Your business card is critical for making that all-important amazing first impression by quickly establishing your mission, your brand, and your credibility in the eyes of your current and potential clients.? Unfortunately, most people woefully underutilize their business card because they do not follow the basics outlined below.

Tip #1: Handle with Care

First and foremost, it is critical to take good care of your business cards.? Handing a potential client a torn or beat-up business card will certainly not enhance first impressions.

Purchase a cardholder to keep them clean and crisp, or get thicker cardstock to improve durability.? Obviously metal business cards or plastic business cards are about as durable as you can get, but these tend to be expensive.? A similar level of durability can be obtained with 15pt silk business cards or 14pt-16pt glossy business cards.? Go with whatever style best suits your business.

Tip #2: Liberally Distribute

Carry some business cards with you at all times and always be on the lookout for distribution opportunities.? Leave them on billboards at supermarkets, schools, stores, libraries, etc. ? especially if you have lower-cost cards like silk business cards or glossy business cards (be a little more discriminating when distributing expensive cards like metal business cards or plastic business cards so you don?t break the bank).

Include a business card with all your correspondence.? People may throw away the letter, but will usually keep the card.? Also, don?t forget to distribute your card electronically ? for example, scan it and use it as an attachment to all emails.

Tip #3: Exchange in a Professional Manner

There are many unwritten rules regarding the ?proper? way to exchange business cards.

The first category of rules focuses on when to offer your business card.? Obviously, whenever someone gives you their card, you should return the favor.? Also, try not to hand out your card too quickly. It may be perceived as pushy, so try to establish a conversation with your prospect first.

The next set of rules focuses on how to distribute your business card.? First, always give your card face up, ideally with both hands to give the impression that your card is very important.? Next, always give 2 or 3 at a time so your contacts can subsequently distribute them to others (again, be less liberal with expensive cards like plastic business cards or metal business cards)

Finally, when receiving somebody else’s business card, don’t put it away immediately. Instead, keep it visible and try to use it as a conversation piece.? Use the back of the cards you receive to write down important facts (note that silk business cards are usually more writable than glossy business cards).? This will help enormously when you follow up with your prospects.

NexCards.com provides unique, fully customized business card products, including <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="?glossy”>http://www.nexcards.com/glossy-business-cards?”>glossy business cards, spot UV, metal, plastic, rounded corner, panoramic, custom cut, and much, much more. Our high quality <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="?business”>http://www.nexcards.com/?”>business cards can be easily designed online, or you can upload your own design file ? the choice is yours. Competitive pricing, superior customer service, and a comprehensive satisfaction guarantee that is unmatched in the industry have helped make NexCards.com one of Internet?s leading providers of ultra-premium business cards.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/top-3-tips-to-maximize-the-value-of-your-business-cards-1003975.html