How to Make Digital Business Cards Work for You After EMSDC Events
If you follow news shared by The Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC), you know that being actively engaged and attending EMSDC events helps to build “a strong network and solid foundation for growth.” In 3 Networking Tools to Help You Connect at EMSDC Events, we provided valuable information on digital business cards, LinkedIn, and printed business cards, an old-school method that still works in today’s high-tech business world. But what happens after an event ends and all those connections are made with fellow entrepreneurs, resource partners, and corporate members?
There’s an App for That
Today, let’s delve a little deeper into digital business cards and how they can maximize your status as a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). In 3 Networking Tools to Help You Connect at EMSDC Events, we mentioned that digital business cards allow entrepreneurs to efficiently share and save information via text, email, QR code, and more. Some popular digital business card apps to check out include (but are not limited to):
Context is Key
Features will vary depending on the platform and plan you choose (free or paid), from the level of customization and branding control to synching with your main database and tools like Microsoft Outlook and Google Contacts. Regardless, remembering where and when you met is critical for fostering long-term business relationships and provides important context for future communication. Digital business cards make this step easy to achieve, but if someone happens to hand you a printed business card, always remember to jot down where and when you met on the back!
A Brief Overview
When you download and utilize digital business cards, your information will be saved directly to the phone of the person you just met, and vice versa. To avoid the confusion of mixing new with old, Blinq, for example, automatically logs when and where you met, right in your contacts list. In comparison, HiHello provides a smart, built-in address book of categorized contacts that can be organized in chronological order. Both apps also allow you to note key details, including when and where you met, along with the ability to track analytics, capture leads, and create custom follow-up messages.
As a certified MBE, it is important to stay actively engaged! After a networking event, don’t let too much time pass before reaching out to new business contacts, keep it brief, and be sure to thank them for taking the time to speak with you. Then, register and prepare for future events to make sure you’re able to connect and stay connected, get to know the EMSDC team (we are here to help), and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! For more information on forging connections at EMSDC events, read 3 Tips for Success When Networking.
The mission of the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC) is to stimulate and support economic development with minority-owned businesses throughout Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware, in an effort to initiate growth and opportunity through Supplier Diversity channels. As an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), we certify and connect MBEs with member corporations that are committed to supplier development and want to purchase their products, services, and solutions.