Business Card
Tips
by Tash Hughes of
Word
Constructions
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.
v
Be proud of your card
and confident about handing it over
v
Always hand your card
over face up so it can be seen
v
Keep cards in good
condition – keep them in your wallet or a special holder
v
Put cards from others
into a holder, too – if you respect their card, they
will respect yours
v
Only give a card when
requested – a polite enquiry about what yo do, isn’t a
request for your card or sales pitch
v
Never give at cards at
inappropriate events such as funerals, weddings and 21st
parties
v
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.
v
If recommending a book,
product, whatever, write the details on the back of your
card and hand it to them.
v
Ask for someone else’s
card first and be interested in it – they are likely to
return the compliment
v
Get new cards whenever
details change – it looks unprofessional to use old
cards with scribbled alterations
v
Consider giving a few
cards each time so that they can be passed on for you
v
Don’t hand over your
card if the person is being overwhelmed with cards – try
to find a quieter moment
v
Consider a business
card swap with complementary businesses – take some of
theirs to distribute and they take some of yours
v
Hand out business cards
with two hands, not one – gives the impression that the
card is highly valuable
v
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.
v
Wait to be asked for a
card, rather than be pushy and hand it out when you
first meet
v
Add some tips or
references on the back of your card to help prospects
v
Use your card to
announce arrival at places (eg an office building, a
doctor’s waiting room)
v
Research local
etiquette before handing out cards in a different
country – or at a function for a different social group
v
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
v
Don’t interrupt
conversations to hand out your card
v
Contact people within
48 hours of receiving their card
Tash Hughes is
the owner of
Word Constructions and is available to solve all
your business writing problems! From letters to
policies, newsletters to web content, Word Constructions
writes all business documents to your style and
satisfaction. |