When is the best time to give someone you have just met your business card?

#NetworkingFAQ When is the best time to give someone you have just met your business card?

1 – When they ask for it

2 – The second best time is when they express some interest in something in your conversation – then you could offer your business card

Otherwise what purpose is served by giving someone your card without any interest being expressed

1. “Here can I give you my card” you say and
2. They probably think: “Why would I want your card?” and
3. they take your business card anyway – because most people are polite – so that
4. they can add your card to their recycling at the office

Consider rather: If you can’t create some interesting topics between you in your conversation then that begs the question:

Do you really want to be talking to someone who isn’t really interested?

So how do you create an interesting topic in your conversation?

1. focus on listening and
2. find what is interesting for the other person so that you can share something of value to them by using the Networking Model for Introverts: Information Insights Introductions Invitations

Networking Model for Introverts

1. Information: some general information relevant to them and your conversation
2. Insights: some valuable ideas that relate to your area of expertise (almost advice but usually not quite)
3. Introductions: suggest someone in your network that they might have a valuable conversation with
4. Invitations: suggest an event that you go to that they might also get some benefit in attending

If your content (what you say) doesn’t save your audience time, is it really worth sharing? (LinkedIn Strategist Maxim No. 91)

Ask For Their

Note well: If they take your card then you should ask for theirs –

• not only is it polite but that leaves the initiative with you (as you can use their contact details to FollowUp effectively and efficiently)

Do On LinkedIn As You Would Do In Person

As a side note: the same basic principle applies to LinkedIn: what purpose is served by sending a stranger a connection message? Even if they accept your connection message, 99% of those connections dont result in any valuable conversation to follow (then haven’t you just wasted their time and yours)

The LinkedIn Strategist maxim here is: “Why would you do something on LinkedIn that you wouldn’t do in person (LinkedIn Strategist Maxim No. 55)

MA#027