7 Cool Excuses to Say the Next Time You Should Whip Out Your Business Card!
By Mitoné L.Cooke

You’ve got stacks of them in your pockets. There’s still 983 left in the box.What’s stopping you from giving your business card to everyone you meet? Maybe you’re shy and don’t want to offend anyone. Maybe you’re not open for business yet…maybe it’s a whole bunch of things, but those aren’t the excuses you need to make.

Instead, here are 7 proactive excuses to give your cards out:

1. “Hey, these are really cool things you have in your store here. My friend Sherry would really love these. Here’s her number…” (At which point you whip out your card and write your friend’s number on the back of your business card, handing it to the shop owner.)
2. “Wow, I see you use widgets in your business. I know a really good source for these-maybe you can get a good deal on them. Here’s the name of the source.” (At which point you whip out your card, writing the name and contact info of your source on your business card, handing it to the business owner, unless in fact you are the widget source!)
3. “Can’t believe we’ve been in this DMV line for two hours! Call me if you ever get stuck in line again and need someone to talk to…” (As you’re whipping out your business card, handing it to the person you’ve been standing in line with.)
4. “This was excellent service, Chris. You are without a doubt the best waiter I have had in a while. Here’s my card. I want you to remember me the next time I come to eat here at Willie’s Place.” Then whip out your card, handing it to your waiter with his tip.
5. “Hi, nice to meet you too. My name is Mitoné. Yes, it is a bit unusual. I have it spelled phonetically on my card here…” This works great if you have a weird name like me, then you can spell out your name and whip out your cards left and right. I have always had people say “how do you spell your name?” So I guess if you like this excuse and your name is Bob, you can always change the spelling to B-a-h-b and put the phonetic on your card and say, “Hi, I’m Bahb, but that’s spelled like this, see.” And whip out your card.
6. “Flo, this was the best haircut I have had in a long time. And since you cut a little off the top for me, I’d like to cut a little off the top for you.” Then when you hand your beautician or barber a nice little tip, put your business card with it, adding a hand-written “coupon” on the back of your card. Say to Flo, “I’d like to give you 10% off any purchase at my store. Thank you so much for this great cut.” This is a great one because barbershops and beauty parlors are known for gabbing and buzzing. If you don’t like the haircut you got, just suck it up. Get them talking about you. My goal is to try every hairdresser in town.
7. “Wow, what a cute dog you have. What kind is she? Oh really? I bet she would love some of our homemade dog treats. You should bring her by our dog bakery so I can give her a free sample.” Then hand the dog owner your business card. I know not everyone has a dog bakery, but this excuse illustrates the power of observation. Try to get an eye for what your target customers wear, do, act like, and where they go to eat, shop, recreate. You’ll soon see lots of folks who could use your service or product. Then you just go up and offer them a free sample (if possible) for visiting your shop-and WHIP OUT YOUR CARD!

Some pointers when you’re out and about: keep your cards at the ready, and keep plenty of them. Don’t be afraid to whip it out at a moment’s notice. Think like a kid. You’ll be coming up with all kinds of creative excuses in no time. And if you seem a bit outlandish or off the wall, that’s cool too-cause that’s what will help your new contacts remember you. And all these points have one thing in common; they all focus on the customer you’re trying to reach, how great their service is, how super their products are-SINCERE compliments and kindness to your neighbors will go a long way.

——–>^..^<——–