Most people have them, but not everyone knows how to use them. We’re talking about business cards. Believe it or not, there are things you may be doing that render your business card useless for making connections. We wanted to give you three tips for using proper etiquette when handing out your business cards.
Be selective
Business cards are not Halloween candy or dollar bills, and you shouldn’t throw them at anyone who smiles at you. The indiscriminate use of business cards is the face to face version of junk mail. When overused, you can actually leave a bad impression and come across as pushy. Getting your name out there is important, but other marketing venues can be more effective for brand recognition. Handing out a business card is about making a connection, so be selective and hand them out when the connection is made.
Leave a personal note
When you design your business cards, consider leaving space for a personal note or an appointment reminder. While hand-written cards typically aren’t the most professional way to go, a little note on a business card reminds the recipient of the topic of the meeting, conversational highlights or an appointment date/time.
Follow up
Immediately or very soon after you make the connection, send a thank you email, an e-blast, a letter or make a phone call. When you don’t follow up with a potential lead/contact, it is the equivalent of sending spam. A brief communication keeps you in the forefront and shows that you care about the connection that you made.
If you need help deciding what kind of business card is right for you, we have a team of experienced people who know how important it is to make the right first impression. We can also help you stay on top of re-ordering and updating cards for your entire company. Call us today to see how we can help your company with your specific branding and marketing needs.
