5 Steps to Effective Networking with NFC Cards: From Handshake to Connection

If you’ve ever lost a business card, saved someone’s contact wrong, or forgot to follow up with a lead, you risk missing out on valuable connections.

NFC cards offer a digital solution to these common networking challenges, ensuring that your contact details are accurately saved and easily accessible.

In this article, we’re going to explore how NFC cards can take your networking to the next level.

Creating Your NFC Card

Before you start networking, you need a way to ensure that people can contact you after you’ve met. Using NFC cards, you can ensure your networking efforts aren’t going to waste.

Paper business cards don’t offer many options for what information you can put, but with NFC cards, you can add:

After you’ve added your essential information, you can design your card with a font, color, and finish that reflects your corporate identity or personal values.

And, with Tapni, you can track your NFC card’s performance with insights on link clicks, which information is shared, and where leads are generated from most.

Other valuable metrics you can track include:

Initiating Connections

Once you’ve set up your NFC card, you can start making connections.

When you meet someone new, start with approachable body language: a genuine smile, eye contact, and open posture will help you create a positive first impression. 

If you want to appear confident, have a firm handshake and introduce yourself clearly. To make yourself approachable, enter every new interaction with a positive attitude.

It also helps to prepare an elevator pitch that explains who you are and what you do. Every person you meet will probably be someone new, so having an idea of what you’re going to say can ease some of the nervousness that can come with networking.

Engaging in Conversations

After you’ve met someone and introduced yourself, the next step is to keep the conversation flowing. Here are some strategies for engaging interactions:

1) Find common ground 

Start by identifying something you can both relate to. This could be mutual connections, the industry they’re in, or what they’re doing in their current role.

If you’re at a networking event, you can mention something about the event or the speakers.

To start a conversation, ask questions like: “How did you get started in your field?” or “What do you enjoy most about your job?” to allow the other person to talk at length and open up opportunities to continue building rapport.

2) Ask insightful questions

Great conversations are filled with great questions. To deepen the interaction and learn more about the other person, ask open ended questions. Here’s a few for you to use:

• “What are some recent projects you’ve been working on?"
• "What do you find most exciting about your industry right now?"
• "What challenges are you currently facing in your work?"

3) Balance personal topics

While discussing work-related topics is important, don’t hesitate to ask about their interests or hobbies. Asking: "What do you enjoy doing outside of work?" or “Anything fun planned for the weekend?” can let you know a little bit more about who they are, and can be something to bring up later if you meet them in a different setting or when you’re following up in the future. 

Now that we’ve covered how to have engaging conversations, here’s what NOT to do when making a connection with someone.

4) Don’t dominate or interrupt

Steer clear of any complaints or criticism. Negativity can create an uncomfortable atmosphere and leave a bad impression if that’s all the other person remembers you for.

Instead, try to focus on neutral topics or questions so you can learn about each other and have a more enjoyable interaction.

5) Don’t be overly salesy

While it’s important to share what you do, avoid turning the conversation into a hard sell. Pitching your products or services aggressively can be off-putting and diminish the likelihood of a future connection.

Prioritize building a genuine relationship first. Aim to learn about and understand the other person before talking about your offerings. This shows you’re interested in them as a person and not just as a potential customer.

Following Up and Maintaining Relationships

Staying in contact with people you networked with is important, but it’s easy to forget someone’s details or to follow up later. That’s why Tapni offers automated follow ups for new contacts, so you never miss a potential connection or lead.

In a few days following your initial interaction, you can include a personalized message to express your appreciation for the conversation and reiterate your interest in staying connected. Reference specific points from your conversation or something that you remembered they said that stuck with you. 

In your follow up, you can also offer something valuable to the other person, such as sharing an article they’d find interesting, a relevant resource, or offering to introduce them to someone in your network who could be beneficial to them.

Leveraging NFC Cards 

Before you part ways, you can share your NFC card so that your details will be automatically saved, making it easy to follow up later. Tapni’s NFC cards not only allow you to connect seamlessly but also provide other benefits that can improve your networking.

Ready to elevate your networking? Try Tapni today and start building better business relationships.