San Diego Networking

<Disclaimer: Rant>

Here’s one of my pet peeves…pre-printed nametags that are too small to read!

That has happened too much recently and it hinders networking by not allowing you to see the business name as you move through the crowd. I always have my own name tag that has my business name On Top in Large Letters with my name below.I t never fails to attract attention when people are looking for a reason to connect. (That’s why we go to these events!) So I am set…people can read my tag…but I cannot read their’s from a comfortable distance! (And yes…I have my glasses on!)

Hello My Name Is...

Now, I’m sure that the administrative assistants who are in charge of printing these out have not given this much thought….but the larger the type, the better. They can be read across the table or across a small circle of networkers chatting.

Or, if they come on a lanyard, as many full-day events offer, they hang down mid-chest where looking at it might be awkward (really!)

Last week I gave a presentation to a large sales force and I talked about thevalue of a custom name tag. When I asked the sales manager if the company provided name tags, the response I got was that the events they go to usually have the nametags printed for you.

Do not rely on that ...Effective name tags are too crucial to networking success!!

Ordering your own custom name tag is always the first assignment in The Link System® Training…it’s that important.

If you work for a company that sponsors events, let them know that they will increase the networking success of their attendees if they print the attendee’s name and the company name as large as the space will allow.

Oh…I once attended a chamber mixer (no pre-registration offered this time) when they forgot to bring name tags for the attendees to fill out. Don’t even get me started about how much lost business that mistake cost their members.

<end of rant>