Digital Networking, the tools of a good networker

Imagine that you just finished with a great conference and met a lot of interesting people. A few of these acquaintances seem to be promising, but after a few intense hours, you are no longer sure of who you agreed with on what or what was discussed, their faces fading in your memory. What can be done not to get lost in the details?

Though if you would like to provide  your contacts with a greater amount of information, then utilize the QR code option, which can contain everything from the company website, a Linkedln profile, or a presentation.

The best way is to come up with (or utilize a preexisting) system for gathering and maintaining this sort of information, and then make it a habit to use said system! It doesn’t have to be a major undertaking, as there are already plenty of user–friendly programs and applications in existence which simplify this issue. But before we delve into the !atest solutions, let’s concentrate on the most popular tool of a networker – the business card.

For it to perform its function right, a business card must be legible and provide the most important information. You don’t need to overdo it with the provided details as not all of them are necessary for a newly made acquaintance. Though if you would like to provide your contacts with a greater amount of information, then utilize the QR code option, which can contain everything from the company website, a Linkedln profile, or a presentation. You can find a free program online to easily generate such a code. Before incorporating it into your business card, make sure it works properly with the most popular scanners in use. To do this, all that needs to be clone is printing the code on a blank piece of paper, and upon scanning the code, seeing if it takes us to the right location on the net. QR codes are providing clarity of information on a business card.

If you fear that the code will disturb the aesthetic of the project, you can always place it on the obverse of the card. Yet, in business, easy access to information is mare highly valued than aesthetics. For this same reason, I would urge aga-inst using effects on business cards such as the use of particularly structured papers, plastics/wood/metals instead of paper, or laminates. It is true that first impressions are important, but it is you who should be making the impression! Even the fanciest business card wont guarantee someone will want to see you again if you didn’t manage to get their attention with your person.

The truth is that the business card will end up in the trash eventually anyways, and your goal is to ensure that your contact information is transferred from it to the individual’s address book. Also, please note that participants of business conferences have a tendency for making notes on the business cards themselves, so try not to make it difficult on them. And remember, the ever-dwindling supporters of keeping business cards do not tolerate awkward dimensioned cards.

Following the recent trends in digitization are also how contact information is stored and used. If you wish to remain on top, you cannot ignore these changes. But don’t let this overwhelm you. Before you choose a tool which you will dedicate yourself to using for years to come, think over the details of how exactly this tool would help you. Each of us has a different goal in mind when gathering contact information and utilizes them in different situations. A sales representative selling advertisement space in a major periodical will use those contact details differently than a specialist in a niche industry. Depending on your line of work, you will note your contacts differently, categorizing them differently, grouping or planning business moves. It is very important to consider what contact details you will need and how you will later use them to select the most efficient tool for storing and organizing the contact data. This function can be easily fulfilled just as well by a highly advanced paid CRM system, as a free phone app, the contacts tab in a good email application, or an advanced online notepad – this all depends on the scale and characteristics of your networking. Active entrepreneurs who are constantly meeting large amounts of new people will likely find it useful to utilize a mobile app with QR technology. It’s worth looking into and choosing one that is most suited to our needs.

Of course, well chosen tools are only the beginning of effective networking. Nothing can replace the systematic maintenance of relationships and constant self-development. Networking is more than work; it’s a way of life…