Attending a networking event is a key public relations activity.

A critical component is moving around the room and meeting and engaging with people.  To be able to have a second conversation exchanging business cards is a critical first requirement.

Lately, it seems that folks attending networking events aren't armed with a business card making it very difficult to continue the dialogue.  I never leave home without them.  I have them in my jacket, my attache case, my car and I even take them to family or friends social events as you could have an unexpected encounter .

How many do I carry?  I try to find out the number of people attending the event but usually I have 5-10 cards at the ready.

I get these explanations for not carrying a card:  "I left them at home."  "I am out of cards."  "My contact information has changed, sorry."  I do hand my card regardless and I always say, "Please send me your information when you have a moment." Business cards tell others about who you are, what you offer and how serious you are about marketing yourself and/or  your company, organization or event.   I try to be pleasant during the exchange, however, I know the likelihood of ever receiving a card from them is slim to none.

Here are three reasons why business cards are still important today for doing business.

1.  Something to hand out: By handing out a business card, you have given that person something to refer back to.  Also, they might even give the card to someone else who is interested in your services or products!

2.   Perfect when time is limited: You might only have a few seconds or the networking event is so loud that a conversation is nearly impossible.  Giving out your card can lead to future discussions in a more quiet and lengthy venue.

3.  It's the right thing: Exchanging cards puts both individuals on an equal playing field.  It shows respect.  It signals that the conversation you just had was beneficial to both.

Here are three items to remember when designing  a business card.

1. Contact information: Voice mail, phone, fax, address, email and website.  Often I see that email  is missing.  This error means that a person must go the extra mile to contact you. No email address increases the chance that your card will be tossed.

2.  Read more.

Please follow me on Twitter and make your comments.
.

One of the best ways to find out what the public thinks,  the attitudes of employees, clients' requirements or what association members want is to conduct a survey.

For communities needing decision-oriented information, surveys also provide an excellent way of checking the pulse of the community and getting specific information from a cross-section of residents quickly.

But here's the rub:  How you plan to use the information once gathered should inform the decisions you make in designing, conducting, and analyzing the survey, as well as presenting its findings.

I have found that too little time is spent on this critical first step.  In other words, the remaining elements of conducting a survey build from this initial action. So, my recommendation to you is to to seriously spend time on this crucial element.

The framework for organizing a survey is varied.  Specific methods range from face-to-face, telephone, electronic (web or email) printed mail and drop-off and pick-up. All of these methods have pros and cons.  For example,  the ability to let the interviewee see, feel and/or taste a product is an advantage of the personal interview.  However, personal interviews ususally cost more per interview than other methods.

Surveying by telephone is the most popular method in the nation. Might be because 96% of us have a phone!   However, many telemarketers have given legitimate research a bad name by claiming to be doing research when they start a sales call.

Web surveys are rapidly gaining popularity.  They have . . . Read More

Tip Of The Month

Why Not Buy Veteran?  

Gratitude.  Trust. Patriotism.  

  

Buy Veteran is a national campaign spearheaded by the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) to bring the success and momentum of the National Veteran Business Movement to all of America's 3 million veteran-owned businesses.

In 1999, the federal government passed Public Law 106-50 that set a mandate to award 3 percent of all federal contract and subcontract dollars to service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.

In addition, nearly 15 percent of FORTUNE® 1000 companies set goals to include veteran-owned businesses in their supply chains as part of their supplier diversity programs.

Recent nationwide polling revealed that it's not just the government and large corporations that want to Buy Veteran - the average American consumer wants to Buy Veteran too! In fact, two-thirds of respondents said they'd rather purchase from a veteran-owned business than a non veteran-owned business.

This is where the Buy Veteran campaign comes in. Buy Veteran lets everyday, Main Street, consumer-facing veteran-owned businesses in every city and small town in America capitalize on the trust and gratitude to help their businesses grow.

Perini & Associates is a veteran-owned business.  I am proud of my 30 years in the United States Air Force.  That experience has taught me leadership and what it takes to provide timely advice and council at the highest standards.

The message is simple: "Hey America", you trust veterans and want to thank them for bravely serving our country? Then support the 3 million American businesses owned by military veterans. Buy Veteran."

A recent nationwide poll revealed that 95 percent of American consumers feel a sense of gratitude toward veterans and two-thirds said they'd be more likely to buy from veteran-owned businesses. Americans trust veterans who trained under a strong code of ethics.

The American people want to "thank" veterans, not "donate" to them. Big difference.

Eat at a veteran-owned restaurant. Let a veteran-owned contractor remodel your house. Hire a veteran-owned tax preparer or lawyer. Drop off your laundry at a veteran-owned drycleaner. And, when you need public relations/marketing advice find a veteran-owned firm.  It's good business. And it's good for our economy.

You can easily tell a veteran-owned  business when you see this badge -  pictured here in this post and on the front page of the website - on display in the most obvious location on a storefront so passers-by and all  customers will know they can trust that business because it is veteran-owned.

Buy American. Buy Local. Now Buy Veteran.

We take the time to find information that will support you 

To beat the market, companies must make use of imperfections that stop (or at least slow) its workings. Good strategies emphasize difference - versus direct competitors, potential substitutes, and potential entrants.  Read more

Research subjects who received electrical stimulation of the anterior temporal lobes of the brain were 3 times more likely to come up with the fresh insight needed to solve a difficult, unfamiliar problem than people in a control group, according to Richard Chi and Allan Snyder of the University of Sydney.   Read more

Online video is the fastest growing medium. It's going to be how we communicate. "pclips," a series captures the best examples of public relations humor, information and education. 

See the clips at this link.