Making Your Business Card Collection Work for You

So it's time to boost business and you offer a service that can help others. You have a stack of business cards you've collected from others but haven't done anything with. You need to increase your income. Let's put our brains to work with a little elbow grease and make something happen for us and our customers.

First, get the data from your collection of cards into your contact management program, whether it's an Excel file, Sales Genie or something else. Just do it. Short on time, input the contacts while watching a movie. Or make a brainstorming game out of it and jot down everything that you could offer that contact if only you got in touch with them. You'll be amazed at what you come up with.

Keep the end result in mind, a contact either needs something from you, they can offer you something, or they know someone who needs what you offer.

Then, create your sales plan. Can you offer them something special like a discount? Do you have a new website that you would like their feedback on or referrals to? Can they give you referrals? Ask for what you want in an inviting way.

I read a great quote the other day from a 1956 New York Herald Tribune column that said "Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you're doing, but nobody else does."

So turn the light on and let people know what you are doing. Don't just turn it on, make it flattering so people want more of it. As much as it seems that misery loves company, people are even more excited when they have a role to play in helping someone win.