How to Network Without Business Cards

BY Sep. 05, 2010 43 Comments


We’ve all been there. As soon as you enter the room you’re attacked. A guy you’ve never met is super excited about a new energy drink and this is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Then there’s the guy who swears your website is not as effective as it should be and he promises no one is better at fixing it than he is. Minutes later you’re nearly tackled by a woman who promises your business will fail unless you buy branded promotional items from her.

In the first ten minutes at a networking event you could have five or more business cards from people that want you to do business with them. It’s annoying and it’s an ineffective way to build a business. I hope you’re not one of those people shoving your business card into the hand of someone you just met. If you are, here’s how to fix it.

Go to a Networking Event without Business Cards

If that headline freaks you out, perhaps you need this advice more than anyone else. You can be effective at networking without giving away a single business card. Networking is about relationships. Instead of attending an event to pick up more business, you should attend with the goal of meeting new people and helping them. It’s tough to screw this up if you leave your business cards at home.

Instead of giving people your card, ask them for their card. If someone asks you for your card, tell them you don’t have one, but get theirs and promise to follow up.

How many times have you given your card to someone who said they’d call but never followed through? When you get their card you can be assured you’ll be able to reach them.

Connect with People and Help Them

Follow up with your new friends after the event. Remember, networking is about relationships and helping people. Look them up on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and interact with them. Change your Facebook notifications to receive birthday reminders. When their birthday comes up, send them an email or call and wish them a great day.

Put them into a “networking” twitter list and stay on top of what they’re doing. Send them helpful resources and retweet resources they put out.

Leave your cards at home until you get good at this and be cautious when you start using them again. The last thing you want is to be the guy shoving a card into someone’s hand.

Entrepreneurship, Keys to Networking
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  • http://www.alexblom.com Alex

    “How many times have you given your card to someone who said they’d call but never followed through? When you get their card you can be assured you’ll be able to reach them.”

    This works two ways. So many times I’ve forgotten to follow up with somebody or lost their card en route home which is why cards should be reciprocal. But, I’m selective with giving my cards out, too.

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      You bet Alex, it’s a two-way street!

  • Karl Foxley

    Interesting advice on not taking a business card but ensuring you follow-up with people. I find, time-and-time again, that it is the follow-up that many people struggle with.

    Personally, I would always share my cards with those that want them but ensure I am the one that does the follow-up with those that seemed the most interested in further communication from myself or my company.

    Regards,

    Karl

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      Yes, lots of excitement at an event, but few people follow through in my experience, Karl.

  • http://qubrit.com Roman

    The best way to Network Without Business Cards is to actually create a Virtual Business Card.

    Qubrit (http://qubrit.com) is a virtual business cards service, which allows to create and exchange your virtual profiles. You can put all your contacts, social networks, photos, virtual portfolio and much more into one single page and share it with your friends, family, co-workers and rest of the world.

    It is actually a good news tip for epiclaunch :)

    Thanks

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      Great stuff Roman! I’m just finishing putting together facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn pages for my entire team on one of my sites.

  • http://www.dennisedell.com/about Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing

    Be careful HOW you say you don’t have a card, you don’t want to look inept.

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      Boy, I’m picturing something funny there Dennis. You’re absolutely right though.

  • http://anilatluri.com Anil Atluri

    Justin,

    Yes, a business card is meant to build a relationship and the very fact that you do not offer one in return you make a ‘mark’.

    While in certain communities it may also be construed to be downright impolite. I do carry, request and exchange cards. Those few occasions I do not have one, I at least try to get an email id to connect later.

    The online protfolios do help to ‘showcase’ your profile like you said. There are also a few online cards like the one ‘Roman’ mentioned here. Something similiar is here: http://bestword.businesscard2.com/

    Thank you for the post, Justin.

    Anil

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      Great point Anil. I think it’s much better to be considered impolite than it is to be considered someone who pushes a card and sells something to someone they barely know.

      But if you do it right, like you mention, having a quality card with you and not being pushy, is the best way to go about it.

  • http://www.glosonblog.com Gloson

    Great post, Justin! I agree! Business cards are overrated and people whom we give them to probably won’t follow up. So it’s better to follow up ourselves and save the trees :) .

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      I like the environmental twist Gloson.

  • http://www.firstfound-blog.co.uk/ Andy @ FirstFound

    I’m fairly sure that with Smart Phones, you can skip the card swapping and get straight into the Twitter and Facebook swapping,

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      And don’t forget LinkedIn. Check out the Bump app. It’s free and looks pretty promising for that.

  • http://internetmarketing.ricklapoint.com Rick LaPoint

    I have learned to always have card with me. Always. You are right to never shove them at people, but during the course of conversation, it’s very important to have a card IF the subject comes up. If the other person is interested in you, they will ask. If the conversation is going well, you can get them to ask for your card when you ask for theirs, but by then it should be something that seems very natural for both parties to do.

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      You bet Rick, natural is the key word there. Every go to shake someone’s hand only to find them handing you a card?

  • http://www.therisetothetop.com David Siteman Garland

    Good stuff, Justin. I think it is more of mentality as you suggested. Are you going there to shove your cards down people’s throats (as many as possible) or to really get to know a few people?

    I know I’d rather form 1 real connection at an event and follow up as opposed to 10 “biz card transactions”

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      What if, at an event, we decided to meet as few people as possible, but really get to know them? I bet more good would come out of that than giving away as many cards as possible.

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  • http://www.christopherbrowning.com Christopher Browning

    The Career Pirate says Justin likes to be unconventional and it often works. One side effect is at times you must be willing to wait for the rewards. It takes time for helpful reputation to build. However once you have it, it is better than paid advertising. Thanks always for the reminder Justin.

    • http://Www.coachradio.tv Justin Lukasavige

      Boy, you’re right about being unconventional Christopher. Sometimes it pays off well.

  • Hannah Yarrow

    I like this a lot! It’s so much better to go to networking events with a view to building good long term relationships and making yourself referable than shoving random business cards at people.

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      And it’s so much nicer to connect with people like you who are interested in relationships Hannah.

  • http://armandomontelongolive.tv/ Morgan

    It is for sure a scary thought, leaving your business cards at home. But this seems like a very sound technique. It’s like giving your number out to someone you just met at the bar, but you don’t get theirs in return, you feel anxious for them to contact you, right? Seems like the same concept here. If I give my card away, but don’t get one in return, I would be very anxious to hear from them. Definitely going to be trying this technique. Great article!

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      Great analogy Morgan! And you’re right, if you’re really hooked on them, doing this could be pretty scary.

  • http://www.financialexcellence.net Matt Wegner

    Great post Justin.

    Whether you take your cards or not, the message is clear – networking is a WHOLE lot more than exchanging cards or contact info. Networking to is about building (and maintaining) relationships.

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      Right on to that Matt. There’s no better way to say it.

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  • Clinton Skakun

    My honest opinion: Business cards are a waste of time. I never carry them any more. I ask people for their card, or contact information. No body has ever called me up after giving them a business card and asked me to “sell them.”

    Your business card really says nothing about what you do, besides give your contact information and maybe a dry title. Titles like CEO, MBa, etc etc is as helpful as saying “I like wearing red.”

    Forget business cards, if you can. Some times they’re helpful. Give them to your clients or people you know 100% for sure that they will contact you and need your information. Don’t give the to strangers. It’s like saying, “Here’s a worthless peace of paper you can use to collect dust..enjoy!”

    I really don’t know why the business card has lasted as long as it has. It really has no part in the sales cycle.

    When was the last time you increased cash flow from handing out business cards?

    Networking is about building a reputation, WOM and building a strong relationship. I’ve never known a business card to do that.

    I have a small business card book, it’s usually a last resort if I don’t have someone’s contact information. I never go, “HUH! I need {insert service}, I think I’ll look in my card book.”

    Even if it generates 1 or 2 sales, it’s not worth the $200.

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      I’m with you Clinton. I don’t cary biz cards much either. When I do, I only give them to people who ask for them.

      I do think putting a special offer or something on the card can be very helpful. There are many ways I can see profiting from biz cards, but not if you’re shoving them into someone’s hand.

  • http://social-catalog.com Viral

    thats great way you’ve mentioned thanks for it mate

  • http://www.climbingframeaccessories.co.uk Climbing Frame Accessories Experts

    My tip, when reciving thecards is to not down something memorable about the person you just met.

    Firstly it helps you remember them, but also you can refer to it when reconntacting them, and it makes you more memorable.

    • http://www.climbingframeaccessories.co.uk Climbing Frame Accessories Experts

      Next lesson is to check spelling Of course I meant ‘note down’. Sorry.

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      That’s a good one. I like cards I can write on.

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  • http://marketingactuary.com Promod Sharma | @mActuary

    The post and comments are interesting … but I’ll keep using business cards.

    A business card has multiple purposes. I have an unusual name that doesn’t sound the way it’s spelled (rhymes with “commode”). Handing out the business card helps make my name, brand and company memorable.

    Besides, business cards are a sign of preparedness. Rather than explain why I don’t have one, I just hand mine out. Through the power of reciprocity, it’s now easier to ask for their business card in return.

    We follow many other rituals like shaking hands and wearing ties (depending on your niche). Business cards are often expected. So I hand mine out (selectively).

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      I’ll definitely keep using them too, Promod. I’m not disagreeing they’re helpful to grow a business. What I’m disagreeing with is that they’re sometimes use negatively.

      Glad to see you’re very selective and doing it the right way.

  • J32

    I think it is not usefull to hand out business cards to people who aren’t interested. Some people really handing out business cards like candy on halloween.

    However if you are on a networking event, where people/businesses want to connect with one another and I ask for your business card, I would consider it unprofessional or unprepared if you tell me you don’t have one.

    If you go with the simple rule of “If they ask for a business card I give them one, if not than not.” you will do better in my opinion.

    • http://coachradio.tv Justin

      I think it depends on who you’re talking to. Would you consider it unprofessional for Richard Branson not to have a card if you met him and asked for one?

      Of course, that’s not the level we’re on right now, but it’s something to think about.

      I really don’t go to networking events looking for business, but rather to build relationships. I think that’s the difference.

      • Lana

        I just came across this post because I’m new to a major city and have been invited to a networking event (a business breakfast). It suddenly occured to me that I’m going to be in the company of distinguished people and I don’t have business cards. After reading this, I must admit that I’ve made my best connections based on building a relationship with one or two people at an event. I’ve followed up with that person’s biz card, or from inputing their info in my smartphone.

        Thanks for posting, Justin.

        • Lana

          I just felt the need to correct my spelling… “occurred” and “inputting.” I hate when I misspell something.

          Again, great post, and I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments and perspectives on the subject.

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  • http://todds-job-tips.blogspot.com/ ToddsJobTips

    I follow the 2-4-1 strategy – ask them for 2 business cards to your one that you give out. Advise them that you want a second to pass along to others who may be beneficial to them or may have connections they need. It almost always guarantees a response from them on LI, FB, Twitter, etc. Plus, it sets you apart as someone truly willing to help, not just help themselves!