This is another question I get from hesitant networkers. “When is it most appropriate to exchange business cards?”
The answer is simple:
At the end of the conversation.
There are several great reasons for this.
- Great relationship building conversations start with a healthy and interesting exchange. (Full disclosure – I’m an advocate of spending longer times talking with fewer people than the reverse of setting a goal to collect 10 or more business cards at an event.) So when you’ve had that synergistic conversation, the final detail is the contact information.
- Another reason to save the biz card exchange for the end is that is is actually a great way to end the conversation. Some people have a hard time transitionaing away from a conversation, and the business card exchange is one of the est ways to do it.
- And why I recommend that you don’t start with a business card exchange? It’s just plain awkward. Why should anyone want your contact information without having a reason to want it?
