The Benefits Of Carrying Other People's Business Cards With You

Anyone in business understands the prudence of carrying business cards with them wherever they go. You never know who you will meet when you are out, and whenever you meet people, you never truly know who that person is or who that person might know. You are always ready to pass your business card along to someone who might be a future client or customer if you have a stack of your business cards with you. But while just about every businessman and businesswoman understands the how and the why of carrying around their own business cards, few of them ever consider the wisdom of carrying around someone else's business cards as well. The practice of carrying around business cards that belong to others can be extremely beneficial; here are a couple reasons why.

When you are dealing in business, 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 a stranger is likely to be turned off right away if they think you are striking up conversation with them just to sell them something. 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 if you are equipped with others' business cards, you have a full arsenal of safe conversation starters. You might be at the movie theater when you hear someone talking about how they really need a plumber. If you have your favorite plumber's card ready in your stack of others' business cards, you can enter into their 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 now become a part of their conversation, and you never tried to sell them anything at all. At some point, the conversation will cycle back around to you, as they ask you what you do for a living.

Furthermore, people are far more likely to remember someone who helped them out without any reason to do so. As your conversation has turned back around to you, and to what you do, you will likely end up unloading one of your own business cards as well. 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.

Carrying others' business cards might seem like nothing more than a small step, but it could just be the "small step" that turns into your next big thing.