1. Never leave without your business cards! Before leaving your workplace or home, create a checklist that includes your business cards as a part of what you should have in your wallet. Even a quick trip to a grocery store could be an opportunity to network. 2. Don?t save your business cards to yourself. Be generous. Give business cards out to everyone you know, including your friends and family and always give two cards at a time to each person. 3. Send your cards in every piece of correspondence ? letters, invoices and even your bills! Bills are often used as an advertising vehicle. Why can?t you advertise your services or skills in the same way? After all, there is a live person who processes the bills on the other end! 4. Treat your cards right. Use a good-looking business card holder so you don?t bend corners and produce the best poss work at home ible impression on first contact with your prospect. 5. When ordering your cards, order more then a thousand ? the cost per card will be substantially lower making it more cost effective. 6. Whenever you give out your business card, always ask for one in return. Furthermore, make that person feel important by looking at what they have to offer. Furthermore, this usually helps to define a topic for a conversation thus strengthening your networking. 7. Ask for referrals. This will work both ways ? people feel more important when you ask them about referrals. Moreover, it is natural for people to help when they’re asked. 8. Take notes. After a networking event, always make notes on the back of each business card so you don?t lose an opportunity and remember the important things from a conversation. 9. Be on the other side of the table.
