How to Get a Meeting With Anyone

Are there accidents when it comes to business? Does every meeting you have mean something, and was it meant to be? Or do you believe that it's happenstance? Left up to chance? Les Cowie has a fascinating story that will make you rethink your assumptions.

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Be honest: When someone hands you a business card, you put the number in your phone and then throw it away.

In the age of LinkedIn, blogs, and websites, the business card has all but gone the way of the rolodex, or the dial up modem.

We get handfuls of them at conferences, trade shows, or networking events. They go into our bags, or briefcases, and more often than not, they stay there until we clean out our bags.

Poul Nielsen has a different kind of business card.

If you google "Most amazing business cards" odds are it won't take you long to run across Poul's card.

Poul owns a personal training business, and his business card is made of rubber. At first glance, the card is unreadable.

It's not until you stretch the card out that you can read what it says. His name, title, and contact information.

His card is literally have you exercise in order to read the details.

Most business cards are just a simple exchange of information. You give them your number, they give you theirs.

Poul's is a perfect example of thinking outside of the box, and how a business card can really be a metaphor for the value that you can offer to a potential client.

How are you setting yourself apart?

Click on the link in the first comment to hear more.

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What if a cupcake were the key to getting in front of the prospect you've been chasing?

My friend Rick Tobin tells a fantastic story about a prospect that he was having a particularly hard time getting in front of.

Rick heard that it was this client's birthday, so he did something simple.

He went to a local grocery store, bought a box of cupcakes, personalized them, and delivered them to the prospect's office, wishing him a happy birthday.

The prospect invited him in, and they had a great chat, which has led to a relationship that has generated well over $100,000 in commissions so far.

Why was this such a success?

Because it humanized Rick.

It showed the client that Rick was more than someone looking for a deal. He was simply a human, wishing another human a happy birthday.

Something seemingly trivial, when acknowledged, can wind up being not only a conversation starter, but also a relationship builder as well.

Being creative with showing your humanity can also cause a client to simply say, "I like the way you think."

And when the client likes the way you think, you've opened the door to relationship that could last for years.

How are you showcasing your humanity?

Click the link in the first comment to hear the full interview.

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Looking to break up your lead generation routine?

Today we interview Tyler Lessard of Vidyard about the power of video not only to tell your story but to add value to customers.

Though video is not a solution for a lack of research or poor messaging, it is a unique, customer-centric way to connect with potential buyers on a human level.

And it works! According to Tyler Vidyard has seen a 5% increase in their open rate for initial contacts. He share with us some concrete strategies from subject lines to visual cues and a little competition invite to boot.

Still not convinced? Too nervous to try? Tyler's advice is "try it anyway!" You can't go wrong being yourself.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unique business cards get you noticed. They can even be a mini pitch for your services or product. They hold immense value, and they shouldn't be boring. Jeni Mattson knows this first hand. She created a business card for famous hacker, Kevin Melvin, that has gotten a ton of positive attention and helped Melvin continue in his path of success.

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Getting noticed by a company as large as Amazon certainly isn't easy. But Joe Snell is determined to make it possible. To get a relatively small city noticed, boldness is not optional. He joined us on How to Get a Meeting With Anyone to share why.

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Make a brand for yourself.

It's easy to point out a bad business card: bland fonts, forgettable design, and overblown titles. Even in a world where personal cards don't get much use, these end up in the slush pile when a few changes could have made them stand out.

Fortunately, we had Chris Hirsch, Executive Creative Director at lg2, on the show to tell us how to personalize our business cards to make them extensions of not only what we do, but who we are.

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Sharpen your storytelling.

Too often we want the viral knockout—the thing that'll put us in contact with millions straight away.

But the best way to grow your brand is to treat your posts like micro-blogs and get to the heart of what people care about: the story you're telling.

Luckily, we sat down with Dennis Brown, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective LinkedIn Users, to set us straight on how to generate a consistent LinkedIn following through storytelling.

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How many names of graphic designers can you rattle off? Let's take it up a notch: how many names of legendary business card designers do you know? My guess is, not many. But you probably already know Swiss designer Remo Caminada, or at least his handiwork.

When you Google "coolest business cards in the world," you'll find a plethora of different lists. But every list you find will include Remo's business card he created for a dentist. This card doesn't just provide contact info -- it's transcended the typical business card and become an engagement device.

Within the first one or two cards the dentist handed out, she had a new client. And so did Remo -- Calls started coming in all over the world for his design. Canada, Pakistan, the list goes on. So why do we all love this card so much?

Listen in to hear how Remo, founder of design company Mokum, created not just a business card, but a famous, viral, and masterful connection piece, that's garnering his clients new business all across the world.

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