by Andrea Sittig-Rolf
What’s on your wish list this year? If you’re a small business owner, sales professional, or job seeker, it may be a new client, or a new job.
Before attending networking events this year, you’ll want to be prepared for the opportunities that present themselves. First, you already know the importance of having a business card that identifies who you are, but what about having a business card that actually promotes who you are? Here are some suggestions on how to create such a business card:
- It should be double-sided. On the front, include your name, contact information, expertise (i.e. job title), and headshot.
Even if you’re unemployed, your former job title can easily convey your expertise. Your headshot is necessary so that when following up with the people you meet, they can easily put a name with a face and remember who you are.
- On the back, include your 5 word personal mission statement. To do this, simply complete the statement: “I help companies”. The fourth word should be a verb, the fifth word a noun, and you want to sum up the result you create for companies, without revealing how you get to that result. Here are a couple of examples of personal mission statements:
- “I help companies increase profits.”
- “I help companies drive sales.”
- “I help companies cut costs.”
- “I help companies increase productivity.”
- “I help companies increase efficiency.”
Networking is a little like dating – you want to create a little mystery and leave them wanting more! The event is just the first step to the opportunity. It’s an introduction. You don’t, want to go into your whole life history and spell out the details of your resume; you just want to quickly give people an idea of what you can do for them, give them your card and say, “Maybe we can talk more about this some time.” You don’t want to be overbearing, but you do want to take advantage of the new contacts you’ll meet during networking events this year.
This special type of business card acts as a tool that will promote you when you’re not around. With the short, to-the-point mission statement on the back of the card, you’ll create curiosity that will motivate the people you meet to follow up and schedule face-to-face meetings to learn even more about how you can help them.
Andrea Sittig-Rolf is a sales trainer, public speaker, author, and president of Sittig Incorporated, a sales training and consulting firm. Her books are available wherever books are sold. Visit her website at www.sittiginc.com . For more information about her newest book, Rev Your Resume: Revolutionize, Revitalize, & Rev Up Your Resume; Create Your Accomplishments Portfolio & Land Your Dream Job (Aspatore Books, 2010), plus FREE ONLINE TOOLKIT, go to www.revyourresume.com .
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