Comments for Emma Fryer

Comment on Business Cards and Networking. by Ashley Price

Ashley Price — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:02:06 +0000

I run three networking groups and also do talks/presentations on “top tips for networking success” and I am shocked when people turn up to events without a business card. Not everyone has a smartphone so can look in LinkedIn immediately (that’s providing you can get a signal), besides there are a lot of people out there not on LinkedIn. In fact I’m “linked” with less than half of my clients precisely because the majority don’t use LI.

A business card is an instant source of a lot of valuable information, especially at a networking event. If you study it when handed to you, it saves you asking questions like, “so, where are you based?” when their address is clearly printed on the card. It can also keep the discussion going if it’s starting to stall, “I really like the design of your card where did you get it done?”

There has been at least once where I couldn’t give someone work because when I had met them they didn’t have a card and so had forgotten their details by the time (just a week later) I could have referred someone to them.

One of my “top 5 tips to networking success” (a free “taster” talk I do, which is a significantly cut down version of my full talk) is “Have your business card with you at ALL times!” However, in addition to that I would say that there’s no point having your card with you if you’re not going to hand it out to people. An example recently was I was standing in a group of three networkers, one was very interested in the other’s business. I said to him (I know them both), “Hey, Jim, she’s interested! Give her your card.” He continued chatting to her and answering her questions (a sure sign of someone being interested in your service is if they keep asking questions), but NEVER produced his card. So when she walked off he had lost a potential sale. This is a man who has been running a business for seven years and is still struggling to get business. I wonder why.

Comment on Business Cards and Networking. by Simon Jordan

Simon Jordan — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:56:01 +0000

Great blog post Emma.
I have seen thousands of business cards in my time and I have also seen so many cards that are not worth the card or tacky paper they are printed on. For some they have a logo on the front with just a name and email and telephone details. The logo is simply a nice graphic with no explanation of what the company offers, and in my mind this is worse than useless. If I’ve picked this card up at an event along with lots of other cards will this card with the nice little logo remind me of what they do?
I recorded a show all about this – http://t.co/Uet7DT5O

Comment on Grrrrr! by Joe

Joe — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:29:38 +0000

Being charged twice for one meal at a restaurant! Why would I have agreed to pay for one meal twice, like my bank is currently telling me I did?! GRRR.

Comment on Whoop by Hudson Accountants

Hudson Accountants — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:35:15 +0000

Start of the school holidays so I can spend more time with my kids.

Start of the new term so I can spend more time with my clients.

Cooking for friends and family; especially if we have grown it ourselves.

Restaurants with good food AND good service.

Receiving full marks on our client satisfaction questionnaires.

Comment on Whoop by Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:27:57 +0000

I’d like to Whoop! about:

* Twitter – for connecting me with lots of nice people I’d otherwise never meet.

* 02 Broadband – for having an 0800 UK-based tech support line, not keeping me on hold waiting for an advisor, sending out a free part and fixing my problem!

* My local sub Post Office. An essential little business service centre – with stationery that’s cheaper than Staples & co.

* The person who actually waved to say ‘thank you’ when I pulled aside to let their car pass yesterday!

Comment on Whoop by Tizzy

Tizzy — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:15:33 +0000

The (metaphorical) hometime bell at 5.30pm on a Friday has on occasion made me whoop out loud!

Comment on Sales calls, cold callers, recorded calls and auto diallers. by Philip

Philip — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:00:52 +0000

I get quite a few cold calls every day. It is very rate that any of them have a good approach. A poor approach kills off the opportunity to have your product or service considered. But it must pay off somewhere otherwise why do it?

Comment on Grrrrr! by jonathan

jonathan — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:51:30 +0000

all of the above

@ann – that goes to fix anything

@martin – pool rage in your pool too eh?

Comment on Sales calls, cold callers, recorded calls and auto diallers. by jonathan

jonathan — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:44:05 +0000

Just wondering WHO would pay for such a thing?

Example – someone rings us up and asks for “The business owner”

It’s standard procedure to say that SHE is not around at the moment and can I help.

“I want to speak to someoneone who deals with your photocopier”

“Oh we don’t have one of those – we are a web based business”

“OK thanks bye”

NOT very persistent..

Comment on Grrrrr! by andy

andy — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:22:42 +0000

Suppliers that think you can’t go anywhere else.

(answering services are omitted from this comment)