Is there a preferred way of handing out a visiting card? What impression do you create in your customer’s mind while you hand over your visiting card? Read on to find the answers.
Your objective in handing out your card:
If you are making a sales visit, your objective is more than just introducing yourself with your visiting card. Your objective is to accord enough value to your card, that your prospect finds it worthy enough to be filed in his rolodex. He should see your name in his choice set, every time he considers using a service offered by you.
It is essential to follow a certain simple rules to achieve that objective. Here are the 6 rules:
1. Your visiting card is YOU:
Your visiting card represents you. This is not just because it bears your name, designation and your organization details but because it represents far more than the material written on the card. Your prospect will treat you with the same respect that you treat your visiting card. Take a moment to reflect how you handover your card now.
2. Invest in a good quality visiting card holder:
If your card is crumpled, it reflects as a poor self identity. A crisp card taken out of a professional looking card holder leaves a good first impression. It tells your prospect that you deserve to be treated with the same respect. So, invest some money to get yourself a good quality visiting card holder. Make it a habit to pull out your card only from that case.
3. Keep it readily accessible:
Searching for your visiting card reflects poorly on your organizing skills. Allocate a certain place where you keep your visiting cards, and you should be able to access it in less than 2 seconds. The time you are with your prospect is valuable. Do not waste it in searching for your card.
4. Present it with your name facing the customer:
Your customer should be able to read the material written on the visiting card. Do not cover any portion of your card with your fingers. Hold the card on its sides and present with your name facing the customer.
5. Stand up while extending your card:
This gesture tells that you accord value to your card. This also increases the chance of your card being read and later being filed in your prospect’s rolodex.
6. Give a ten seconds introduction of the service you provide:
Very few prospects actually read what is written on your card. So, it is always a good idea to tell them about how you can add value to your prospect with your service. Read our blog on how to create a 2 minute pitch to introduce your service effectively. This pitch comes in handy to make a quick presentation with just your card as a visual aid.
Follow these simple rules and see a visible difference in the way you are treated by your prospects. They will listen with far more interest to the presentation that you make later.