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My roommate and I recently went to the #140 Conference in Los Angeles to learn more about Twitter and to network with some of the leading names in social media. About a week before the conference we decided to purchase business cards to hand out. As students we didn’t have a lot of information to provide so we kept the cards very simple.
The back of the card had three lines, one with my Twitter handle, one my E-mail address, and one my phone number. Each option provided the recipient with a different level of engagement, allowing him/her to connect with me on Twitter, by sending me an E-mail, or by calling me over the phone. Each level of engagement is explained below:
1. The Twitter Handle
After meeting someone, you have a decent idea about what they do and who they are, but seeing their involvement on Twitter can give you an idea of their real personality. The most important part of receiving the Twitter handle is that you will likely find a URL in their bio, which will lead you to a LinkedIn or Facebook profile, or even a personal website or blog.
My Twitter page leads to a personal website/blog that gives more contact info, shows some of my interests, and has an “About Me” section, as well as a resume/recommendations section. This shows my social side along with my professional side, and with a few quick clicks, this person has found out a lot more about me than he/she knew from a quick conversation at a conference.
2. The E-Mail Address
The E-mail address may be the most obvious, but necessary piece of information on the card. E-Mail is a great way to get in touch with millennials, especially with the growth of smart phones within our generation. We check our E-mail multiple times throughout the day, whether it’s for class, work, or personal reasons. It’s the easiest and most convenient way to keep in touch, and allows for both personal and professional conversation.
3. The Phone Number
The last bit of contact information is a phone number. There has been a lot of conversation about millennials’ inability to talk on the phone. It’s true that we’re a text/E-mail-first generation, but this doesn’t mean that we’re immune to phone conversations. E-mail is definitely preferred over the phone because an e-mail can be sent from basically anywhere, while a serious phone conversation needs a quiet setting and more than one bar of service.
Note: If a phone conversation is necessary, we are happy to participate, but please forewarn us that you will be calling because we don’t tend to pick up calls from numbers we don’t know.
So why is there no Facebook URL on the card? Facebook is a touchy subject with a lot of millennials because of all the associated horror stories. We have all learned by now that future employers will be looking at our Facebook profiles, so keeping them private is now commonplace. I know a number of millennials that block their pictures and have made it impossible to search their names because they don’t want a few pictures from freshman year affecting their chance at a job come senior year. Facebook is definitely an invite-only site when wanting to contact a millennial, meaning the millennial should do the “friending.”
As you can tell, a business card can provide you with a lot more information than it used to, thanks to the Internet. What did your first business card say about you?
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