Network Marketing Tool

From LoveToKnow Business

A business card is an inexpensive network marketing tool, and a serious asset to your marketing plan. A business card is a basic tool that says a lot about a business person and his company. When a contact gives you a card, he’s effectively giving you the keys to his business. You can use this information and add contact data to your advantage in marketing your company services or products. Here’s how to effectively utilize business cards as marketing tools.

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Check The Company Name

Is the company name unusual or does it signify something special to the owner? If so, ask about it. He may be delighted to tell you the story. This questions acts as a great icebreaker.

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Note Quality Of The Printed Image?

A thermal card contains raised ink printed on stock surface. This type of card is popular and fairly inexpensive. Usually, a business card is printed using one or two colors. Is the card foil stamped? If so, the company has invested substantially in image and wants to convey something special about themselves.

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Feel The Business Card Stock

Is it heavy or thick, does it have a Classic Linen weave or anything else beyond basic white? If it does, this design indicates a significant investment and a concern for image. Cheap cards printed on very thin stock or cards that have perforated edges printed on a computer also tell volumes about the owner or company.

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Eyeball The Logo

Is it a stock image pulled from a catalog or one that a graphic designer created? Stock images are a dime a dozen, while an original graphic design requires substantial investment. What image is the logo trying to convey? If you don’t understand it, ask about the design. Sometimes the company owner or executive may say that they bought the design but are not happy with it, or they may brag about how unique it is. Either response provides information. If they’re unhappy, do they complain about all services and products that they buy? Are they difficult to deal with? Ask why they are unhappy to dig out more information.

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What About Business Card Design?

Is it cluttered, squeezing so much information in a small space that it becomes hard to read, or is contact information lacking? If information is missing, it is usually missing for a reason. Perhaps the company is constantly inundated with solicitors, E-mails, spam or faxes and has gotten gun shy about handing out contact information. Or maybe they’re a corporate branch with strict limitations about what can be revealed. If so, determine if this branch is the right office to contact.

What kind of contact information is printed? Do you have cell phone numbers, fax numbers, voice mail, E-mail address, and URL as well as the company’s address and phone number? If you need a missing contact number, ask. All the executive can do is say no. If they say no, ask why not?

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Use As A Network Marketing Tool

Collect contact information for your contact manager’s database from everyone you meet at events, meetings, or chance encounters. After you talk with someone, take a moment to jot down information on the front of the card, such as the date and location of your meeting. On the back, write down your impressions, topics you discussed, what he indicated his business needs were, birthdates if you got that far, hobbies, interests, number of kids, spouse and how old, name of his dog, or anything that you gained from the conversation. Write it all down. Use the back of one of your cards if needed.

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Golden Network Marketing Tools

This contact information is gold to be used when you make your follow-up call. It‘s a basic tenet of human nature that anyone who takes the time to listen and learn something about someone else is paying them the highest compliment. You‘ll make that person feel important. When you call, use the card as a memory jogger. Ask about the spouse, the kids, where she got that new car or if the promotion came through. Be prepared to guide the conversation to your call’s purpose--a meeting, demo, services presentation or to drop off a sample of your product line. Unless you steer the conversation, some folks are so attention starved that they will try to dominate the call and keep it all about them. The trick is to control while not offending.

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Use Business Cards As Memory Joggers

A business card is a great network marketing tool. It can hibernate in your rolodex for years until needed, but when you pull it out and take a look, all the information you’ve written will spark a memory and bring those impressions back to you. You can carry your contact memory joggers with you in a business card holder and use them as you make sales calls or attend meetings. One quick look can provide enough info for you to ask a pertinent personal question and establish the warmth of the meeting.

Business cards are so often overlooked as contact tools. They should be regarded as business builders. Never throw cards away, even after your contact has left her company. She may appear elsewhere. When you hear where, you can make a call congratulating her on her new position, and use your contact jogger to refresh her memory of you. Your contact will appreciate it and another company door will be opened to you.

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