Why You Should Carry Other People’s Business Cards With You

Why You Should Carry Other People’s Business Cards With You
Surely, if you are in business, you are in the habit of carrying your business cards with you wherever you go. After all, you never know who you will meet, and when you meet people, you never know who that person is or who that person might know. With a healthy stack of business cards in your pocket or pocketbook, you are always ready to pass the card along to someone who might become a future client or customer. But while most people in business know the benefits of carrying business cards with them, and practice this sound business practice without any problems, far fewer businessmen and businesswomen ever think to carry around business cards that belong to someone else. The practice of carrying around business cards that belong to others can be extremely beneficial; here are a couple reasons why.

As a businessperson, you understand that any conversations with strangers are golden. Every opportunity to talk to someone you do not know just might be the exact opportunity you have been looking for. But if a stranger thinks that you are starting a conversation with them strictly to sell them something, they are likely to be turned off. Naturally, people are protective of their money; they don’t want to talk to you if they think you’re trying to get some of their money in your pocket! But you have a pocket full of safe conversation starters at the ready when you have others’ business cards. Perhaps you will overhear someone in a shop in the mall, talking about how they need a plumber. With your favorite plumber’s business card stashed away in your wallet, you are ready to jump into the conversation. “Excuse me, but I heard you say you need a plumber; here, take this business card – it’s for the guy we use on our house; we have always been really happy with his work!” In this way, you have opened conversation without trying to sell them something of your own. The conversation is sure to cycle back around to you, and to what you do for a living.

Also, people are inclined to remember someone who helped them out without any promise of something in return. You are sure to unload one of your own business cards once the conversation comes back around to you. And you will have yourself a new customer the next time something arises in this person’s life that you might be able to help with.

This might seem like a small step in improving your business, but you never know what “small step” might turn into your next big thing.
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