Sorry, I don’t seem to have one with me….”famous last words” of the forgetful entrepreneur.
Forgetting your business card can be a marketing mistake with huge implications. Every time you’re asked for a business card, and sheepishly reply that you don’t have one with you, you’re missing an honest-to-goodness invitation to market to someone. Worse still, not leaving your business card behind when you need to is a social faux pas as well. Understand that not having one with you at that critical moment is subtly offensive, it puts both you and the person requesting the card in an embarrassing situation and it tells your prospect that you’re not quite the business person they thought and you’re not really serious about your business, or too careless and forgetful to be entrusted with theirs.
So, if you don’t want to be caught “cardless” at a critical meeting again, here are some tips to help you remember:
Develop a strategy for using business cards to actively promote your business.
It may be as simple as deciding to give 5 or 10 cards away every day even pinning them to bulletin boards if need be. The point is that if you consciously figure out a way to use your business cards regularly, you’re much less likely to forget them.
Invest in new cards
If you haven’t ordered business cards within the past two years, there’s a good chance that the information is out of date by now and if your last order was for 1000 cards and there are still 990 cards left, ask yourself why you haven’t been passing them out. If you dislike your cards, toss them and get business cards you’re proud of!
Draft and practice a business card presentation
Unless you’re comfortable and confident when handing out your card, you won’t do it. Besides, the words and actions that accompany your business card when you give it to someone can really cement a positive first impression.
Place a few business cards everywhere
Your glove compartment, your computer case, your gym bag, your friend’s car, next to the front door on the table where you keep your keys, your desk top, the reception desk, the pocket of your notebook, your suitcase, the point is never leave without them!
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