Business Card Tips

Your business spent money on your business cards and wants them to be a useful business tool. Of course, the cards are useless unless you hand them out, so that is the most important aspect of using them!

Here are some tips to making the most out of your cards when you are handing them out to various people.

• Be proud of your card and confident about handing it over
   
• Always hand your card over face up so it can be seen
   
• Keep cards in good condition – keep them in your wallet or a special holder
   
• Put cards from others into a holder, too – if you respect their card, they will respect yours
   
• Only give a card when requested – a polite enquiry about what you do, isn’t a request for your card or sales pitch
   
• Never give at cards at inappropriate events such as funerals, weddings and 21st parties
   
• Write on the back of your card as you give it out – note a special deal or your private line or even where they met you. This personalises the card and reminds them who you are later.
   
• If recommending a book, product, whatever, write the details on the back of your card and hand it to them.
   
• Ask for someone else’s card first and be interested in it – they are likely to return the compliment
   
• Get new cards whenever details change – it looks unprofessional to use old cards with scribbled alterations
   
• Consider giving a few cards each time so that they can be passed on for you
   
• Don’t hand over your card if the person is being overwhelmed with cards – try to find a quieter moment
   
• Consider a business card swap with complementary businesses – take some of theirs to distribute and they take some of yours
   
• Hand out business cards with two hands, not one – gives the impression that the card is highly valuable
   
• Write notes on the back of cards you receive – where you met them, what you talked about, information you could send them etc. However, do it tactfully.
   
• Wait to be asked for a card, rather than be pushy and hand it out when you first meet
   
• Add some tips or references on the back of your card to help prospects
   
• Use your card to announce arrival at places (e.g. an office building, a doctor’s waiting room)
   
• Research local etiquette before handing out cards in a different country – or at a function for a different social group
   
• Carry around others’ business cards to hand out – referring a business when someone needs it will increase your credibility in their eyes and maybe give you a chance to hand out your card as well
  
  
• Don’t interrupt conversations to hand out your card
   
• Contact people within 48 hours of receiving their card

Tash Hughes is a Mum of two in Melbourne. She is also a writer and owner of Word Constructions. Tash is available to write articles and profiles for any business, as well as doing other business documentation projects. You can see her site and services at www.wordconstructions.com.au