I\’ve Got the Cards, Now What?

Many business people confuse the idea of quantity and quality when entertaining the thoughts of networking. With a fist full of business cards, they leave most networking events thinking that more is better.

We\'ve all had the same idea that James Jaccoby had. As a marketing representative for a small printing company, his attitude was that the more business cards he could collect, the better he was doing his job. His boss even reinforced that idea. At some point James\' desk was buried with dusty cards and the referrals he was hoping to get were not coming to him. Jim\'s thoughts were that he just hadn\'t met the right number of people yet and he should just continue to collect more cards.

With the help of a business coach, James\' first step was very painful. The best action for him to take was to just dump all those cards into the trash. James, at first, couldn\'t part with those little pieces of information, because he had worked so diligently acquiring them. But he realized that those cards had no meaning to him. He really didn\'t know any of the people they represented, and certainly those people wouldn\'t know him. In one quick motion he cleared his desk.

\"I was feeling pretty uneasy after the big dump, because I didn\'t know what to do next. Luckily, I was given a few hints. When I went to a networking event, my goal was to talk to only two or three people to find out if I wanted them to be part of my network circle. Because I actually took the time to talk with these people, I found out a little bit more about them and about what they do. It helped me to know if I could help them and also if they could assist me in return.\" James added, \"There were some people that I did not ask for their card, because they didn\'t fit.\"

James continued, \"When I would get back to my desk later, I would review the few business cards, write a follow-up note to each person and then type the contact information into my database. Once that was done, I threw the card away. No dust bunnies on my desk! I know this sounds like I was limiting my network, but actually using this method for the past year, I\'ve gotten more referrals than ever because I am able to stay in touch with these people. In this instance, less is more for me.\"

Networking events have been positioned as the place to meet lots of people. In the past most people have interpreted that as meeting as many people as possible. What James has taught us is that by limiting the numbers of cards we acquire, we can free ourselves of business card gridlock. We will be able to move forward toward more business in the future.

Debby Peters is the owner and Director of Training of The Certified Networker Program of Ohio, Ltd., cnpofohio.com a 24 hour referral based training that is evolving a community of profitable referral partners. She is also posts to the blog cnpofohio.blogspot.com

Effective Business Card Design for Freelance Writers
Freelance writers need to make as many contacts as possible so they can get work to support themselves. As a result it is very important for these ind...

Networking Your Way to Profit: Part 4; Business Cards Advice for Start-Ups
Is your business card just for handing out at business meetings, because everyone else does so? Or is it a real marketing tool for you?Provided youve...

The Art of Networking and Business Cards
Every day we meet new people. It doesnt matter how it happens or why it does, but it is essential to notice that we are constantly connecting with fre...

ID Cards and Airport Security, What’s Required?
ID cards and airports have become a scary combination. Being in the industry, I take daily calls from individuals who want to get a photo ID card for...

Job Search Secrets - What Goes In Your Networking Tool Kit
Since approximately 75 - 80% of all jobs are found through networking and at least 50% of all positions are never advertised, networking isn't somethi...

How To Get The People You Meet at Networking Events To Call You
Do you go to networking events to promote your business or make new contacts? Do you ever get frustrated when you take a couple hours out of your day ...

5 Things You Should Be Doing With Your Business Card When You Network
The first thing we need to keep in mind is that a business card does not sell your business. It does keep you in peoples minds. It also can spark conv...

Network Your Way to Success, and Remember: It’s Not About You!
Quote of the week"The answer is always no...unless you ask." - UnknownWhether you're in sales or not, this is an incredibly true statement. If you don...

Successful Networking - My 10 Tips for Creating a Stream of New Customers
1. Set an objective for each networking meeting - to talk to a particular person, to try different questioning techniques, to approach someone you usu...

Networking for Cleaning Companies: How to Plan Ahead
Networking is a great way to market your cleaning business, and in order to do it effectively, you need to plan ahead so you know what you want to acc...

Network Your Way To The Top Of The Business Ladder
Networking is one of the most important aspects of being a successful business person, if not the most important. Simply put, your service or product ...

Business Networking - 3 Business Card Tips for Making a Great Impression That Doesn’t Cost a Cent
Business cards are a great tool to help you make a positive first impression. The Japanese have an elegant way of presenting business cards. They hold...

Contrary to Popular Belief, Holidays Are Important Time to Network
During the holiday season (from Thanksgiving to New Years), its common for people to take a break from their networking activities. Understandably, pe...

Bad Credit Mortgage Loans - 3 Tips to Finding an Affordable Mortgage Loan with Bad Credit
Finding a mortgage loan with a bad credit rating can be an absolute nightmare: Driving from broker to broker, bank to bank, getting turned down every ...

Mortgages Loans: Finding the Lowest Mortgage Interest Rate
If you are in the market for a mortgage or are refinancing your existing mortgage, qualifying for the lowest interest rate possible is probably high o...