Difference between revisions of "Networking Tools: Business cards and filing contacts"
From NGO Handbook
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Business cards are a very important tool, particularly now with the regular use of e-mail. It makes your life easier to always have business cards with you. You will meet people, and if you are prepared with business cards, it helps to make connections with them. This does not mean you cannot find their names by looking them up on the Internet, but it saves you a lot of time. For conferences, business cards are extremely helpful, if not essential. | Business cards are a very important tool, particularly now with the regular use of e-mail. It makes your life easier to always have business cards with you. You will meet people, and if you are prepared with business cards, it helps to make connections with them. This does not mean you cannot find their names by looking them up on the Internet, but it saves you a lot of time. For conferences, business cards are extremely helpful, if not essential. | ||
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If you find you are wearing a couple of hats, you can note both of the responsibilities on the card, so that the same card can be used for two different contexts. They can be designed so that there is a line separating the organization information either vertically or horizontally. Use your card as a key networking tool. | If you find you are wearing a couple of hats, you can note both of the responsibilities on the card, so that the same card can be used for two different contexts. They can be designed so that there is a line separating the organization information either vertically or horizontally. Use your card as a key networking tool. | ||
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Follow up right away, or within a few days after a conference, since immediacy is really important in networking. E-mail those people with whom you want to network. If you can do some work on the airplane going home from a conference, that is always helpful, whether it is organizing cards, recording impressions, or making plans and strategy. Remember, the purpose of information is that it is going to help you either develop a relationship with a person, to find out more about what they do, or obtain a specific piece of information from them. | Follow up right away, or within a few days after a conference, since immediacy is really important in networking. E-mail those people with whom you want to network. If you can do some work on the airplane going home from a conference, that is always helpful, whether it is organizing cards, recording impressions, or making plans and strategy. Remember, the purpose of information is that it is going to help you either develop a relationship with a person, to find out more about what they do, or obtain a specific piece of information from them. | ||
| − | Storing Information | + | ===Storing Information=== |
You will meet a lot of people at conferences. To help remember them, it is good to jot something on the back of the business card to remind me of what our conversation was about or something they said that will jog my memory later on. Then file that away in your palm (handheld computer) or Rolodex under a topic, because as files grow, you will not necessarily remember the person’s name unless you have had a reason to continue the relationship with them. You can do the card work on the airplane going home while the meeting is fresh in your mind and your know with whom your going to network. | You will meet a lot of people at conferences. To help remember them, it is good to jot something on the back of the business card to remind me of what our conversation was about or something they said that will jog my memory later on. Then file that away in your palm (handheld computer) or Rolodex under a topic, because as files grow, you will not necessarily remember the person’s name unless you have had a reason to continue the relationship with them. You can do the card work on the airplane going home while the meeting is fresh in your mind and your know with whom your going to network. | ||
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Some people are oriented as a file folder person, preferring to file hard copies in folders. You also can make files on your computer. For example, your might take your e-mails of list-serves and file them under topics. Outlook Express can be used for example, but whatever e-mail program you use should allow you to file and organize those pieces of information you get, such as from Charity Channel. | Some people are oriented as a file folder person, preferring to file hard copies in folders. You also can make files on your computer. For example, your might take your e-mails of list-serves and file them under topics. Outlook Express can be used for example, but whatever e-mail program you use should allow you to file and organize those pieces of information you get, such as from Charity Channel. | ||
| − | Again, be very discerning. If you get a long piece of information and you only want a part of it, do “cut and paste.” Cut what you want, send yourself an e-mail, and then file it. You can do that as | + | Again, be very discerning. If you get a long piece of information and you only want a part of it, do “cut and paste.” Cut what you want, send yourself an e-mail, and then file it. You can do that as your go through your e-mails. |
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | This article is based on a paper presented by Karen M. Woods at the 2002 WANGO Conference in Washington, D.C. | ||
Latest revision as of 11:49, 23 September 2009
Business cards are a very important tool, particularly now with the regular use of e-mail. It makes your life easier to always have business cards with you. You will meet people, and if you are prepared with business cards, it helps to make connections with them. This does not mean you cannot find their names by looking them up on the Internet, but it saves you a lot of time. For conferences, business cards are extremely helpful, if not essential.
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