culled from:http://chinese-school.netfirms.com
1. Never leave home without them. Before leaving home, your checklist
should be expanded to include business cards, as part of “do I have my
wallet/money, house keys, driver’s license'” Any ‘per chance’ meeting is an
opportunity to give out a business card. A morning run or a quick trip to the
local store could be an opportunity to network. My wife and I always ask each
other ‘do you have business cards’, before leaving the house. Make it a habit to
carry business cards.
2. Insert a business card when mailing bill payments. Bills contain
advertisements. Why can’t you advertise your skills or services the same way’
Insert a business card with your payment. You may not think a person in South
Dakota who opens your credit card bill payment can help you. Never underestimate
the power of networking. A movie, entitled ‘6 Degrees of Separation’ points out
we are 6 people away from knowing someone of influence. You could be 6 people
away from knowing the President of the United Sates, your favorite movie star or
someone who is in a position to hire your skills or services. Each of us knows
someone, who knows someone, who knows someone etc. Developing this powerful
networking attitude will be a fundamental source of continued success.
3. Use proper business card etiquette. Whenever you give a business
card, ask for a business card. When given a business card, don’t just take it
and place it in your pocket. Make the person feel important by looking at their
card for a few seconds. You might see something that could be a topic of
discussion. Write comments on the card such as date, location and common points
of interest. These comments will prove valuable when following up with that
person. This also demonstrates a sincere interest in the other person. Then
place it in your wallet. This lets them know they reside in a special place with
you. “Skill with People” by Les Giblin is a book that expands on this approach.
Make people feel important, in order to make yourself important to them.
4. Be generous. Give business cards out to everyone, including family
and friends. Don’t let vanity stop you from giving out your last business card
or giving 2 at a time to each person. I have met many people who have totally
missed the purpose of a business card. I once asked a person for a second
business card, so I could refer his services. His response was “I only have a
few cards left and I need them”, as he looked again at his name on the card.
Hoarding your business cards only makes your wallet feel full, not your bank
account.
5. Ask for referrals. When giving a business card, people feel more
comfortable when you ask; ‘I would appreciate a referral, if you know anyone
that could use my services’. Don’t make people feel like they are on the spot.
This approach disarms people much better than asking them, ‘is your company
hiring” People naturally like to do favors for people. Saying ‘could you do me
a favor by referring my services to someone’. This always places you in a better
position with them. They will feel better about helping you. Give them 2 cards.
6. Maximize every “per chance” meeting. You never know when you might
meet someone who can help you. Family or friends social events could produce
unexpected encounters with people. Don’t discount those events. So you’re going
to a birthday party for your friend’s kid. You never know who you might meet. At
a family holiday gathering last year, I met someone that has been instrumental
in developing our business this year. Who would have thought this could happen
by giving him a simple business card.
7. Place yourself at the right place at the right time. Have you been
to a job fair or business conference and been disappointed with the networking
results’ Turn the tables around. Consider volunteering to help out at the job
fair or other types of events. This puts you in a better strategic position for
presenting your resume or business card. Company representatives might view you
differently, if they know you are willing to go the extra mile in helping them
make their presence easier to manage. Get involved by visiting Eventme.com,
TheLunchClub.net, Craigslist.com or view the calendar of events for
JacobJavitsCenter.com to place yourself in opportunities for giving out your
business card. Volunteering for events has been a very successful resource for
my business partner and I to expanding our business. Zig Ziglar, one of the most
successful sales trainers in the world says “if you help enough people get what
they want in life, you will get what you want in life”.
8. Use “In Your Face” follow up. Did you ever have a job interview or
meeting with a recruiter, potential client or employer and wonder why they never
called you back’ ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ is the operative phrase to
remember. Today’s economic climate dictates you might be competing with 20, 50,
100 or more other people for the same position or contract. It’s quite a task
for people to keep track of each individual meeting. So it’s up to you to give a
person a reason to call you back. Immediately after a meeting snail mail a hand
written note thanking the person for their time. Insert your business card. Now
you’re in the driver’s seat in standing out from other people. If you get no
response, do it again. Patience and persistence pays off.
9. Use promotions to promote YOU, Inc. Newspapers often have stories
of people being promoted to high levels in different organizations’ This is an
opportunity for you. Consider getting some invitation size blank greeting cards.
Use the Internet’s search capabilities to find out the address of the company’s
executive offices. Send the blank invitation type card with a hand written note
sincerely congratulating a person on their promotion. Insert your business card.
For the cost of a 37-cent stamp, you have just made someone’s day and may create
an impression that makes a person feel compelled to respond back to you. Make it
a habit to do this once a week. Remember ‘6 Degrees of Separation’. You just
never know . . . People open invitation type envelops faster than any others.
10. Brand yourself with a slogan. Print a slogan on your business card
that answers the question ‘Why should I hire you’ Or “What makes you different
from everyone else'” A catchy phrase or slogan insures people ALWAYS associate a
company name with their product or services. People remember even after the
commercial is over. That’s called branding. Companies pay big bucks to
advertising agencies to come up with these lasting slogans. Consider doing the
exact same thing on your business card. This is your insurance people remember
you, after you meet. Don’t just put Hortence Smiley, Accountant on your business
card. Add something like “Financial Services With Integrity”. A slogan makes all
the difference between getting hired or not, because people will remember you
long after a meeting.
