We’ve all been at a conference where you have that one person handing out business cards like restaurant flyers. It’s a little uncouth at best, super annoying at worst.

Yes, business cards are useful tools, but only when we use them properly. To avoid yours landing in the nearest trash can, this is how you should approach business card etiquette.

Psst… Print Business Cards Still Work

Before we deep dive into the ins and outs of business card etiquette, we want to emphasize that we’re talking about printed cards. Yes, the old-school tangible ‘real life’ variety.

This is because print still works; there is undeniable power in print advertising material. Not only that, it’s going through a bit of a renaissance too. We’re getting a little sick of spam digital emails, rarely opening them. With print, on the other hand, we open them to the tune of 90%.

Business cards also make more sense in print, compared to digital versions. They’re more memorable, show that you’re making that little bit of effort, and studies also show that our brains process print far more easily than digital (21% less cognitive effort, in fact).

Tip 1: Never Run Out

You’re networking like crazy, having productive conversations, and now you’re finally talking to someone that you’re converting into a client. You whip out your wallet, ready to hand out a business card, when you realize you’re completely out. You apologize profusely, send out an email, but never hear back.

When you’re out and about, for any reason, always have a business card. And when you’re going to a networking event or conference, have a huge stack of them ready to go. The worst mistake in business card etiquette? Not having one when the other party wants one.

Tip 2: Give and Take

When you’re trying to make a sale or business contact, we’re often so self-focused that we completely forget about the opposite party. When you hand out your business card, it’s only polite to ask whether you can have theirs.

In addition, once you have it, do a quick scan and make a positive comment on a unique element you notice. For example, look for a tagline, logo, colour combinations used (e.g. according to colour theory), material used, that kind of thing. It shows you’re giving them unique attention, rather than just handing out cards haphazardly.

Tip 3: Be Selective

We’ve already hinted at it in the introduction: don’t hand out your business card to everyone. You’re not a club promoter, you’re looking for meaningful networking links. Mass spamming of business cards will simply not work.

Instead, give your business cards to people who show genuine interest, are qualified leads, or simply just nice. You never know whether your business card will lead to something productive, but you’ll have a far higher success rate if you’re selective.

Tip 4: Be Professional About Your Cards

It seems like an obvious tip, but based on experience, we’re going to have to give it anyway. When you hand out your business card, make sure that it looks like it’s hot off the press. In other words, it has to be presentable.

It’s staggering how many people will hand out dirty, crumpled, and damaged business cards out of their wallets. It just looks unprofessional and also a little unhygienic.

Tip 5: Watch the Culture

Business etiquette varies depending on the country that you’re in. When you’re in the West, it’s usually a little more casual (but you still need to be mindful!), but in other countries, it’s super important to be aware of local customs. This doesn’t just apply to business cards, by the way.

In Japan, for example, the exchange of meishi is highly valued and a core component of wider business etiquette. Just as with many other aspects of Japanese society, it is based on respect. You should always bow, offering your card using your right hand, held at the top corner, and learn the basic Japanese phrases. Never scribble on the card, treating it with respect.

When you go out with your nice business card in tow, that’s just the first step. To get the most out of your networking, keep these tips in mind and you will see improvements in your conversion rates.