As I have been preaching for most of my professional life, networking is one of the most important things you can do to grow your business. Developing contacts and building relationships by either introducing yourself or being introduced by someone at an informal gathering, is one of the best ways to meet people.
The only things you need to bring with you are a positive attitude, a smile and business cards, which is the topic for today.
~De-clutter your business card. Too much text or images creates a cluttered impression about you and your business. Your card is not a brochure!
~Omitting essential information is a very common mistake, so proof-read carefully before getting it printed. Have a second pair of eyes read it as well. I can’t tell you how many cards I see without email addresses. If you are getting too many emails, learn about filters, please! Get with the technology!
~Leave out the non-essential information, cutesy sayings and private information that you don’t want to share.
~Keep the design theme consistent. If you are a designer, don’t put a picture of an airplane on your card, unless you design airplanes.
~Clearly define your services or products. If your business name doesn’t tell what you do or what you sell, put the description on the card.
~Do not use font sizing that is too small or too fancy. If I need a magnifying glass to read your email or phone number, the card gets tossed.
~Don’t print your own cards unless you are in the printing business. Flimsy cards give a really bad first impression. Also, glossy cards look nice, but notes cannot be written on the back.
A well-designed business card is one of the most affordable tools to market your business, so go for it.
See you at the next event . . . and PLEASE, don’t forget your smile and those cards!
