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

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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. With a healthy stack of business cards in your pocket or pocketbook, you are always ready to pass the card along to someone who might become a future client or customer. 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. This can be a very beneficial practice, and here are just a few of the reasons why.

When you are dealing in business, conversations with strangers are golden. 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. With your favorite plumber's business card stashed away in your wallet, you are ready to jump into the conversation. "Excuse me, but I heard you say you need a plumber; here, take this business card - it's for the guy we use on our house; we have always been really happy with his work!" In this way, you have opened conversation without trying to sell them something of your own. The conversation is sure to cycle back around to you, and to what you do for a living.

Furthermore, people are far more likely to remember someone who helped them out without any reason to do so. You are sure to unload one of your own business cards once the conversation comes back around to you. 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.

Even though the practice of carrying others' business cards might seem insignificant, it might just be the "small step" that brings you your next big thing.