No Business Card?

I was recently at a networking event and at least 2 of the people there were unable to give me a business card.  There was a lengthy pause and lots of patting of pockets, looking in walletts, but no business card was produced.  I subsequently made a comment on Twitter about remembering to take business cards to networking meetings.  I was met by some support but equally met with resistance and comments that people have not used business cards for months and months.
To be totally honest I am shocked by this response. 

Do people think of networking in a very different way, or am I odd? (No sniggering at the back!)  One of the people I met at this event, I know 2 or 3 people who could have benefited from his contact details.   I keep all the business cards of people I meet networking, they get filled and they get entered into a database.  I get asked on a regular basis by my network if I know someone who does X or Y.  It is great to be able to say actually yes I met X or Y at a networking event, they might be worth a call or I am sure they will be able to help you.  Wasn’t it Macy’s the famous US departent store that founded a reputation on this style of service?  If they didn’t have what you needed, they would go out and source it for you, or tell you who locally could help you.  They don’t seem to be doing too badly from it (even in these difficult times.)

Take my business card

On the flip side it is great if at networking events people take my business card.  They might have taken it for a variety of reasons (not limited to the following.) 1) To keep and contact me later 2) to pass to a colleague or client either immediately or at some point in the future. 3) to add me to their mailing list. 4) They may have just taken it out of politeness. Regardless of why they have taken it, I am pleased that they now have my contact information.  Indeed if I meet someone at a networking event that I feel could be beneficial to myself and either another member of my network or a client I will take 2 and pass one along.  Isn’t this what being a good networker is all about?

Contact information and image

So now not only do they have my contact information easily available, they don’t have to try and remember my name, my company name, my contact details, my web address or any of the other plethora of information they might need in order to contact me.  My Business card also sends out a clear message about my business, it’s conservative, professional looking as well as being eye catching and feels great to hold.  The compliments I have had on it have been excellent.  It was not always this way!  When I started out I ordered some ‘free’ design it yourself business cards.  There is no comparison between the 2.  The old ones were on shoddy thin cheap card stock, were an odd size and I am sure plenty of designers could tell you lots more that was wrong with them.  What message was this sending out to people that were picking up my business card about my business?  I am just glad I took advice and advantage of a great offer and got my new ones organised when I did.  I often see a similar business card passed round at a networking meeting, and it certainly makes me think.  In fact I hear a lot of  people purposefully use these cards just for networking.  I have to question why? Do they think they are going to get thrown away?  Surely if the quality is poor and the wrong image of the company is portrayed, this is a distinct possibility. 

A business card is a portable memory of you, as well as your business.  People can make notes on them and pop them in their pocket and take them away with them to do as they will.  When they look later it can jog their memory to remind them to take action as they see fit.  If you are unable to pass out a good business card or any type of business card, how do you expect to be remembered or referred?

Thoughts and comments welcomed.

p.s – I have a great printer I can offer you a referral to.  They often have super deals on business cards!

Do you use a mobile phone for business?  Is it the only number listed on your business card or is it one of many? 
If so I would like to think that the information I am about to share might make you rethink.  Having asked people for their opinions about the use of mobile phones in a business environment, the following shares some of these views.  As well as pointing out some pretty obvious downfalls of using a mobile phone for business.

New Technology

Now don’t get me wrong mobile phones are great and the advent of new technology means mobile phone can be a brilliant tool in business.  You can use it as a GPS device, respond to your Email, access the internet and keep up in the world of social media.  Who knows you might even be reading this blog post from your phone!

A Practical Solution or Not?

 However there are some problems.  If you only have a mobile phone number listed as your contact number for your business, for some it raises issues.  From a purely practical point of view using a mobile can be tricky.  If you are away from your landline phone, you are probably engaged in another activity, perhaps a meeting or performing task for a client so probably unable to answer your mobile phone.  It may also be unsafe to do so especially if you are driving, even if ‘hands free.’  If you are out of the office and can answer your mobile phone, it is unlikely you will be able to look up details a caller needs.  It is also unlikely that you are able to make coherent notes, so that you can return the call later.

 Understandably you may think that using a mobile prevents people from having to use voicemail.  If your phone is in a bad signal area or you cannot answer, the issue you were trying to avoid rears its head again.  Callers are forced to listen to that dreary monotonous voicemail recording.

Professional or Not?

Consider also; how professional it is to speak to a client or indeed a prospect when you have little signal and the sound quality is poor.  Worse still if the call is dropped.

 Factor in also that the public perception of a business operating with just a mobile number is fairly gloomy.  Having asked a variety of people it throws up lost of issues of trust and experience.  Clearly the trust factor is huge and for many the thought of paying a company who operate with only a mobile number is a big cause for concern. Questions such as ‘will they be there tomorrow, or if something goes wrong?’ start to crop up.

In fact someone I discussed this matter with told me that if you accept credit card payments the merchant services provider requires the business to have a landline.  Another I spoke to said simply that they found the practice screamed, home office, and unreliable.’ Also making the point that these numbers as well as 0845 or other non geographic numbres can be pointed enywhere.  Others also commented that calling a mobile phone from a landline is or at least perceived to still be expensive by many.

 If many numbers are listed you do risk sending callers of on a bit of a treasure hunt to be able to contact you, dialling number after number with no success can at best be annoying and at worst why should your customers have to ‘hunt’ for you?

Damaging to the Business and Brand?

So the image and branding of you and your business may also be put on the backfoot if you are only displaying a mobile phone number or indeed a list of numbers.

The Answer?

We may be biased but wouldn’t it be better to advertise / display just a landline number, and have it answered efficiently and professionally each and every time someone calls your business?  There are other solutions but we think that http://answer-it.co.uk fits the bill and judging by our testimonials so do many of our clients.

Until next time.

Would your business survive a CRASH Test in customer service?

Contactability

As a business are you contactable.  Can customers reach you when they need something?  Or do they leave a voice mail or have to dial one of the many numbers listed on your business card?

Reliabilty

Can your customers rely on you for consistent service? Surely this is the key to turning them into advocates of your business and recomending you to a contact.

Acceptability

Are your terms and Conditions and they way you trade acceptable to your customers.  Is the way you resolve issues acceptable?

Speed

Do you act quickly in your business.  Are any issues resolved swiftly and without delay?

Helpfulness

We all like to think that we are helpful to our customers, but is it the right kind of help.  Is everyone in the business empowered enough to be able to help?

In recent discussions with various people about ‘Customer Service’ the biggest issue that people complained about was  not being able to speak to someone on the telephone.  People found it very frustrating either listening to the phone ring out or reaching a voicemail. www.answer-it.co.uk can help!