A business card is a common way for professionals to quickly exchange contact information while networking or after meeting for the first time. It is an important way of saying that you are willing to be reached out to by the person you are giving the card to and what is on the card is how you want to be contacted. Business cards are small, sleek, and can be stored in a card-holder for an easy exchange. In order to have a solid business card, you will need the card to be both simple and eye catching at the same time, that goes for the message and the design.

The Basics

So what goes on a business card? Well, it is a two-sided card, so on the front it is usually all about visuals. You are going to look to put things like a company logo, tagline, and colors on the front of the business card. It is a simple representation of what you currently do for business. Keep the front relatively simple and your card will pop.

On the back of the card is where you will find all of your contact information. You should include your name, your occupation, current phone number, current email, website, and possibly your business address, depending on what you do. Fit as many contact methods as you can without overcrowding your card. The idea is that you will have a higher likelihood of being contacted by people you have given your card to. Facets like your occupation or position are necessary because it may help somebody remember who the card belongs to, the name is not enough every time, so your position may make somebody remember who the card belongs to.

Proper Etiquette

There are a few rules you should remember when handling business cards. One of them is, do not give them out to everyone you network with. You will just come off looking desperate and you should not expect to get way more call backs just because you give out more cards. When you are in settings where business cards are given, you should focus on having richer conversations that are more thorough and then giving it to the people who are most interested in what you have to offer. It is quality over quantity.

When handing out business cards, only hand yours out when you are being asked for one, someone is giving one to you already, or if you can lead the conversation towards a follow up at a later time. Try your best to also give them out during one on one interactions. If you are in front of a group it may be awkward if you only give one card out or desperate if you give too many out. It loses its value when you give it out more and more. This can help you save money and business cards so that you can use them when it is more important.

While you hand out the card, making sure it is presentable is of utmost importance. It will be the last impression you give during your first interaction with somebody. You do not want to hand someone a creased business card or one covered in ketchup or something. You want to hand them a crisp, clean business card. To do this, don’t just shove the card in your wallet or pocket when you go out. You may need to get a card organizer for your suit jacket or purse. That way when you present your card, it is in pristine condition.

Another thing is the act of handing the card out. When you pull your card out, hand it to the person you are giving it to with either your right hand or both hands. In most cases, you should never hand it out with your left. When handing it over, the details should be facing the receiver so they can read it as you exchange it. While exchanging, you can explain when you are available to be contacted or you can even say something along the lines of, “I’m just a call away, so if you ever need anything or you are looking to follow up, you’ve got my number and email here.”

Conclusion

If you are looking to build your network and open doors for yourself, then go out and create a business card. Millions of professionals around the world use them and so should you. The business card is a tool and it is a useful one at that.