The business card five second rule
It is all in the title; never be more than five seconds from your business card. This is more common sense marketing than it is some eye-opening, jaw-dropping business epiphany. We are so immersed in this industry that it is often easily overlooked that there is more to your presence than your web presence.
It is astonishing how many business opportunities are available and open if you are just willing and able to capitalize on them. Your business card is one of your greatest marketing assets – it is a physical and tangible device you can leave with a potential client that has the sole intention of inviting them to contact you. As Alex and I work towards building an agency, networking is seemingly more and more top-of-mind. We are all so web focused – why are we so quick to overlook the basics outside our medium?
I was walking my dog in downtown D.C. and came across a man with four dogs – I made the assumption and asked, “Are you a dog walker?” He responded “yes” and when I told him I was in need of a dog walker he was delighted to be of service. However, when I asked him for a business card, he didn’t have one. He attempted to tell me his name, phone number and website – all of which I’ve since completely forgotten; lost information much like my business with him.
Five seconds is a life-time when a potential business opportunity confronts you. However, it is the most optimal time to keep the conversation interesting while minimizing the chance of disengagement while you fumble through your purse, get out your wallet or search through your briefcase. There are opportunities around us every day and best impression you can leave with a potential client is them knowing you were there, prepared and willing just as they were in need of similar services.
- March 8th, 2007
- 15comments
- I am a proud member of the 9rules network
You’ve got that right, snooze you lose and a card is key. I can’t count the number of times a choice has come down to the cards I can look at as opposed to the ones you met, that you hunt cyberspace for and never seem to find. A good search interface on the splash page with the right key words helps sometimes too..
Say AMEN! I left my cards in the car when I went into the bank last week and stood in line next to a really cool guy who I would have given it to, if I had had them. (I maintain a stock of “personal” cards that just for giving out to cute guys and contain only my first name and email. I’m getting back into the dating market. ) But I just had to stand there and flirt and had no easy way to give him my contact info. ::sigh::
You both make great points. I think Pamela said it best, “you snooze you lose”.
On the flipside, I just found myself on the receiving end of an unsolicited sales call on my mobile phone, because a company called Jigsaw is pimping my business card info. I wish I could get my hands on the SOB who turned in my info for ‘points’. Grrrr
Sorry, here’s the link.
I now print my business card on magnetic material. When I visit a public restroom and sit on the stool I place one of my cards on the steel enclosure door so the next person has something to read.
You need a photo of an alluring woman on your business card. That way, people will also take them home ;)
oldfogey . . .wow, what a great idea for . ladies . . I hope you patented this idea. :D
I tried that and all it got me was a whole gaggle of gals galavanting after me down the street. I need business not professionalism.
Just FYI, Martin, I sent this article out to all my agents, linking it back to your main blog. So if you see a sudden and short increase in traffic, it’s cuz, omg, my agents actually read my email for a change. LOL
Calvin –> Good luck; I’ve heard some pretty bad things about Jigsaw.
oldfogey –> truly a great idea! HA HA.
Gwenny –> I appreciate the pub.
Interestingly, on Jigsaw’s own site is a statement that says:
“No personal (non-business) contact information of any kind is allowed in Jigsaw. Mobile numbers are prohibited.”
If they knew, they might remove it, but it’s probably already too late. The problem is not necessarily Jigsaw, but the various monsters that they’re feeding your personal information to. Once out there, it’s almost impossible to stop it from circulating.
(And please note, the Spamdemic Map hasn’t been updated for a very long time. The problem has most likely grown worse since then.)
oldfogey, gals will chase you cards or not, some guys just have an animal magnetism regardless of the cards sticking too!
More than business, as Gwenny points out. We had a lonely-hearts article on Newsvine a while ago, where a guy was pining over someone he sat with on an airplane. If he’d given her his card, he’d know if she wanted to talk to him again. As it is, he was reduced to contemplating ideas that were on the borderline of stalking.
Haha! How appropriate and timely as I just had a grip of really nice business cards made. I give out my card to everyone I meet, even if its for the third or fourth time. The cards don’t do anybody any good sitting in the box in my office.