Handing Out Business Cards
The First Card
When you’ve met a potential business associate or client, how many business cards do you hand them?
Usually, people will hand someone a single card. A single card allows a new contact to have your information, including (maybe) your email, phone number, and a reminder of what you do. The savvy businessman may write on the back of the card, indicating where they met you, and what you spoke about. At this point, many people file the card, if there is no immediate interest. Others may take short-term action, like taping it to their monitor, or putting it on a desk to deal with later. Some might even misplace it. What do all these actions have in common? They all pertain SOLELY to the individual you handed the card to.
The Life of a Second Card
Where you would have previously handed only one card to an individual, give them two. This allows that first card to function in the same way as before, but that second card has an opportunity to take on a life of it’s own. One of two things will happen with this card: either the individual will keep it, or they will pass it on.
If they keep it, you’ve effectively doubled your face-time with this individual while they are flipping through their cards. If each card has .25 seconds of face-time while the person is flipping through their rolodex, both of your cards together may get .5 seconds- double what any other business card will get.
If they pass it on to a friend or colleague that may be interested in your service, they are helping you spread the word. You’ve now passed out cards to people you haven’t even met!
So whenever you have a chance to include a business card in a transaction- whether in person, or through correspondence- include two. It may just be the unique angle you need to help get you noticed, and give you that extra edge above your competitors. That second card will pique their interest, and THEY will be the one to initiate a conversation with you.
Questions for Reflection:
What do you hope they do with your second business card?
How do your chances improve by handing out multiple cards?
Has anyone ever given you multiple cards? If so, what did you do with the second one?
