Basic Business Card Manners Around the World

Despite the world turning more and more digital, the importance of the business card cannot be understated. No matter what sort of industry you are in, having something that can tell clients all about your business or your company is essential to its growth. There are many scenarios where you can't ask the client to check your website or make them scan a QR code. As such, a good business card can really take you far. Incorporating high-quality business cards as part of your marketing and advertising strategy is a smart move.

Now just like different cultures all over the world, there are different ways you should act when handing out your business cards. You can't simply shove the cards in your clients face and call it a day. Especially if they are clients from a different country. With there being so many rules you should know about, we figured we'd help you out. Our guide will provide you with all of the information you need. 

Here are some basic manners you should know! 

The United States

First let's learn about what business etiquette to have when you are presenting your business card to a client from the US of A. First thing you want to keep in mind is the condition of your business card. Now this may seem extremely obvious, but you don't know how many people out there hand out grimy, crumpled, or even dirty cards. You should always take care of it as it is the representative of your business.

When you are in a meeting with the client, you should always be waiting for the appropriate time. Be patient and wait things out. You don't want to rush your conversation and make it seem like you've got no time for the client. Listen to what they've got to say and then wow them with your premium business cards! The client will be happy that you listened and have genuine interest in their company.

India

Unlike other Asian countries, India actually has a pretty casual approach in terms of etiquette. Still, there are traditions You'll want to follow to avoid offending your client. Here's something to watch out for when shaking hands. Usually, men shake hands with men, and women shake hands with them. However, due to religious customs, handshakes between men and women are rather rare. When it does happen, the handshake must be done out of the women's initiative. Another thing to take note of (and this will come up later as well) is that hierarchy is important in India. When you are in a meeting, you should always greet the most senior member of the party first. Don't call them by their first names unless you are given permission to do so.

The last thing you need to know is which hand to use when offering up your business card. Be sure to use your right hand to both give and receive the cards. The left hand is usually considered unclean, so be vigilant.

Japan

While we've explored two countries that are rather casual with their business card etiquettes, we have now come to a country where formality is of the utmost importance. In Japan, exchanging business cards plays an important part of the professional rituals many Japanese businesses adhere to. Knowing what to do will be important as showing your manners will impact the relationship between your businesses. 

Similar to India, the Japanese adhere to a strict social hierarchy. If you are in a group setting, you'll want to give out your business cards to the highest ranked member first and work yourself down to the lowest member of the totem pole. We recommend that you really do your research beforehand to prevent any mishaps from occurring. 

Like India, there's a way for you to use your hands. This time around, you want to hold the card with both of your hands when you are offering it. There's also etiquette on how you should receive a card as well. Make sure you have somewhere safe and clean to place the card the client has just given you. You want to show how much you respect their time and business. If you want to use something special on your card, then try adding some QR code stickers to make it easier for them to access your socials and website. 

China

Now if you find yourself in China, there's a few rules you'll need to follow as well. Aside from the usual pleasantries and politeness, you should print a double-sided card. This is because you want English information on one side and "Simplified" Chinese on the other. You should take note that Taiwan and Hong Kong exclusively use "Traditional" Chinese characters. Be sure to adjust according to where you'll be visiting. 

Once again, China has a strict social hierarchy, so you'll need to be careful. Your business card, combined with an understanding of font psychology basics, is a reflection of not only yourself but your business as well. So you'll need to take care that it always looks crisp and presentable. Like how you handle Japanese business cards, you should treat the cards you get from Chinese clients with the utmost respect. 

Final Thoughts

Knowing different cultural etiquettes will not only boost your reputation but ensure that you'll always make a strong first impression on your clients. With this blog, we hope to have given you important tips and even give you some insight on why business cards still matter.