Business Cards That Work for You

You're at a networking event exchanging business cards with key new contacts.  So is everyone else.

Your business card has a simple URL printed on it, inviting people to schedule time with you.

Whose card do you think is more effective?  The one with a phone number, email and fax (if anyone even faxes anymore), or the one with a simple URL that lets others schedule time in just a few clicks?

I’d put money on the URL.

Before I came to Tungle (and before Tungle.me existed), I attended several conferences where I met people who could have helped with the challenges being faced by the company I was with at the time.

I always left these conferences with a stack of business cards.  Did I follow up with them all?  No. 

Each one would have required a voicemail or email suggesting we meet.  Times would be exchanged back and forth, and eventually a time for a call would be nailed down.  In the meantime, I’d be engaged in the same exchanges with every other new contact.  Chances were, I’d double book myself, or have to call contacts to tell them times I’d previously suggested were now booked.

I just didn’t have the time.  Opportunities were missed, I’m sure, but short of spending evenings and weekends glued to my phone and email, it simply wasn’t doable.

I also knew the contacts I’d made had exchanged cards with several other people too, and thus were in the same boat.  They wouldn’t have time for me either.

Now we have Tungle.me.  Unfortunately, my business cards were printed before we developed the product.  But there’s a simple fix – when exchanging cards, I simply take out a pen and write my personal URL on the card.  It makes the exchange more memorable, and the person feels like they’ve been given a more personal way to get in touch with me.

Here’s how it works:

Someone receives my card, with the penned on URL.  They type it into their browser and instantly see when I’m free.  They create a meeting invitation proposing multiple times, and send.

They have to confirm their email address (it’s how we prevent spam – people can’t send you invites through your link unless they first confirm their identity), but they don’t have to sign up.

I get the email, can see the proposed times overlaid on my calendar, and simply pick a time to book the meeting.

It’s automatically added to my calendar, and the sender gets an email confirmation to add it to their calendar as well.

The whole process takes less than 5 minutes, and I could even reply from an iPhone or BlackBerry.

It’s quick and easy for me, and quick and easy for the other person.  Fewer opportunities are missed, less time is spent glued to my desk, and I can even decline invitations if I decide later that I don’t need to meet with the person.

So, do your business cards work for you yet?

Want to see how Tungle.me works?  Watch a short video >

----------------------------------------------------

Did you know?  Tungle.me can accelerate your email signature, blog, website, LinkedIn profile and anywhere you connect online too!  Learn more >

----------------------------------------------------

Have a Tungle account, but haven’t enabled your link yet?  Go to “Tungle.me” in your Management tab. 
Sign into Tungle >

Not a Tungler yet?  Oh my!  Where did you find the time to read this?  You need Tungle. 
Get a free account here >

Comments

[justin]

great timing for this post... we're having business cards printed shortly :D

[Erin Lariviere]

Hi Justin,

Glad we got the timing right :)

A little tip - if you want something even shorter to print, try typing TGL.me/YourURL ("YourURL" being whatever you personalized your link with) into your address bar and see what happens ;)

Happy Tungling!