But the most important part of your system is that it be one you will use. The best system in the world that’s never updated is useless

Find one you like and that you will use. When you collect cards at events, enter the information promptly. It’s no use to know a lot of people if you can’t contact them or pass their info on to others.

4. Attitude

I have an “Attitude” pin on the lapel of one of my jackets. It is a conversation starter, but it’s also a tangible reminder of the only thing we have total control over. The right attitude in networking will take you a long way. The wrong attitude will leave you hanging.

What’s the right attitude? Easy. Be open and willing to help others. Be willing to ask for what you need. Be bold to take advantage of opportunities that come your way. Be flexible to shift in unexpected directions.

These are the basic tools of a good networker. Acquire them. Hone them. Use them well. They will keep you in business for a very long time.

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Holiday Networking: Getting the Okay to Exchange Business Cards

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

The best part about today’s post is that it works year-round.

So how can you guarantee that someone will be grateful to exchange business cards and contact information, no matter the event?

Listen and ask questions to uncover a need. Most people will reveal a need if you give them long enough to talk. You can accelerate the process if you ask targeted questions.

At a business networking event? Ask about the person’s biggest challenge this year. The odds are good that a need will emerge.

At a social event? Ask about health, their home or kids. Needs show up very quickly in these conversations.

Note that these conversational topics are completely appropriate for the occasion, so you are still honoring the event.

Now that you have uncovered a need, mentally thumb through your contacts to see if anyone can answer the need. If you can think of someone, you are golden. Mention that you think you know someone who can help, and would they like the contact info. The answer is likely to be yes. Say you’d be happy to arrange an introduction or send them the name and contact info. Presto! You just set up a perfect reason to exchange cards or phone numbers and email addresses.

See how easy that was? No pressure. You honored the event, and you found a referral for someone. It doesn’t get much better than that!

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Holiday Networking: Honor the Event

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

This is number one in a series of posts about holiday networking. I know it’s a bit early to be talking about this topic, but I have two reasons. The first being that I want to give you time to plan your strategy for the holidays. Too many people network reactively. I want you networking proactively. The second is purely selfish. I am holding a workshop on this topic in a few weeks, and this forces me to think through my material. For obvious reasons, this topic hasn’t been top of my mind for almost a year.

The holiday season is a good time for networking. Many people give up on it after Thanksgiving, and that’s a shame. It wastes more than a month out of the year. People do spend money (obviously) during the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they might as well be spending it on you. If your product or service really isn’t needed through the season, then you can be building relationships that will give you a jump start on the new year.

The first thing to remember in holiday networking is to honor the event. What that means will vary from event to event. There will a number of holiday-themed business networking events throughout the season. It’s fine to bring cards, a good elevator speech and ears opened wide for needs.

But what about holiday parties, intimate get-togethers, office holiday exchanges, customer appreciation 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 a message for these events, but it will probably be different from the message you bring to business networking events.

More on crafting that specific message tomorrow. Stay tuned.

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Business Card Basics

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

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?

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