What NOT to Do When Meeting Someone for the First Time

People are meeting new people all the time . . . in restaurants, at shopping malls, in movie theaters, grocery stores and more.  It’s amazing how many of us consider ourselves to be networkers, yet we don’t have a clue what to do (or not to do) after we meet someone!

Jason Jacobsohn, Networking Insight had a great post on this topic this week.  Check out what he has to say on the subject.  http://www.networkinginsight.com/2008/07/what-not-to-do-when-meeting-someone-for-the-first-time.html

For the most part, I do agree with Jason’s points, however, I must disagree, sort of, with the last point he makes in his post.  Business cards – yes, I do agree, carry them with you at all times, in your briefcase,  your PDA, your jacket pockets, your purse, etc.  The part I DON’T agree with is to hand them out everywhere  you go.  My advice is to be selective in handing them out.   Think about it . . . how many times do you return to your home and/or office with a pocket full of business cards (or even that one card that seems to remain “stuck” in your pocket(s) and ends up in the laundry?) and you don’t even remember why you have these cards.  You don’t remember where or why you got these cards.  It’s crazy isn’t it  -  since you don’t remember anything about the person, might as well throw the card in the trash!

Ouch! Is that what you had in mind when you gave out that card?  I know, I don’t!  If you are selective about handing out your cards, the chances of that card ending up in the trash are minimal.  When you are ASKED for a card, obviously the person has some interest in you and/or the business you represent and will more than likely remember you when they return to their home or office. 

The days of running around, handing out cards to every Tom, Dick and Harry you meet are gone and good riddance to them!  Business cards are expensive to print and with the economy in the state it is in now, who can afford to pass them out to people who are not interested in using them?  In addition to that, you want to be memorable when meeting new people.  By waiting until they ask for your card, it will become more important to them to remember what they wanted to use your card for – new business, a referral, etc.  Speaking of “jogging their memory” as to why they have your card, if you have high-quality glossy stock business cards, the next time you order cards, ask for the glossy stock on the front side only of your card, unless you are using the back of the card for helpful information.  If the back of the card is blank, and the cardstock is glossy on both sides, no one can use that side to make notes to remember why they have your card, what they were to send you or even where they met you!

How about you – what do your business cards look like?  What do you do with the business cards you “collect” as you are out and about?  What do you do with those cards when you return?  How memorable do you want to be?  I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas, so please post a comment below and tell me about your business card! 

 

 

  |  | Subscribe to It!