The problem with business cards is that they have become so commonly used through the years that their sense of purpose and importance has now become blurred. There used to be cardinal, unwritten rules that governed the sole commercial printing and the use of business cards, but many people have all but forgotten these rules. It is not within the job description of the reliable commercial printing company to educate customers in how to properly use business cards, so as professionals in your respective field, it is up to you to be aware of the business card etiquette that you must follow. To start with, here are some basic rules.
Respect business cards given to you. It does not matter which country you are in, business cards should always be given the utmost respect especially in front of the person who gave it to you. This means taking the time to briefly examine the card, avoiding causing any damage to it, and properly storing it in a business card holder. If you do not have a container for your business card and have no other choice, your wallet will do fine. Just as you do not want to see your own business cards being defiled and disrespected right in front of your eyes, other people will see it as an insult if you haphazardly handle their cards.
Choose the recipients of your business card. For one thing, this will save you a lot of money in having to print your business cards over and over again. Aside from this, it is better to choose people who are more likely to be interested in your card than simply chucking your cards in every direction at random. People do not really appreciate being ambushed by a stranger in the middle of a street just to give them a card, and in this case, the card usually just goes straight to the trash bin after all that effort. In fact, it is more advisable to give your cards only to those who ask for it, because this has a higher possibility of turning up a business call for you.
Business cards are not collectibles. Do not make a habit of asking every client you meet for their business card, unless you actually have a plan to include them in your network. It is rude to ask for a business card and not to follow through with a call, so either you give the person a ring or do not get his card in the first place. Besides, you have no use for business cards which do not contain information on persons you need, so why add to the clutter of your stuff by adding more unnecessary business cards?
In specific parts of the world, business card rules and etiquette are even more closely observed, so if you intend to do business overseas, try to at least brush up on rudimentary etiquette. Business cards are the commercial printing products which give people the most important first impressions, so make sure not only to have your commercial printing company print good batches, but also to know how to use them.