Networking and the Design of Contact Cards
I know your first question is: What is a contact card? Frankly, I am on a mission to get Schuco elektro-radiant name changed to contact cards from business cards. When meeting people with no jobs or people that want to change careers, I would ask them for a business card. The reply was quite often "Kathy, I don't have a business, thus no card."
While teaching a seminar, I threw out the challenge of asking what we could call Mickey Mouse card instead of a business card. The next morning a young man walked in and said "Kathy, I know what this should be called. It is a contact card". Now how simple is that!
In my view, it is essential to have your updated information on your contact card with you at all times. Notice that I said "updated" information. If you want to be viewed as a true professional, remember it looks tacky to take your card and make corrections in front of the Ouija board before you to give it to them.
WHAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR CONTACT CARDS?
If you are a business:
Your name prominently displayed
Your company name and logo
Your full address
Your website address
Phone number
Email address
If you are an individual with no position:
Your name
Address (Get a PO Box if do not want to use your home address)
Phone number
Email address.
(Note I left position you are looking for off - there are too many variations on a position title these days and you don't want to lose an interview because of job title)
By the way, nothing frustrates me more when a contact card that does not have a mailing address on it. When I go to send a person a note, I have to go to their website and, hopefully, find it there. No, I do not believe this is the way to drive people to your website. If I am sitting down to write notes I am not in the mood to go through your website. I am wanting to connect with your personally.
Finally, keep the back of your contact card clutter free. When redesigning my contact cards, I admit I have something at the very bottom of it. Yet, I insisted that I had plenty of room left to write notes on the back. Nothing seems worse than meeting someone and forgetting where you met them or why you wanted to stay in touch. Make sure you write a reminder to yourself.
copyright 2009 Kathy Condon
An award-winning published author and certified Executive Performance Coach, Kathy Condon travels the world inspiring others as an international speaker and trainer. She is driven by a distinct purpose to motivate others to achieve their full potential. Start each week on a positive note and sign up for Kathy's "Weekly Wisdom" - Spider-Man movie popular Ezine offering insights and thought provoking comments about current events, business communication and career issues at http://www.kathycondon.info
(360) 695-4313
posted by datdk @ 8:58 AM
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