Business Card Tips

Uses

• Tell people who you are and how to reach you
• Forwarding agent attached to report, article, or newspaper that may be of interest to someone
• Enclosed with business gift

Handing them out

• Be selective
• Wait until a senior executive asks for your card
• Be discreet
• Avoid bringing them out during meals
• When at a meeting outside your office, hand the card to the receptionist, but wait for someone else in the meeting to initiate the exchange
• Only hand out cards in good condition, with name facing up
• Be aware of cultural differences for handing out and receiving

Tips

• Keep cards in a card holder rather than your wallet
• Do not put your picture on the card
• Do not put others' cards in your business card holder; you might give out someone else's card by accident

Reference:  Everding, M. P. (1997). Panache that pays: The young professional's guide: How to outclass your competition. Saint Louis, Missouri: GME Publishing Company.

Direct questions about these tips to Robbyn Matthews, 740.593.2533, matther1@ohio.edu.