Hello Family and I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Turkey Day Holiday, I sure did.

Well I hope that I’m putting this in the right spot so please forgive me if I’m not. My question has to do with networking. As I’ve stated before, I’m running my business full-time now and I’ve been doing a lot of Networking (online and in person) so I’ve now received a stack of business cards. Please don’t laugh at me once I ask this question, but what should I be doing with all of these cards. I mean they are for businesses from all shape, size, and dollar values. I have made notes on the back of some that has showed interest in my company and made contact with those individuals, but I really feel like I need to be doing something with the others. Should I build a database with their information, use them to do mass mail-outs, what do I do!
I would love to hear from some of you that are good in marketing or have been where I am.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Katrina
KRB Administrative Resources, LLC

Hi Katrina - and no-one is going to laugh at you - that's why we're here - to support you!

I would be entering the business cards into either an Excel, Access or ACT database or even just as contacts in your email program as long as you can export if required. Making the notes is a great idea as you can add that in and be able to find them easily if you need. You could use the database to send out an informative email (they have given you implied permission to contact them by providing their card). You could include links to your site, list your services etc. Maybe offer a newsletter or something of interest that they could sign up for a regular newsletter or email. Even just a basic "it was nice to meet you" email can work wonders and keep you in front of mind next time they may need something done.

You could categorise them as to whether you think they would need your services, or how large they are etc for easy reference as well. Sometimes it's just handy in case someone asks if you know someone in that field and you have the contact details. What goes around, comes around. If you refer their services, they will refer yours. All those networking tips are paying off in this blurb aren't they! ;-)

Good luck!

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Marie Chandler - your virtual assistant
www.officesupportonline.com.au

Hi Katrina:

Great question and never feel awkward in posting a question or situation here on the forums. I was actually in the same boat as you not too long ago and was totally clueless! LOL

I agree with Marie and maybe offer a start-up discount for new clients to "test" your services. For me, I check in with my "business contacts" as I like to call them on a monthly basis. Over time, you never know and you will gain clientale from all of that networking and it will definitely pay off!

Good luck!

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Aspiring VA - Jean
http://network.govirtualwithjean.com

When I receive business cards I enter them into my email address book along w/ some notes about where I met the person (I meet so many I can't remember) and any other little details that might help me remember them later (because I won't otherwise).

I then put them into email groups. I use my email groups to keep in contact with them. If I read an interesting article about a certain industry, for instance, I will forward it to the people in that group or if I attend a new networking event I'll send the information about it to my fellow networkers and invite them to attend, or if I hear about someone looking for a particular service I might forward their information on to a contact.

I very rarely send out information about my own business. I think if you send your contacts info that relates to them specifically, then they will be less likely to have you remove them from your mailing list and they will remember you for providing helpful information to them and contact you when they need something else. I have people contact me all the time asking "do you know someone" if that someone is me then of course I tell them, but if its not then I'm happy to offer a referral so that I remain their "go to" person.

I actually went to a networking event tonight and one of the members told me that I made a connection for him and he wanted to do the same for me in return and offered me some contacts that he thought would be interested in working with me.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Great question Katrina. Marie and Rebecka gave some great info. I was recently wondering if someone giving me a business card constituted permission for me to send them a newsletter or email as well.

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Marta Costa
www.va-4-hire.com

Thank you ladies so much for these wonderful tips. I have already started entering them in my Outlook contacts list with notes as to where I meet them.

Rebecka, I really like your idea about grouping them and sending notes relating to them and not me. I am going to implement something simular in my business practices.

Thanks again to all of you! You guys really ROCK!!!

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Katrina
KRB Administrative Resources, LLC

Katrina,

This is why I love this forum so much. You asked a question about business cards and I believe the responses will assist me with growing my business. Yeah!!!!

Marie, I will definitely begin entering my contacts into Excel and into Outlook.

Rebecka, what an excellent idea, in regards to sending my contacts information specific to their industry rather than my business. Love it, got to use it. Thanks.

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Virtual Strategies

Great question and great answers.. lets take it a step further.. What do you do with those cards after you've recorded the information. Do you keep a box of business cards somewhere?

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Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

I throw most of the cards away after I have recorded the info just to avoid clutter, but I also have a little book that holds multiple business cards that I keep cards for certain people in that I refer a lot of business to. I carry them with me so I can give them out to people that might ask me for a referral, like my printer or hairstylist.

If I'm out and someone asks for a referral and I don't have a card on hand for them then I just take their card or contact info and tell them I will forward the info to them when I get home.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Great tips. I think there is even a business card scanner you can get for around $200 that would make this task even easier. Maybe it could even be added as a service. If you have a lot of cards so do your clients right ?