Organizing Business Cards for Effective Contact Management
Now that you've had colorful new business cards printed, and have been distributing them diligently, what do you do with the cards you collect from other people? If you're like most people, you have a stack of rubber-banded cards floating around you desk. Or you have been using them as bookmarks, toothpicks, and used gum wrappers and they are all over your office, car, wallet and purse ? but that doesn't help you build your business. Without a good filing system, the information on those cards is useless. So clean out your desk and develop a system for prioritizing, organizing, and following up with those contacts. High Tech or Old School? There are two choices for organizing business cards: The traditional way of keeping them in a card file The contemporary method of keeping contact info on a computer file When you return from a networking meeting or trade show, before you do anything else, update your contact information.
Rank the cards you've collected in order of importance before you put them away. Separate warm leads who are likely to bring you business, people with whom you definitely want to follow up, and whose information you want at your fingertips. This can include prospects, people you will refer to others, or who will send referrals to you. Don't be afraid to throw away cards from people you will never contact or refer. You can file cold leads somewhere else or toss them into the trash.
Know Your ABZ's... How you alphabetize and file your cards is up to you. Decide how you remember information best, whether it's by company names, people's names, or by category. Perhaps you are better able to find information if it is organized by region or department. Then, alphabetize them appropriately.
You might also file by date or by the event where you met the person. Just choose one way and stick to it. For instance, don't file some by last name and others by business name, or you'll never find what you're looking for in a pinch. Electronic = Portable and Duplicable Storing contact information on the computer keeps your office neater and is one more step toward the paperless office; for most people, searching on computer is more efficient than rummaging through paper cards. In seconds, you can run a sort and locate contacts by company, name, dog's name, date you met, etc.
If you bring work home with you, it's easy to duplicate your contact list, rather than hauling your entire Rolodex with you. Storing info electronically is also effective for building mailing lists and printing labels. But remember, backup, backup, backup. I was a high-tech junkie until my hard drive crashed and I didn't have a backup of my computer database. Good thing I kept those hard copies! There are numerous programs on the market to organize contact information, such as Act or Outlook.
I put all of my information in Microsoft Access. For a low-tech backup, I use a plastic card file box with alphabetical dividers, filing my cards by last name. I also prefer to use transparent sleeves to store business cards in, since I almost always file business cards instead of handwriting the information on blank cards. The sleeves are a uniform size, keeping the box tidy. But you may be different--any system will work, as long as you are consistent with it.
To Keep or Not to Keep? Some people say you should keep every business card you have ever received, while others think you should throw away the cards you will never use. With the rapidity of people moving around and switching companies today, I throw away cards of contacts I haven't been in touch with for three years. By then their contact information has surely changed, so even if I did want to get in touch with them, it's not likely that I will. If you insist on holding on to old information, archive those business cards in a separate database or card box. Since I make notes on the backs of cards when I meet people, I always know the date when I first made contact; notes also help refresh my memory of people I haven't been in close contact with.
Finally, remember to follow up with your contacts! Keep a schedule and goals for making contact by phone calls, emails, or snail mail. Periodically go through your filing system and update or delete old information. The reason you store this information is to keep in touch with people--so use your new organizing system to stay efficient and your business will thrive!.
Do your business cards work as hard as you do to gain new contacts? If not, you need cards that will grab attention and spur curiousity. Create glossy, full color business cards online and have them delivered to your doorstep in days.Using Photographs and Graphics In Marketing Your Business
More and more businesses are seeing the benefit of
photography in marketing their business. html emails,
websites, business cards, banners. Scanners and
other digital equipment is HOT! What will you need to
know about the area of photography to take advantage
of photo marketing in your business?
Many memorable moments would be lost and long forgotten
without photography. The most important thing to
photography is light. The camera is a precise instrument
for capturing light.
The word "camera" in Latin means
room. The name camera comes from the first invention
towards capturing the world on film, the camera obscura
or dark room.
This invention came about in the 14th century and was
used by such artists as Da Vinci and Michelangelo to
more accurately draw their subjects onto paper. The
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CosmoCom Wins IP Contact Center Technology Pioneer Award from Customer Interaction Solutions Magazine
Melville, NY (ContentDesk) August 2, 2006 -- CosmoCom, the global leader in Unified Customer Communications, today announced it has received an IP Contact Center Technology Pioneer Award from Customer Interaction Solutions magazine. CosmoComs flagship product CosmoCall Universe is among the select group of winners recognized in the publications July issue that highlights the best of the best in emergent technology that is saving call centers all over the world a lot of time, effort and capital. CosmoCall Universe was highlighted for meeting the contact center business needs of a wide variety of organizations. Complete editorial coverage for the IP Contact Center Technology Pioneer Award can be read at http://www.tmcnet.com/call-center/0706/mngmnt-scope-the-ip-contact-center-technology-pioneer-awards.htm Weve chosen as winners the products with the...
CosmoCom Wins IP Contact Center Technology Pioneer Award from Customer Interaction Solutions Magazine
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The numerous benefits of dental care
Copyright 2006 Jason Bibb
Dental surgery
Almost everyone I know is scared of going to the dentist. What most of us don't understand is that dentistry is not that painful when you are under the effect of an anesthetic. Dental surgery involves all kinds of interventions that have to do with gum procedures, pulling teeth, root canals and even surgeries executed for cosmetic reasons. A qualified dentist has to train for about five years in an accredited dental college or...
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VoIP Review Site Offers New Comparison Chart to Compare Vonage with other VoIP
(ContentDesk) May 15, 2006 -- The internet phone has put the traditional landline phones on the endangered species list. Within a decade, most Americans will be using an internet phone. The average savings to the American family by switching to VoIP is nearly $1,000 a year. Prices can vary anywhere from leader Vonage and their $25 a month, or SunRocket and their $199 a year plans.With such a demand for VoIP products, and little information regarding their services, the owner of a VoIP review site...
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Advantage Golf School Announces Another New Location Partnership With Lake Las Vegas Resort.
"2004 has seen Advantage Golf School increase its market exposure and improve upon its locations. With the addition of Lake Las Vegas Resort, we have opened a market that many of our clients have requested, and further strengthened our position as the leader of luxury golf instruction programs," says Vance Wood, Owner and Founder of Advantage Golf School. "The unique setting of Lake Las Vegas Resort and its close proximity to Las Vegas will offer our clientele base one the most unique and enjoyable...
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Car Care Products
There are hundreds of car-care and auto-detailing products in the market today ? but what do you really need and what can you do without? Read on and decide for yourself.
When used properly, car waxes can take the dullness off your car's exterior paint and make it look brand new. Experts recommend that you wax at least two times a year or more if you have an older car. Doing this prevents dirt build up and keeps your car looking new even after years of use.
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How to Forgive By Faith
Jesus said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you" (Luke 17:6).Wait a minute--did I get the right verse for this topic? What do mustard seeds and mulberry trees have to do with learning how to forgive? Quite a lot, actually. Earlier, Jesus had been talking about offenses and how to deal with them:"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him: and if he repents,...
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