A Firm Hand Shake, Eye Contact, and the Exchange of a Business Card. Basic/Powerful/Effective

I was recently selected to be the "education coordinator" for my Wed. am BNI (Business Network International) group. What this essentially means, is that I will be doing a one minute education spot every week discussing ways to build business and connect people. One of the many reasons I joined BNI was to share ideas on how to connect like minded business people and grow business referrals. I also wanted to get more comfortable with public speaking. As a mortgage consultant, I spend a lot of time on the phone and a l ot of time doing one on one appointments, but even with conducting the occasional seminar I wasn't getting over those public speaking jitters. This one minute educational spot looks to be a great catalyst to more comfortable with this very common fear.

This past week was my first opporunity to share ideas and I wanted to make it a little different from the previous coordinator. I felt if I can make this interactive and give everyone a sort of home work assignment, we as a group can succeed together and reflect on what works and what doesn't. My first idea was lets start with basics. The business card.

Let's talk about The Power of the Business Card:

The vast majority of business professions use business cards in their daily life but do they really maximize its potential?

The business card in it's most raw form is a physical extension of our business. It's our little paper representative and it's our opporunity to spread the word about what you do. It's a relatively inexpensive way to say to the community. "I'm John Saari, I'm a Mortgage Consultant, and I want to be your go to person for mortgage related services"

So why do so many people leave them in the car or leave them in their pocket? So many people are almost shy when they pass them out. You just purchased 500 of them hand them out. Here are some great places to leave your card that you may not have thought of.

Ideas for Utilizing Your Business Card:

Most people who have business cards are in business for themselves in some way or fashion. Whether you are a sales person, a consultant, a mechanic, or a florist. You have a vested interest in growing your business and your business card is that first physicall exchange of information. Nothing is more basic yet more powerful than a firm hand shake, honest eye contact, and the exchange of a business card.

Supermarket Cork Boards: The majority of people still go to the supermarket on a regular basis, and the market caters to a wide demographic of people. Usually it's a weekend when people are at the market so they have a little clearer head or perhaps an extra second to look at what's posted on the way out the door.

Coffee Shops: Who likes coffee? Many productive, busy, and successful business minds. It's a place you would bring someone for a meeting, why not post your card and spread the word.

Sub/Pizza Shops: How many times have you stood around staring at the walls waiting for your food to be done? Ask the owner if you can leave your card and you can utilize someone else's idle time for your benefit

Don't be afraid to hand your card out: Most of us will take part in 20 or so financial transactions within a week's time period. Use this interaction as a way to introduce yourself to a cashier, a waitress, or a gas station attendant. It may feel awkward at first but like anything else, we have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable to be successful. Think of how many different people come in contact with gas attendants and cashiers on a weekly basis, those are all opportunities for those people to spread the word about what you do. I want everyone as their home work assignment to hand out business cards to new people.

It takes just a few seconds to introduce yourself, make eye contact, shake someone's hand and exchange a business card. Good luck to everyone and spread the good word.

 

 

John B. Saari

Community Banker

Home Savings of America

 

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