Networking Rewards

Networking events are what you make of them. Food, drinks, and friendly chit chat are all hallmarks of events. Another hallmark is the business card.

Everyone has a business card.

Business cards are still considered the holy grail of networking. It’s a reverse thing though. It’s not so much about how many one collects but rather how many are able to be given away. How many go home in someone else’s pocket.

Last night I attended a happy hour networking event. Everyone was pushing their card. Most also wanted to tell about their business. All of them have stories to tell.

Did I take the business cards? Sure, but what did I focus on? The stories.

Joe, his card on the top of the stack in the picture, owns and operates and electronics firm. Joe is passionate about electronics a bit, but he’s way more passionate about his customers, people he wants to shepherd into best choices for their electronics needs.

He’s a Army veteran of 16 years. Leaving the service was hard but more than that he left a great paying job in computer security. His passion to get it right led him to take up the electronics business.

Joe and his team don’t stock components, parts, or other miscellaneous materials. They order to suit each job, big or small. Part of every customer experience is about education. Another tenet is that not every customer potential customer is a definite customer. Joe is willing to walk away and move on.

What’s Joe’s one big goal? He wants to get the company so self sufficient that he can rejoin the Army reserves. The hope is to be able to deploy and the company still be there when he gets back.

Joe’s story sounds great doesn’t it? No business card carried that story. Acting as a springboard for that story though, that the card did well. He’s on the card. The card is bright, readable, and memorable. It’s not the end though.

The business card serves as a bookmark to that story.

Is giving me your business card likely to get to me call you? Drop you an email? Even remember I took it from you? No.

Sharing a great story; that’s what will get me to call you back. If your story is memorable the card will have much more value.

Some quick tips on sharing your story, for the sharing challenged:

1) Don’t give me your services provided list.

2) Tell me how you change lives.

3) Don’t give me details unless I ask.

4) Do be prepared to explain the pitch on your card.

5) Don’t push your card on me until you’ve given me a reason to take it.

6) Do be memorable. Power is in your passion not your pricing.

Don’t think there is time for quality sharing? Prepare as much as you can ahead of time. If I don’t know you, all the hanging out isn’t going to make me call you in a week.

Cheers and look for me at your next networking event. I’ve been known to show up wearing a hat.

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