BlogPaws’ Conference Business Card Etiquette

Post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

Don't you love going to networking events and coming home with a handful of cards? Enough to play 52-
pick up with? Of course you don't, no one does! Business cards are a unique opportunity to meet and greet, make an impression and give the new acquaintance a tangible piece of real estate from which he or she can connect with you later.

Consider the individual who walks around a conference, grabs a quick handshake, presses the business card into your hand and walks away… what kind of impression is that? Do I really want to 1) do business with that person? 2) chase her down and have a bit of a "getting to know you" talk? Not really. This person has broken the unspoken "rules" of Business Card Etiquette 101. 

Here are my tips for making a great impression at BlogPaws 2013 and walking away with quality cards AND for handing out your cards in a quality manner: 

1. I know, I
   know I said you won’t want to accept the card from the walk-by handshaker and
   card presser, but you don’t want to out and out refuse to take a card. It’s
   never a good idea to offend someone. If you think you will not want to connect
   with this person in the future, graciously accept the card and toss it in the
   privacy of your room.
2. Once you’ve met someone and are exchanging
   cards, take a moment to read through theirs. Asking questions about the name of
   their business, pet or services offered is a great icebreaker. Make a note on
   the back to help you remember later why you wanted to connect with this person,
   ie. “social media guru in the ferret area.”
3. Offer your card to the person with whom you are
   interacting. It is professional to exchange cards with the person in front of
   you – after all, you’re talking to them with the hope of building a
   relationship, right?
4. Sort the cards once you get back to your hotel
   room. Whether you put the information into your computer address book or keep
   the hard copy cards or scan them, it’s best to take care of them before you
   misplace them.
5. Follow up is crucial. You will meet so many
   people at BlogPaws that you will leave there with your head spinning from all
   of the contacts you’ve made and the opportunities that were presented. If you
   don’t follow up with the individuals you met, you will be missing out on
   potential opportunities. You don’t have to wait for someone you met to contact
   you first. Take the initiative and build the relationship.

There are myriad places online from which you can order
business cards, design them yourself and have them delivered to your door in
plenty of time for the conference. Do you have business cards? Do you have
enough business cards for the conference? You don’t want to run out!