One of the most frequent requests I have heard throughout my career is “May I have your card?” Whether it’s a sales call or business-to-business (B2B) networking, the practice of swapping business cards is the most common way to make an introduction. So why do so many merchant level salespeople (MLSs) arrive at meetings and trade shows without them?

I’m always surprised when, during the “get to know you” part of a committee meeting, someone in the room announces they have “forgotten their cards.” Or when someone visits our booth at a trade show and is unable to leave a card because they don’t have any with them. In sales, forgetting your business cards is like forgetting your pants.

The most effective way I’ve found to remember people I’ve met is to retain their business cards. During our conversations, I often take quick notes on the back of the cards that I can refer to later, such as jotting down a reminder about something from our meeting, an action item I have agreed to or something they have committed to me.

Once back at my desk, I review the stack of cards. I write thank you notes, delegate action items, pass along leads and the myriad of follow up details that occur after a business trip. Without the cards, I’m left only with an attendee roster and pads of paper.

Your cards should include your name, phone number, fax number, e-mail and street addresses and company logo. This information should be produced in a color and font that are easy to read. I recently received a business card that had been printed with pale lavender five-point type in order to fit all of the information the proprietor wanted on the card. A lot of information was there, but I couldn’t read it-even with my bifocals on!

Make sure you proofread your business cards before they are printed. You may think that the instructions you gave the person at Kinko’s were clear, but did they set your information correctly? Here’s an easy trick to use when proofreading to ensure what is to be printed is correct: Read each line backwards, from left to right and from bottom to top. This will force you to look at each word and number, instead of only skimming the information that you are so familiar with.

Also, have your cards printed on a paper stock that someone can actually write on. If your cards are plastic or a dark color they will be less useful to those who receive them, especially if they, like you, take notes on cards. While business cards that look and feel like credit or gift cards may be a novelty, they will most likely be tossed rather than kept as useful reminders for further action.

Check your sales agreement for instructions regarding logo placement on your business cards. Card associations and many banks and vendors have specific rules regarding the use of their logos. Additionally, be sure to include any logos (that you are entitled to use) that might lend further credibility to your business, such as from a trade association, chamber of commerce or Better Business Bureau.

If you conduct business in languages in addition to English, you might consider having your contact information printed on the back of your business card in these other languages. Or, you might add a line to your business card such as, “Se habla espa_ol.”

Keep a supply of business cards in your wallet, briefcase, car, computer bag and desk, and invest in a simple business cardholder to protect the cards and keep them looking crisp and clean.

Most importantly, give your business cards away.

Many sales managers monitor their sales staffs’ activities based on the number of business cards each rep collects during the day. You can easily rate the effectiveness of your daily routine by counting the cards your collect. You’ll have a better idea of how many leads you’re generating if you give a card each time you receive one.

Your business cards are one of the most productive pieces of collateral you will generate. Consider them the seeds of your business, and scatter them widely.

Due to the fact that the internet makes it easy to build an online home business we sometimes forget about the little things that really matter, like communicating or networking on a personal level with those who visit our websites.

Let’s have a look at a few of the opportunities that you have to interact on a personal level with your website visitors and customers.

As Blogs are so popular you will find most people do have one but they fail to utilize them fully. For example are you inviting your readers to leave comments?

This is a popular internet marketing method so it is common practice to visit and leave comments on blogs. Have you ever taken the time to email those who post comments and thank them for their post or offer assistance to a query about your home business online?

This very often opens the doors for further communication as many people are often really surprised and touched to receive a personal email as they are so used to impersonal auto-responder messages.

Usually whenever anyone joins your online home business or purchases a product from you, you will be notified of their email address. By sending a thank you or welcome email gives you the opportunity to open up the communication channels and the exchange of ideas could be extremely valuable.

Come out from your website and stop hiding behind your auto-responder and put the “You” back into doing business online. It will have a huge impact on your home business.

By opening up these channels of communication you will be surprised at the value and benefits that you can provide each other. Just a simple email from a post on your blog could create a lucrative business relationship.

How frustrated do you get when you send an email and never receive a response? Replying to emails you receive, no matter how insignificant they may seem, is just common courtesy and certainly something that should never be overlooked.

If you invite people to email you from your website, an advert or an auto-responder email then at least take a few minutes to write a decent reply to them. Don’t put you reputation at risk by writing short and abrupt emails. Where this simple task could lead you, you will never know.

A FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section on your website will really help visitors, however, they may email you for more online home business information and this is where you need to offer honest advice and respond to the best of your ability.

Networking could certainly benefit your online home business in the future if you implement these ideas on how to communicate and network with your website visitors.

Successful audio conference calls rely on several factors. Some will be of your control, such as call quality or software capability. However, certain factors such as etiquette and protocol depend on the users and their efforts to ensure a smooth and effective conference.

Good preparation is quite often the key and the call chairperson should be responsible for this. They should ensure that a preparation checklist includes testing the facility, testing the connection and informing the participants of the details of the activity such as time, dates and how the call will be run.

The call chairperson should test the audio conference facility before the actual activity is held to ensure that the voice reception is clearly audible. This is very important because, in most cases the communication will be done using the spoken word. If there are any delays or interruptions in audio then this will leave other users confused and frustrated.

Assuming that the call chairperson has made necessary arrangements and has thoroughly tested the equipment then it is up to those on the call to make sure it is successful. It is quite common for new participants to want to interject in conversations and speak while others are talking. This can be very distracting for the person speaking and can also annoy others. It is good practice to listen carefully for the conference protocol, which is normally announced at the start of the call. If there is no announcement it is usually wise to speak when spoken to or to wait your turn. Usually there will be a function built into the call to allow you to raise your hand (virtually) which will inform the chairperson you wish to speak. This then gives you a chance to raise your points, without interrupting others.

Quite often on busy calls, stray noises from users can cause unnecessary distraction and can aggravate those that are speaking. This can be noises like keyboards tapping, mobile phones ringing and background chatter. The person(s) making the noise are usually completely unaware they are doing it, but for others it is very audible. This can be very simply sorted by observing the muting system with the call. It is normally done via your handset, but some systems are different from others, so do check.

By following a few simple steps you can do your bit to ensuring that your audio conference runs smoothly with minimal interruption or interference. On particularly busy conference calls with 25 or more users it is greatly appreciated if all users can do their best to stick to the protocol as issues are generally increased with greater numbers.

The secret to warm market prospecting the comfortable way is to focus outward rather than inward. To demonstrate I’d like you to imagine or remember a public speaking engagement. Are you one of the 99% who feel very nervous at the very thought of standing in front of a group of people and making an eloquent speech?

What happens at a subconscious level in this situation is that your focus is INWARD. You are looking at yourself through THEIR eyes. Panic stricken you can only imagine how inferior or silly you will appear to everybody. Butterflies in the stomach, dry throat and bodily shakes are not uncommon.

The trick to overcome the public speaking jitters is to make yourself consciously focus OUTWARD. Force yourself to notice anything interesting about the individuals in your audience. The color of the brightest shirt or tie, the most interested gaze upon you, the happiest looking chappie in the audience, the oldest person you can see, and the youngest. Anything that will make you look outward. Consciously looking at them through your eyes, (not at yourself through theirs), will make you more comfortable in an instant. Practice this enough and it will become a subconscious competence and you will become one of those naturals on stage.

OK so what has this got to do with warm market prospecting? Well, you shudder at the thought of it don’t you? Yes, you are doing the same thing, you are being self centered at the subconscious level of your mind.

Here is the scenario. You go to a business networking event and the only thing on your mind is “How am I going to tell someone about my offer, service, opportunity, product or whatever?” If you sit amongst a group of toast masters you miss everything each participant shares because your panicking mind is trying to work out how you can blurt out YOUR own deal. In the world of MLM, old fashioned network marketers have been trained to vomit their business opportunity over anyone who passes within a three foot range. So out they go, and in that same nervous state (as if they are about to stand in front of a crowd) they squirm around imagining how silly they look in everyone’s eyes.

1) Be Genuinely Interested In The People You Meet.

This forces you to consciously view them through your eyes instead of imagining yourself through theirs.

2) Getting Their Business Card Is More Important Than Giving Yours.

In a business networking environment ask the other person about what they do and ask what type of person would be an ideal referral for him/her. Write their answers on the back of their business card as a reminder.

3) Become A Referral Hub.

Make a list of the interesting people you meet and who their ideal prospects are. Then mail an information sheet, or better still a greeting card, to each with the cross referenced ideal referrals. You are seen as a mover and shaker and a person worth knowing.

4) Prepare A Quick And Easy 60 Second Commercial For Yourself

Learn your one minute message so you can inform professionally, on spec, without having to think about it.

5) Expose Yourself Only When Asked

ONLY when asked do you verbalize your 60 second commercial. And, most importantly, point out who would be an ideal referral for you. This educates your circle of influence about the type of person they could send your way.

6) Show Appreciation And Stay In Touch

Developing relationships over time by appreciating your network of people will expand and improve your circle of influence. Sending thank-you-cards and or nice-to-meet-you cards at appropriate times is the easiest of MLM business networking techniques I know. Remember their birthdays and special occasions because people like to do business with, and refer business to, people they know like and trust. Appreciation wins over self promotion every time, so learn how to appreciate professionally.

Unfortunately networking is overlooked by most networkers! Small business, home business or corporate professionals could all benefit by becoming adept with these basic MLM business networking techniques. The simple art of being genuinely interested in other people can work referral wonders. And now that low cost online tools are available to everyone there really is no excuse for failure.

Teleconferencing technology is helping businesses vastly improve their communications with clients, staff and partners. It has not only helped businesses to improve their productivity through better communications, but has also made it possible for them to save huge amounts on travel expenses and hefty phone bills. With the fast growing popularity of teleconferencing, more and more numbers of companies are discovering the benefits of teleconferencing.

Teleconferencing comes in a variety of formats that can be effectively utilized by businesses. Three way calling is the simplest known form of teleconferencing technology. This form of teleconferencing helps to bring together several individuals located in different locations and allow them to talk to each other in the same call. Many organizations, with offices all around the country, make use of this technology on a daily basis to maintain regular communications between their management and staff.

Teleconferencing makes it possible for companies to conduct business meetings, workshops, employee training sessions, seminars, tutorial and briefings between different individuals, even if they are separated by long distances.

Teleconferencing offers several major benefits to businesses. Organizations are able to communicate messages to regional offices in real time. It helps to save both, time and money, yet helps in better productivity. Special meetings and seminars are also being conducted with the help of this technology. But teleconferences need to be planned effectively for the best results as time differences and late arrivals can be counter productive.

Business organizations are effectively utilizing the many benefits offered by teleconferencing. As the cost of travel keeps increasing more businesses will be taking up these types of communication services. The implications for the environment are huge and if businesses are more aware of this then more interest in teleconferencing would be apparent.

Typical types of businesses that have seen huge benefits from teleconferencing include; multinationals with several regional offices, businesses with offices in other countries; charitable organizations with small communication budgets. There are very few businesses that would not see a reasonable saving from moving business meetings onto the web.

The main reasons stopping decision makers from setting up this technology seem to be; bad experiences in the past, stuck in traditional trends and skeptism that it actually works. It will take much longer for these businesses to come round to the idea of using teleconferencing, but it shouldn’t stop you. With the right service you can successfully conduct teleconferencing calls for your business that will save time and money, which will help the balance sheet and improve productivity.