Why You Should Carry Other People's Business Cards With You

Surely, if you are in business, you are in the habit of carrying your business cards with you wherever you go. When you are out, you never know who you will meet; furthermore, when you meet someone, you never really know who they are, and you never really know who they might know. You are always ready to pass your business card along to someone who might be a future client or customer if you have a stack of your business cards with you. But while just about every businessman and businesswoman understands the how and the why of carrying around their own business cards, few of them ever consider the wisdom of carrying around someone else's business cards as well. The practice of carrying around business cards that belong to others can be extremely beneficial; here are a couple reasons why.

Conversations with strangers are golden opportunities; as a businessperson, you understand this. Any opportunity you have to talk to someone you do not know might just be the opportunity you have been waiting for. But a stranger is likely to be turned off right away if they think you are striking up conversation with them just to sell them something. Naturally, people are protective of their money; they don't want to talk to you if they think you're trying to get some of their money in your pocket! But if you are equipped with others' business cards, you have a full arsenal of safe conversation starters. Perhaps you will overhear someone in a shop in the mall, talking about how they need a plumber. If you have your favorite plumber's card ready in your stack of others' business cards, you can enter into their conversation. "Excuse me, but I couldn't help overhearing you say you need a plumber; I happen to know a great plumber - he's worked on our house, and we've been thrilled with him!" You have now entered their conversation without trying to sell them anything at all. Eventually, the conversation is sure to circle back around to you, and to what you do.

People are also inclined to remember someone who helped them out without receiving anything in return. As your conversation has turned back around to you, and to what you do, you will likely end up unloading one of your own business cards as well. And this person will certainly remember you next time a need arises in their life that you might be able to fill, and you will have yourself a new customer.

Carrying others' business cards might seem like nothing more than a small step, but it could just be the "small step" that turns into your next big thing.