Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t need your business card.
While it may be true that you don’t need it, it’s quite possible that someone you know may benefit by having that business card. You may pass it onto someone next week or next month.
“Refusing to take someone’s card is just plain bad manners, even if you don’t think you’ll use it. Always be respectful when someone offers you their card,” advises Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI.com, the largest networking organization in the world.
Wouldn’t you like someone to pass it onto someone else, even if they couldn’t directly benefit from your business card?
LinkedIn is the biggest professional networking site, but the site may not always be the best option to meet local professionals. Offline networking events are still one of the best way to meet professionals locally.
Recently, I interviewed Dr. Ivan Misner, the author of NY Times bestselling book, Who’s In Your Room: The Secret to Creating Your Best Life about how to be likeable and memorable in the meeting room.
The Interview
Kallen: When it comes to business card etiquette, what are the most important things people should know?
Ivan: As a rule, I believe it’s generally not a good idea to just give people your card until you have a good conversation and make a good connection with them.
Unsolicited cards are rarely kept by the individual given the card. Focus more on really connecting with people than on “spraying and praying” with your business cards.
A business card is a tacit invitation to make a future connection. How you handle that connection afterward will determine how responsive your new contact will be. So, be respectful with what you do after someone gives you their card.
You should always have plenty of business cards with you. It still amazes me that people go to networking events and knowingly don’t bring cards with them.
I recently read a blog where many people said they didn’t bring cards so that they wouldn’t get spammed by people they meet.
Really? Have they never heard of a spam filter? I use it regularly with unwanted spam. Besides, that argument is like saying I don’t want to advertise because someone might read the ad and cold call me?
What kind of logic is that? Buck up, buttercup. Bring cards. It is a “networking” event!
Kallen: What’s the best thing to say when handing your own business card to someone?
Ivan: The ideal scenario is to have a meaningful (even if brief) conversation with someone when they ask for your business card. However, that doesn’t always happen.
When it doesn’t, it is ok to offer your business card to someone; it’s just not terribly effective without a decent connection with that person.
I never, ever, recommend that you say “I would love to talk to you further about my business when you meet someone for the first time. That is “premature solicitation”.
If and only if they mention a problem to you that is in your wheelhouse – rather than say – “I think I can help you with that problem” – actually start to help them with that problem.
Give them some suggestions based on your knowledge. If you wow them, they’ll be asking you for your card and that’s what you should be striving for.
Want to Learn More? Win a Free Copy of Dr. Ivan Misner’s book!
Starting today, you can enter to win a free copy of Who’s In Your Room: The Secret to Creating Your Best Life.
At the end of 30 days, we will select three random winners and Dr. Ivan Misner will mail each winner a copy of his book.
You can enter to win a free copy by going to my Contact page and send me an email with the subject title, I Want The Secret to Creating Your Best Life!
Photo: Pixabay