Life is easier with the help and interaction of others. Sure, there are times when people drive us crazy. However, those are also the times we need someone to talk to. As we go through our career and life, we meet other people who can be helpful or whom we can recommend, and they usually give us business cards.
I often see a mini-tower of business cards on people’s desks. (No, the business card isn’t going away.) Personally, I like them. When I see the name on a card, I can remember the conversation or the situation where we saw each other. Keeping track of those contacts can feel like a part-time job. I often hear: “I don’t have time for it!” I get it.
So try spending 15 minutes at a time on managing your contacts’ cards and go for progress, not perfection. I’m going to share some ways I manage my business cards and use Insightly to stay connected. (Tip: I often work on my database when I’m watching a silly TV show.)
- Ziploc bags
- Place the cards you get at events in a Ziploc bag.
- Write the date of the event and the name of the event on the bag.
- The 5-minute sort
Just sort. Don’t get into action mode, yet. Organize the cards you receive into categories:- A = Action. You owe them something: an introduction, the name of a restaurant, a referral. This action can get done and it’s over. One of my favorite reasons to do this is that I’ll get on their radar, but I’m not asking for anything. Yet! 🙂
- B = Schedule a call or coffee. There was enough of a connection that you’d like to continue the conversation. In general, I suggest a 10-minute call (people are more likely to say yes to that.)
- C = Who knows? I used to think the folks in this category were less worthwhile to follow up with. I now know that they are most likely an introvert and just think a bit more before they take action.
- LinkedIn invitations
I used to be quite strict about who I connected with on LinkedIn. Now, I find it’s simply a great way to keep track of current information. My suggestion is that you write a customized LinkedIn invitation (this is difficult to do on your phone, so wait until you’re at a computer). Here’s an example:(Their name),
I enjoyed our conversation at ________ (fill in the name of the event). I look forward to crossing paths again.
Best, (your name)
- Insightly’s business card scanner
If you’re a paid user of Insightly, I encourage you to use their business card scanner on the iOS or Android app. This makes inputting data into the Insightly CRM fast and easy. - Reminders
Add a task to remind you to check in after you make an introduction or have a coffee. Just meeting someone isn’t enough. You need to stay in touch. - Then what?
I put the Ziploc in a shoebox and that becomes a tickler file as well. I know, it sounds old-fashioned; however, I find the tactile experience with business cards is still useful. I create a task with Insightly to check on people every few months.
Staying visible is key to your success. Make it easy!
The business card scanner on Insightly’s mobile apps will help you manage your contacts using Diane’s tips. Take your business card management to the next level and check out our pricing page or sign up for a free trial right now.
About the Author: Diane Darling knows the value of relationships and how to build them. The author of McGraw-Hill’s definitive book on networking, The Networking Survival Guide. Diane speaks and trains thousands of people each year on ways to build relationships, leading to opportunities and growth.
