Your First Networking Event? Here’s Your Business Card Scanning Checklist
Your first big networking event can feel overwhelming. You’ll shake dozens of hands, exchange pleasantries with strangers, and collect a stack of business cards that somehow all look the same by the end of the night.
Your secret weapon is preparation. With the right setup, you’ll capture every contact before you’ve even left the venue.
Your pre-event setup
Your phone is your most important networking tool. You’ll want it charged, connected, and ready to scan before you walk through the door.
- Your Business Card Scan app should be downloaded and logged in
- Your CRM connection needs testing with a sample card
- Your phone battery should be at 100% or you’ll want a portable charger
- Your default tags should include the event name and date
- Your camera lens needs a quick wipe — smudges kill scan quality
Your five minutes of preparation will save you hours of manual data entry later.
Your scanning workflow during the event
Your instinct might be to scan cards mid-conversation, but that can feel awkward. Your best approach is to pocket each card and batch scan during breaks.
Your coffee break is the perfect scanning window. You’ll find a quiet corner, lay out your collected cards, and scan them one by one. Your notes about each conversation are still fresh, so you can tag each contact with useful context.
Your follow-up strategy
Your scanned contacts are already in your CRM by the time you leave. Your next step is following up within 24 hours.
Your message should reference something specific from your conversation. You’ll stand out from the dozens of generic follow-ups your new contacts will receive.