Apr 22 2007
Your Business Card - A Sign Of Professionalism, Or Not?
I have held four business meetings this week and only in one case was the other person able to produce an up to date and informative business card, despite the fact that they were all very senior executives
As I have said on numerous occasions, a common (and often overlooked) image feature for every would-be business professional, is the business or calling card (the summary information about yourself you choose to give to others).
Although there are no hard facts on the subject, it is estimated that 90% of people do not have a calling card at all. In fact the estimated breakdown looks as follows:
Of the 10% that do have a calling card:
• 25% have an informative card
• 35% have cards showing only name, address and phone number
• 40% have cards with out-of-date or incorrect information
This means that only 2.5% of people have a card that is up to date, accurate and gives a reasonably full picture of who they are and what they do.
Always Carry Your Calling Card
Having no calling cards (or one that is inaccurate or short on detail) is a major inhibitor. Even a supply of blank cards is better than none at all, as you can’t possibly expect people to remember everything that you tell them. Nor do you want to constantly write down names, phone numbers and any other information, in long hand, every time you meet someone.
The design of your calling card can vary enormously in style and look. However, it should be easy to read and include a minimum of name, address and daytime phone numbers.
However, I believe today that it is also appropriate to include fax number, e-mail address, and mobile phone numbers.
Focus On Your Skills Not Your Job
You’ll notice that a job title is deliberately not included in the list. Although in principle there is nothing wrong with including it, it is much more useful to use the space under your name to describe what you do in a precise and concise way that is meaningful to anybody that you meet. Words like “designer of roads and bridges” or “seller of land and property” are much better than engineer or sales consultant.
Don’t forget this is the information that helps others to know what skills you have or what you might offer. Hence secretary, for example, is unlikely to be useful in itself but “expert in word processing and desktop publishing” says a lot more.
As I repeat often enough, being described as professional is the greatest compliment anyone can pay you: Professionalism is not one thing it is three i.e. what you do, what you say and how you look - presenting an up to date and informative business card is an integral part of that.
Phew! What a week: Top10SalesArticles launched to loud “hurrahs” on Sunday and on the first BlogTalkRadio broadcast, my guest Jill Konrath did a sterling job and oozed professionalism. We had a couple of amusing technical problems but we will be almost word perfect this week when I host Nikki Owen of The Sales Activator® our principle sponsors, who has done so much to ensure this initiative succeeds.
I will also be announcing the first “Article Of The Week” of course, plus reviewing the top ten articles from this week and I am really noticing an increased excitement within the “article writing community”
Before I finish on this subject, I just want to mention three article communities who have gone way beyond the normal level of support one could expect, they are: Best Management Articles, Build Your Own Business and Salesopedia - thank you Ismael, David and Clayton, we really do appreciate what you are doing.
The JF Article Vault is enjoying a makeover, so no new articles on Group or on my personal sites until work has been completed I am afraid.
There are two schools of thought on the subject of “cold calling” - both camps have logical and plausible cases: In the “no more cold calling camp” is one of my fellow adjudication experts, Joanne Black and you can visit her site and read her excellent words of wisdom here: No More Cold Calling
Well that’s almost it for another week - don’t forget that I will be posting twice weekly (I hate saying “bi-weekly” as it sounds like a magazine for individuals with divided sexual orientation) from May 1st and then from June, daily.
I’ll endevour to leave you with a smile on your face: On Sunday, ahead of the BlogTalkRadio show, the station featured me with a very large photo, to advertise the launch of “Top 10″ The station manager e-mailed me to say that she was getting inundated with calls asking who that “interesting looking” man was! She said she thought I looked like Sean Connery - yeah right! So I sent a “nerny ner” message to my son, who hates that particular pic and he responded with: “Yeah, but have you seen Sean Connery recently” The impudence of youth!
Whereever you are in the world, have a great week and good selling. JF
