Comments on: Whats the deal with business cards? http://michaeldfanning.com/whats-the-deal-with-business-cards/ michaelfanning Sat, 19 May 2012 19:40:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Michael Fanning http://michaeldfanning.com/whats-the-deal-with-business-cards/#comment-131 Michael Fanning Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:21:59 +0000 http://michaeldfanning.com/?p=131#comment-131 I do agree with that but I can't begin to tell you how many times I have asked for a card only to loose it and have to go search online to find contact info. My point is if a card is asked for and the other person has a smart phone of some kind then use that opportunity by getting in their data base right then with technology. I do agree with that but I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have asked for a card only to loose it and have to go search online to find contact info. My point is if a card is asked for and the other person has a smart phone of some kind then use that opportunity by getting in their data base right then with technology.

]]> By: Geordie Romer | Leavenworth WA http://michaeldfanning.com/whats-the-deal-with-business-cards/#comment-130 Geordie Romer | Leavenworth WA Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:17:57 +0000 http://michaeldfanning.com/?p=131#comment-130 The more I think about it, it's not about the technology. A business card is really handy if someone WANTS to have your contact info written down. My first name is a little tricky, so a business card is a handy way to make sure people have it spelled write. What is strange to me is how people misuse and overuse business cards. The book "Never Eat Lunch Alone" (required reading) dispells the idea that networking is pressing your card into as many hands as possible. That's the same as a SPAM email and gets treated the same. I've been in real estate classes where some go-getter has special cards made up touting 30% referral fees and puts one on every seat in the classroom. Again, it's spam. I always carrry cards with me. Skiing, hiking, grocery store- always. I'm happy to give them out when requested, but I won't press one into unwilling hands. Unwilling hands rarely pick up the phone or type an email looking to further a business relationship. The more I think about it, it’s not about the technology. A business card is really handy if someone WANTS to have your contact info written down. My first name is a little tricky, so a business card is a handy way to make sure people have it spelled write.

What is strange to me is how people misuse and overuse business cards. The book “Never Eat Lunch Alone” (required reading) dispells the idea that networking is pressing your card into as many hands as possible. That’s the same as a SPAM email and gets treated the same. I’ve been in real estate classes where some go-getter has special cards made up touting 30% referral fees and puts one on every seat in the classroom. Again, it’s spam.

I always carrry cards with me. Skiing, hiking, grocery store- always. I’m happy to give them out when requested, but I won’t press one into unwilling hands. Unwilling hands rarely pick up the phone or type an email looking to further a business relationship.

]]> By: Michael Fanning http://michaeldfanning.com/whats-the-deal-with-business-cards/#comment-129 Michael Fanning Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:59:52 +0000 http://michaeldfanning.com/?p=131#comment-129 I agree with you Geordie, I think that the business card served a purpose when it was the manor in which we exchanged information but today that isn't the case. Maybe my next post should be what are some creative ideas that can replace the business card in a digital world? I agree with you Geordie, I think that the business card served a purpose when it was the manor in which we exchanged information but today that isn’t the case. Maybe my next post should be what are some creative ideas that can replace the business card in a digital world?

]]> By: Geordie Romer | Leavenworth WA http://michaeldfanning.com/whats-the-deal-with-business-cards/#comment-128 Geordie Romer | Leavenworth WA Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:33:30 +0000 http://michaeldfanning.com/?p=131#comment-128 Michael- I was just thinking about this last night at a networking event. An insurance agent I know was giving a stack of his cards to a mortgage broker to hand out. I thought to myself - "Wow, I never hand out business cards when I refer someone. I send them an email with a phone number and an email." I am also amused (saddened?) to see people at such events who think networking is about giving out as many business cards as possible. The cards I got last night went straight to the garbage. I don't know a thing about the people who gave them to me and they didn't seem interested in really networking. I love Chris Brogan's take on this. (Let's agree not to exchange business cards just because we're supposed to.) http://www.chrisbrogan.com/my-plans-for-sxsw/ I spoke with Chris briefly in Austin this year and was glad we didn't have to exchange cards. I know how to get a hold of him if I need to. A tool I liked, but seems to have vanished was "My Dropcard". http://www.crunchbase.com/company/dropcard Bump is a neat idea, but with My DropCard all you needed was an email account. I'm curious what tools other folks are using that are more universal than Bump. Michael- I was just thinking about this last night at a networking event. An insurance agent I know was giving a stack of his cards to a mortgage broker to hand out. I thought to myself - “Wow, I never hand out business cards when I refer someone. I send them an email with a phone number and an email.”

I am also amused (saddened?) to see people at such events who think networking is about giving out as many business cards as possible. The cards I got last night went straight to the garbage. I don’t know a thing about the people who gave them to me and they didn’t seem interested in really networking.

I love Chris Brogan’s take on this. (Let’s agree not to exchange business cards just because we’re supposed to.) http://www.chrisbrogan.com/my-plans-for-sxsw/

I spoke with Chris briefly in Austin this year and was glad we didn’t have to exchange cards. I know how to get a hold of him if I need to.

A tool I liked, but seems to have vanished was “My Dropcard”. http://www.crunchbase.com/company/dropcard

Bump is a neat idea, but with My DropCard all you needed was an email account. I’m curious what tools other folks are using that are more universal than Bump.

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