PROJECT: "What on your Shelf?" is Over!

And what a depressing project it was! Over half of the businesses gone in less that two years. Of the other half most are on their way... bad business people! And almost all don't know how to use their business cards or the phone!!!!

The raw stats:
Business Cards in the Box: 0 (Started at 1000)
Out of Business: 548
Businesses actually looking to grow: 102
Businesses that called back: 79

10% only were actually looking to grow. How did I arrive at that number? These were the ones that answered their phone like a business and starting a conversation with me. I did not sell them and they did not sell me... just a pleasant conversation between two local business people whom I have met before. We talked about BNI, Toastmasters, local chambers, the Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau and my FREE monthly seminars and how each could help their business. Some actually showed up to these meeting/events and we continued our discussions. Nice folks.

The other 400 (not out of business) were just rude! If I was not buying from them, right then and there, they they wanted nothing to do with me... Not exactly nice in this business environment! They will soon follow the path of the 500 currently out of business. I wish them the best but...

So I ask again, "What's on your shelf?"

What does your Business Card really say about you?

Working on the "What's on your shelf" project I have noticed many things. The most striking observation has probably been that the actually business card says little to nothing about the company or the wielder of the card. No really, it usually says zilch! Some may look pretty, glossy and be double sided but what does that have you do with you?

Some of the most expensive cards are from companies that did not last their first year. While other plain Black and White ones represent companies that have been around for over 22 years (yes like Lone Keep Internet, Inc.) There are even some that try to list everything that a company provides in tiny, tiny print on both sides. Who is going to read all that?

I believe that the cards should be a pointer, an arrow if you will. Once you make a personal contact the business card should serve as a reminder of why the holder should be interested in your company. (Hence, one sided and easy to add notes on the back.) As a pointer they should guide the holder to your website where you can dazzle them with graphics, video and long lists of services (content). But how many really do this?

How many do not have a website listed? Or maybe even the wrong one? Yes, I have found several of these on my shelf. Some don't put their website on their cards because they are not finished or don't work. Both of these are easily fixable. If you want to help your local web designer or graphic artist grow their business just ask why there is no website on the card you just got! If you want you can send me the referral!!!

In the mean time take a look at your business card. What does it say about you?

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Assistant Director for BNI Monmouth County
Charter member of the BNI Shore Money Chapter in Ocean Grove

Save a Tree!

Don’t take business card if you have no intention of calling the person!!! Two weeks ago I attended a major networking event in the Monmouth County area at the Jersey Shore. There were almost 200 people in attendance. Normally I would follow up on everyone I met (i.e. got their business card). But this time I decided to do a little experiment, in line with the ongoing project “What's on your shelf”, and not call but wait to be called….

I have received exactly ZERO calls for the mass of business card I handed out. Why did these “Business” people attend this meeting? I won’t even waste mine or your time trying to come up with excuses. Just let it be know that it is rude and not exactly the best thing for the environment. Admittedly it’s small but multiply this by the number of attendees and multiply it again by the number of events they go to in any given period and it adds up. “Think globally, act locally” comes to mind… Oh yeah… What about follow-up to grow ones business????

Is it me? Am I crazy? Or am I missing something about conducting business?

On a more pleasant note: Those interested in GROWING THEIR ONLINE BUSINESS should attend the next free seminar at the Manchester Inn in Ocean Grove, Friday February 26^th from 1 to 4pm. Clark Cate, the owner of the Manchester Inn, will be one of the speakers and sharing some of his online Guerrilla Marketing tips he’s used for the Inn.

So Project: What's on your shelf begins...

Last week I made the first 20 calls. The results were what I expected. 10 were out of business or have switched jobs. 8 answered the phone like they were keeping their business a secret!! Several of these were Marketing Firms. None of the Internet based companies were around anymore - save one. This is why Lone Keep Internet has been around for over 22 years now...

Only two businesses called back. These were the ones who wanted to actually grow their businesses... So they are on my shelf! Next time I'll give you snippets of some of the actually conversations so you do not make the same mistakes on trying to "Get the Word Out" about your business.

Your Thoughts?

What on your Shelf?

In trying to come up with a theme for my blog entry today I put it to my friends on Face Book. The responses ranged from Helping Haiti to the use of Technology like Exchange mail, sync between pda and desktop in real time, voice mail to email and so on. The responses made my head spin! So I decided to clean up the office a bit to try and get rid my headache. In doing so I came across about 1,000 business cards that I have accumulated from BNI, Chamber and general networking meetings over the last several years.

Then it dawned on me! Today’s entry would be on Technology, not the latest but one of the oldest that people still can’t use correctly!! Business Cards! Why do business owners, sales people and just about everyone hand then out and never use then for what they are intended for.

Wikipedia, the online free encyclopedia, defines Business cards as “cards bearing business information about a company or individual. They are shared during formal introductions as a convenience and a memory aid.”

Well let’s put that to the test. When I get a business card I always follow up in a day or two. Most people don’t remember me even then. I guess I should be insulted! I would say about a good 50% don’t answer with their name or that of their business. They try to keep that a secret when you call… WHY? Why bother handing someone your card? Do they hope you don’t call?

So this is the Project. I am going to call all 1000 people whose cards were on my shelf. To the right on this page I will keep a running tab on the number I have left to call, the ones out of business already or switch jobs, the ones that want to actually grow in this “bad economic” climate and those that even bother to call back!

This should be interesting… Not sure what I will accomplish but I’ll start off the conversation with “What’s New?”