Business cards may be on the way out. How are you connecting?
980 I'm in Las Vegas at The Venetian having coffee at Espressamente Illy where they serve (arguably) the world's best coffee. At the bar, I recognize someone obviously not from America. (Fashion reveals all.) "Where are you from?" I asked. "Belgium," he replied triumphantly and with pride. "I'll buy your coffee," I said. "As a welcome to America. He said, "I'm also buying coffee for two of my friends." I said, "Fine, put it on my bill!" We began to exchange cultural information, and I discovered all three of them were in sales, like me. Their name badges revealed they were attendees of the same conference I was to be a featured speaker at the next evening. Now we had a link. They wanted to know what I knew, and I wanted to know what they knew. Marcel's (one of the group) first question to me was one I have been asked a thousand times, "What's the secret of selling against fierce competition?" My immediate answer was, "Differentiate with value, or die with price." He said, "I agree. I'm a value provider." I said, "Hey, let's tweet it," and immediately we turned the conversation to social media. I asked them how many followers they had on Twitter. The first guy had none. The second guy had none. The third guy, Marcel, said, "Not too many," and sheepishly smiled. Turns out they wanted to use social media, but they just didn't know how to use it. NOTE: I am amazed at how many savvy business people don't take the AHA! or impactful information shared or exchanged in a business ...
Jeff you are one of my favorites but please don’t shoot the messenger. Business cards are not in competiton with social media, they are the invitation to the party and are still an easy way to communicate contact info. 500 useless LinkedIn contacts are just as bad as a pile of cards. It’s how you use them that counts.
Success for Managers means: I want to be in healthy relationships. I want a real connection with people I spend so much time with.
“LInked In, or Twitter or Facebook on the spot connection creates engagement, long term engagement…” Gotta love it – sounds like what we’ve been doing for the past year is on the right track!
“Business Cards…created by your marketing department with your PMS colors” I love it!!
“Differentiate with value or die with pricing” So true
After this…I am going to “Linked In” with clients versus stapling a business card to their packet!
I agree. I haven’t brought business cards out in over a year. Don’t need them.
And we are doing a-ok!
Love that! Would save our company bucks and use Linked in better. Or drive them to our site. So simple its scary! Who makes your coin business cards?
Love that! Would save our company bucks and use Linked in better. Or drive them to our site. So simple its scary!
Great stuff as always Jeff! However, we as marketers are making the wrong assumption that everybody is on the tech page by now … sadly, not all are — yet. As you mentioned business cards will still be around for a while. While they are .. I am one of those marketing/designer guys still making exciting business cards for execs to give to those decision makers who still have administrative assistants who will plug the information on the card, into THEIR system after returning to the office.
Instead of getting rid of them, how about a QR code that takes folks directly to y
Great info. Here I was seriously considering buying new business cards. Like I found by not having my printer set up for six months that I don’t have to have it. I am sure I will discover the same by not having business cards. The stronger connection I make with prospects will lead to a stronger relationship I will have with them.
Man Jeff! I just got some business cards I really like. Oh Well. Good stuff!