The Business Card In American Business
What are the most important and least important items on a business card?
The most important thing on a business card is your company's name and the logo. This is concluded from the many tests done by talented people who take reviews on all kinds of things. And the most important thing is the logo and the business name. The least important thing on a business card is your name. People want to know your company name and your logo. Then they want to know what you do for the company such as are you vice president of sales? Are you president of that company? Who are your? And then they want to know how to get in touch with you. Your website address on your business card is also very important, just as your e-mail address is important.
Why might I want to show restraint in asking for other people's business cards?
You might want to show restraint in asking for other people's business cards as people are very protective of their email addresses, that's one thing. They don't want to get on a spam-list. The second thing is, with the cutback around 2001 after 9/11, they created what we call a lean workplace now, and many executives started to share administrative assistants. They put their own telephone number, which is a direct-dial number into their offices, and they don't want people to have their direct dial numbers. In the old days, we all went through a switchboard, but that has changed and now people give out their phone numbers. Some people don't want their cell phone, their email or their private line to be out in the public on a business card, so show some restraint in asking for them.
When is it appropriate to ask someone for his or her business card?
It's difficult and inappropriate to ask someone that's a senior executive for their business card in any company, if you're not a peer of them in another company. CEOs have no problem handing out their cards to each other. But if you're a vendor trying to sell something to a company, it's inappropriate to ask the CEO or the President of a company for their business card. Now, if you create a clear reason for that business card, then you're safe and it's appropriate to ask for it. For example, I have the privilege of having had a popular book, and when I meet someone, I'll say, Id love to send you a hand-signed copy of my book, but if you don't have a book, you need to send them something to get their card. For example, if they're talking about golfing in Northern Ireland, you overhear that conversation, you could say, You know I just read a great article about golfing in Northern Ireland. If you'll give me your business card I'll email it to you. See, you have to create a relationship with people before you ask for their business card. You have to have a strategy in mind. Thus the appropriate time to ask for a business card is again based on hierarchy. The most important person in the room asks the least important person for their business card.
What if someone asks me for a business card but I don't want to give it to him or her?
If someone asks me for my business card and I don't want to give it to them, I tell people “I'm not in the market for your product or service and I'd really rather not give you my card”. Again, it's good to create clear boundaries for a woman. Men have no problem in doing that. The worst thing that can happen is you ask for someone on their card and they do what I call the “pat down”. They pat their breast pockets and their pocket and they go say that they don't have one with them. They may well have one with them; they just don't want you to have their business card. That's an embarrassing situation for a junior executive in a company today, to have that happen, but it's a good way to avoid giving your business card to someone you don't want to.
How is a business card used appropriately?
The business card is very intimate and in the old days they were just a great way of storing information because people didn't have databases and Palm Pilots and BlackBerry's, they didn't have that information and it was how we kept in touch. We took people's business cards and we put them in a plastic sleeve or we copied that information down when we got back and put them in our data organiser. So the primary reason and appropriate use for a business card to even exist is to exchange contact information. There are very few other reasons we do it, we put them in a letter, or if we're sending information. We also use them for a business gift, to put them in that, or a greeting card of some kind, but other than that, that's really the only reason and appropriate use for a business card.
What is the appropriate way to handle a business card?
The appropriate way to handle a business card is, let's say you're at a table with people, and someone around the table wants your card, you should not pass it between hands. You get up and you walk around the table, and give someone your business card. Gentlemen, if someone gives you their business card, don't take your wallet out of your back pocket, put it in your wallet, and then put it back in your pocket. In some cultures that's considered an obscene gesture, so avoid doing that. You should treat the business card like a thin piece of glass. For example, if you're handing someone your business card, hand it to them by the edge, with the print facing them, so when they get it they can read it. Don't hand the business card sideways and with two fingers as there's certain things you don't do and this is not appropriate. Hand it with one hand facing the person, and when you receive a business card you can receive it with one hand. Then if you'll point to that business card, look at the person and ask them one question about the business card, just one, as it will make them think you looked at it, and that you care. For example, you could say "Oh, I see you're on the 12th floor of that bank building, what direction do you face?" Or even, "Great logo, tell me what that means". You can also use "Oh, you're Vice President of that company." Any trigger is appropriate when dealing with business cards, and they'll talk and have a good time with you. But, if you just take the business card, which most people do, and put it away, what does that tell them? It tells them that you really don't care, that it's just a cursory waste of your time. It's always appropriate to comment on a business card, in fact, as long as you've got that finger on their card, they'll talk to you.
How can I graciously ask someone for his or her business card?
The best way to graciously ask someone for their business card, is to give your card gracefully to someone that you want to have it, and ask them if you can exchange business cards. But make it a big deal with such phrases as “I'm so glad to meet you. Can we exchange business cards? I'd really love to contact you. I'd really love for you to contact me.” If you feel that “love” is not the right word then use “I'd enjoy talking to you, would you call me? I'll call you. Let's make time. How's that?” Something simple. People have gotten far too stuck up about things, so just relax. Talk to people, make that human connection which is so missing in business today. People are afraid of each other in business today, instead just be caring as people respond to that compassion, and that is the best way to graciously ask someone for their business card.
How can I minimize my chance of rejection when I ask for a business card?
You can minimise you chance of rejection when asking for a business card by creating a reason, just on the front-end. People wont give you a business card unless you create a reason, as again, people are afraid of Spam. I am as I get hundreds of Spam a day, as I'm sure most people do. Therefore we're very protective of our information, so you just have to create a reason before you ask for that business card to prevent rejection.
Is it proper to write on a business card when someone gives it to me?
It's common to write on the back of someone's business card, though mostly at conferences. For example, you might write on the back that they are interested in your healthcare products, or that you should follow up and send information. But generally, it's best to wait until they're out of sight line to write on their business card. But at conferences, everybody's used to that. I just returned from a conference for 4 days, and I wrote on the back of many people's business cards while they were standing there to let them know that I was going to follow up and do what they asked.
Is it appropriate to distribute stacks of business cards at a networking event or conference?
I don't distribute stacks of business cards at a networking event or conferencing. In fact I go to a lot of conferences and business meetings and if there's a circle of people around a table that put their business cards in a stack and pass them around I don't enter into that practise. When I get home and I find all of those business cards of people that I don't remember, I throw them away. If I don't have a human connection with someone the business card has little value. So I never let a card leave my custody, between me and the person who's going to receive it.
