You’ve taken the time to prospect and arrange a meeting with an important client. As the time goes on your fear increases as the clock ticks down. You might be thinking of what you’re going to wear, what you’re going to be presenting, and whether or not you’ll make it on time.

What you might not be thinking about is how to properly exchange your business card for your clients. During a first timne meeting, the general rule of thumb is to offer your card first. You shouldn’t sit impatiently with your palm open waiting for the other person to reciprocate your offering. Rather, when the person you’re speaking to is of higher (business) position status then your own you should wait for that person to offer you their card first. Successful people and those who are in higher positions than yours will feel pressured if you offer your card first.

Take for example a record executive. Did you ever wonder why they are such a-holes to small bands trying to make it big? They are offered business cards, cd demos, and people begging to be signed all the time. The same goes for the business setting. Your busines contact will feel like you are trying to play them like a fiddle if you push your card and yourself on them.

You should only be giving out one business card to your contact - not two, three, or a bucket load hoping that they’ll pass your card on for you. Your business contact should not become under you in a “marketing pyramid” scheme. Your contact is not your broker and you should focus on person-to-person interactions when exchanging business cards.

Source: Caffeine MarketingÂÂ