Always introduce yourself first and shake the other person's hand before handing them your card to show genuine interest in associating with the other person- eagerness is one thing, desperation is another. It is also important to remember that this type of self-promotion should be accomplished before the meeting starts. Interrupting talk about the matter at hand, to endorse yourself in this way, is not a very professional thing to do and will be looked down upon as such. You could also wait until after the conference ends to make your introductions but you risk the possibility of losing some important contacts if anyone needs to rush off to make it to another obligation on time. So, it is best to get there early and greet others as they come in. Not only will this ensure that you are able to pass out your contact information to everyone but it also shows a strong desire to be there and network with others.
If you are the one actually holding the meeting, you could place your business card in front of every chair, including it in a pocket inside the front cover of your presentation or paper clipped to the top of any information the attendees will be referring to during the course of your discussion.
When creating your business cards, an important point to consider is that you must list as much information as possible in a small space. It must contain, at the minimum, your name, your companies name and/or the services that you provide, and all of your contact information. Also, all of this must be large enough to be read comfortably without the person having to squint. If you keep your cards simple, attractive and easy to read- the more people will keep and use them in the future.
Another tip is to mount and laminate your business cards onto magnets. It is a lot easier to toss away a slip of cardstock then it is to throw away something useful. It is human nature to keep these things. Even if a person doesn't need your services now, if something arises in the future, you will more then likely be the first person they think of if they look at your card hanging on their refrigerator or magnetic bulletin board everyday.
The last pertinent tip to remember when it comes to proper business card etiquette also comes from our expert, Naomi Polson. She reminds us to always accept someone else's card in the same way we want others to take ours "...and it should be read, too. Often, we just take the business card and don't even look at them; we just continue the conversation and this is considered very rude."
