Article contributed by Geoff Kirkwood.
This is a 2-3 minute activity that involves those at the meeting.
You will need to read it through beforehand and be prepared.
What you say out loud to the group is in larger type in bold.
Purpose: To highlight what works on a business card.
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Start by saying to the members…
This morning we are going to have a look at your business card. And we are going to look at whether it really works for you.
After all your business card is a vital part of your networking!
So, everyone, please take out one copy of your current business card?
Now, give it to the person on your right – that’s right, everyone pass their card one person to the right.
Now, hold up your partner’s card at full arms length and see if you can read their name clearly. Imagine that you have never met this person before and they are wearing their business card in their BNI name cardholder.
Even though you know their name, can you make out their name clearly?
If not, then tell your partner! Turn to the person whose card you have and tell them.
Wait for the group to do this. Then say……
Robyn Henderson, the Australian Networking Guru, tells us that our business card needs firstly to be a name card.
And if you think about it, people do business with people.
Not companies.
Not Divisions of Companies.
But people!
So it is vital that the easiest thing to read on your business card is your name. In many cultures they are called that – Name Cards. And they are given reverence when being passed from one person to another as though you are passing their name.
So tell me, what are the important things about the name on your business card?
Ask for responses from audience and repeat a few – then say….
From our perspective it needs to be…
1. Bold type – not everyone can read fine print at a distance.
2. At least 14-point type for the same reason.
3. In the centre.
4. Spelt as you want to be introduced – that is no full names if you use abbreviations normally.
