Required card Information

Required card Information

Like the majority of sales people, I also visit a huge number of clients and prospects every month, some end up buying some do not that’s the way it goes, but every single one of them has my business card.

I attend business breakfasts, seminars and other networking events in my search for new contacts and ultimately new business, each person I meet also gets a business card these ways of canvassing may not be your type of thing but it will help your business card work even harder for you.

One day a few years ago I realised that I not only hand out a huge number of cards, but I also receive a fair few myself, which I thought, was fantastic.

So i decided to go back through some of the older ones to see if I could find some new prospects. As I was sifting through them I began to realise that most peoples cards are actually meaningless if you cant put a product or service to the card.

 Unless you work for one of the few companies who’s name actually reflects what you do, you may as well be writing your telephone number on a piece of paper and forgetting to add your name.

This is the minimum detail I would recommend:

The love shop
Wayne
General Manager
phone no.1300787676
phone no. 08 89712244
Fax: 08 89470778
Shop 4/10, Third Street
Katherine, NT, 0850
Katherine@theloveshop.com
www.theloveshop.com.au
Adult products

without going online and looking at every single website I have no idea what the companies do that just have name and phone numbers on there cards.

Likewise, all those people I had been diligently handing my business card too had every conceivable method of contacting me, written there in black and white, but they will have a idea of what I do as I have included my phone, my product even my web site! It’s my job as a sales person to be seen and remembered, to always make sure I am always contactable and remember as much as I can about all my prospects (with perhaps, a little help from my CRM).

My prospective clients are also everyone else’s prospects, they do not need to remember me, and so they need a little help.

The solution is really simple. Put all your details on your business cards

Here’s a scenario: The prospective client gets back to the office one day and is told they need a new supplier for widgets, it’s his job to find one. He remembers speaking to a few suppliers at the seminar but can’t remember exactly who, so he quickly flips through the cards collected, then, he comes across one, he can’t remember the name or the face to match it, but, in nice clear writing it says “Widgets, budget to high end” Who gets invited in for a meeting, well a bit obvious I know but the point is very clear

I'm one of those people who guard my business cards at meetings. I don't like meaningless cardboard connections (exchanging business cards without a purpose). Someone who says, “Hello, my name is blah blah immediately, puts me off. Here is my business card, can I have yours?" My first thought is that I'm going to be put on someone's junk mail list and either get a huge influx of emails or my po box filled to overflowing.

However, by first striking a chord even if its just passing smiles and being friendly, you've accomplished something very important in your networking mission -- you've found a reason to extend the relationship beyond the event at which you met.

Not all prospects you meet are going to fit your ideal client profile but as long as you have what they require and you can supply it readily everyone no matter whom they are can then be classified as prospective clients.

If you have a highly specialized area that you can only supply to, Focus your attention on those who only meet your criteria thus allowing yourself time not wasted. Write down notes on the back of the card (the reason for the solid connection) and any other details you may need so it doesn’t just become another card, and then you'll have a conversation point in which to build your relationship at the next meeting or in your follow up correspondence.

Always follow up quickly after the meeting by sending the information you promised.