Let’s turn business cards into dollar bills Get ready to watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat too

Starting out at a Networking Event in Anytown USA:

You walk in and awkwardly look around. Someone (mercifully) catches your gaze and you make the silent connection. Walk over before they step away, but be careful your pace doesn’t give off an Olympic speed walker vibe. Keep it cool.

‘Hey, how are you?’

Conversation starts slow. Real slow. Small talk. Ug.

‘What a drive! Construction is the worst, huh?’

‘I can’t with the rain anymore, it’s been too much!’

‘Have you been watching Christmas movies on Hallmark? My favorite is the one with the gazebo and hot chocolate stand…. (and this goes on a little too long if it’s my small talk but oh well)’

But wait, common ground. Let’s keep chatting.

‘So what do you do? Tell me about your business’

‘Oooh that’s cool, how long have you been doing that?’

‘How did you hear about this event?’

‘Oh, I know them too, what a small world!’

That turned out well! Time to part ways.

‘Do you have a card?’

‘Let me get you mine too.’

‘Here’s my LinkedIn also, let’s get connected there.’

What did you just see in that scenario? Boring talk turning into chatter? Yes. And.

A connection and start to a relationship. The building block of business is relationships. You know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who needs your service. And that business card you gave them, along with the impression you made with your sparkling conversation and wit, is in their memory bank, retrieved at-will!

The card you gave them now gets pulled out and shared with their network like a cooler version of the 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon game, called the 6 Degrees of You game.

‘Hi! I got your information from <cool connection at the event>, and they said you're a huge Hallmark fan! Me too!  And, I am in desperate need of…..<insert your service here>, and they said you rock, so let’s chat….’

New connection, discovery call. Great fit. New client signing. And then…..

Abracadabra. 

You have now turned a business card into a dollar bill.

Comment here if you have more great networking ideas! I'm always up to hear what works for you! And if you want information from me on MORE ways to network, relationship build, connect, and get visible, comment here and we'll chat. I've got monthly webinars about networking and more, and I'd love to have you join us!  My webinars are chock full of tips on how YOU can turn business cards into dollar bills.

I might even pull a rabbit out of my hat.

Watch closely, the hand is quicker than the eye.