Networking at Every Opportunity: Learning to Drop Business Cards into the Conversation

People are always telling me that they designed their business cards, ordered 500 or 100 to get started but then didn’t know what to do next. I mean, how do you hand out business cards in non business settings?

Easy. Just drop your business card into the conversation as you drop it into someone’s hand. It doesn’t matter what you happen to be discussing with the other person, there are plenty of opportunities to steer the chat your way.

Making plans, any kind of plans (from a lunch to meeting at the library) is a chance to hand out your card. “Do you have my number?” is a good opener. If the answer is yes. Then direct them to your e-mail address as a quicker way to reach you and slide the card over.

Ask for their business card. This is the perfect time to pass yours over. If they don’t have a card ask for contact details and write them on the back of one of your cards while you hand another of your cards over to them.

Use the business card as a place to write notes, directions or draw a picture of something you are describing. Be sure to hand it over at the appropriate time in the conversation. If there are other people with you and they show an interest in your card be sure to hand them one.

Business cards make great bookmarks. If you re discussing a book or a document of any kind, use your business card to indicate a certain page or quote. Leave it and the document with the other person.

With a little forethought you can find hundreds of opportunities to drop your business card into a conversation. But the most important thing is to have them with you (in your pocket easy to get to) when opportunity knocks.

And its always knocking.

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