This is by far one of the most controversial ways to break the stereotype. Business cards have a traditional and cultural place in our business environment. But we have all been to the meeting where someone on your team, usually the domain expert or tech guy is struggling to hook up the audio visual. You and your boss are waiting for people to show up and here they come… one by one. You and your boss rush over to the other side of the conference table, stepping all over each other to hand these people your business cards. It is like a race or something. If you don’t get your business card in their hand, it is as if you don’t exist. Is the sum total of your existence described within the 4 corners of your business card? And more and more often prospects aren’t even giving out their cards. Probably because they’ve already been bombarded by your company with emails and phone calls and they don’t want to be added to yet another marketing list. There are better ways to handle the business card that will move you away from the sales stereotype.
- Instead of handing them a card, tell the prospect about what you do and why you do it. Tell them your story.
- Give the prospect your full attention as opposed to attending to the physical logistics of handing over a card.
- Consider handing out your card to a selected group of people after the meeting
- Send your card a few days after the meeting with a handwritten “thank you” note
Use your business cards to break the sales stereotype, not to reinforce it.
