Should You Bring Your Card to Business Networking Events?
It is 11:37pm and I am on a train from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia. I was just at the Washington D.C. Design and Construction business networking event. The event was held in Arlington, VA (you can learn more about the group at mydcn.com)
During this event Tim Klabunde, of www.cofebuz.com fame, was laughing at the fact that I had no business cards with me. Honestly, I thought I had some with me this time. But typically, I don’t bring business cards with me to networking events.
Why not?
Often networkers will have their own little “tricks of the trade.” For example, I knew a guy who would get off a plane and immediately buy a local newspaper. He would study the sports section with the express purpose of having well-informed conversations about the local sports teams (like he was a fan).
My gimmick is not bringing business cards with me. That way, I can ask for your card and promise that I will send you my contact information in an email (or through the mail if you are a “card person”). As I walk away from our conversation, I will write down information about you on the back of that card. This includes the major details of our conversation, personal information about you, and any information I promised you. When I get back to my desk, I scan in the cards and transfer my notes about you into my outlook. If needed, I may check out your website to gather more information about you or your firm. When I respond to you (99% of the time, the next day) I will include my vcard as well as any information I promised you.
This gimmick serves three purposes. First, it gives me a very legitimate reason to follow up with you. Second, it allows me to make a promise to you and keep a promise to you. This shows that I can be trusted. Third, I feel that eliminating the awkward card exchange moment allows me to keep the conversation more personal.
Should you bring business cards to business networking events? Simply put, yes! Should I bring business cards to a networking event. Simply put, no.
Listen, it’s my gimmick. If you don’t bring cards and I don’t bring cards, it ruins my whole gimmick! Get your own darn gimmick!
P.S. For real networking advice, go to http://www.hardingco.com/blog/ or http://www.cofebuz.com .
