MAKE A NOTE OF THIS ON YOUR BUSINESS CARD.
Every month, like most salespeople, Visit a large number of clients and prospects; some buy, some do not, but every single one of them gets a business card. In the hunt for new connections and, eventually, new business, attending business breakfasts, seminars, and other networking events. Everyone receives a business card.
A few years back, We realized that We not only give out a lot of cards, but We also get a lot of them. We decided to check over some of the earlier ones to see if We could find any fresh leads. As We began to sort through them, We realized that most people’s cards are worthless in isolation. Unless you work for one of the few companies whose name really represents what you do, you might as well write your phone number on a sheet of paper and leave out your name.
ABC Company
Mr. Bob Jones
General Manager
Telephone number
Mobile number
Fax number
Email address
Website
We have no idea what the firms do until We go online and look at every single webpage!
Similarly, everyone We’d been handing out business cards to had every imaginable means of contacting me written down in plain and white, but no idea what We do! It is my responsibility as a salesperson to put my face forward. ensure that I am constantly contactable and that I remember as much as possible about all of my prospects (with perhaps, a little help from my CRM). My prospects are also everyone else’s prospects; they don’t need to remember me, therefore they require a little assistance.
We realized the answer is straightforward. WRITE ON YOUR BUSINESS CARDS!!!
Here’s how it works: When the prospect comes to the office one day, he is informed that they require a new widget supplier and that it is his job to find one. He remembers meeting with a few vendors at the conference but can’t remember who they were, so he quickly flips through the cards he’s acquired, then, He comes upon one, he can’t recall the name or the face, but it reads Widgets, budget to high end in lovely clear lettering. Who is invited to a meeting?
We are among those that preserve our business cards during meetings. We aren’t fans of useless cardboard relationships (exchanging business cards without a purpose). We are turned off when someone says, “Greetings, my name is…. I’ve attached my business card; could I have yours?” Our suspicion is that We will be added to someone’s junk mail list. However, by initially hitting a chord, you’ve fulfilled an essential goal in your networking mission: you’ve discovered a cause to continue the relationship beyond the gathering where you met.
Not every prospect you meet will be your ideal customer (or center of influence). This is especially true for me because We work in a highly specialized field. Concentrate your efforts on people who fulfill your requirements. Take notes on the reverse of the card (the reason for the strong connection), and you’ll have a talking topic to develop your friendship on at your next encounter or in your email. Follow up as soon as possible following the meeting by delivering the information you promised.
