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Home » Business And Finance Articles » Business Card Etiquette

Business Card Etiquette

When doing business abroad it is important to understand the local culture. Culture includes areas such as a country's norms, values, behaviours, food, architecture, fashion and art. However, one area of culture that is important for the international business person is etiquette.

Understanding business etiquette allows you to feel comfortable in your dealings with foreign friends, colleagues, customers or clients. Knowing what to do and say in the right places will help build trust and open lines of communication.

One aspect of etiquette that is of great importance internationally is the exchanging of business cards.

Unlike in North America or Europe where the business card has little meaning other than a convenient form of capturing essential personal details, in other parts of the world the business card has very different meanings.

For example, in Japan the business card is viewed as a representation of the owner. Therefore proper business etiquette demands one treats the business card with respect and honour.

Below we have provided you with a few examples of international business card exchange etiquette that may help you on your business trips abroad.

General Business Card Etiquette Tips:

• Business cards are an internationally recognised means of presenting personal contact details, so ensure you have a plentiful supply.
• Demonstrating good business etiquette is merely a means of presenting yourself as best you can. Failure to adhere to foreign business etiquette does not always have disastrous consequences.
• When travelling abroad for business it is advisable to have one side of your business card translated into the appropriate language.
• Business cards are generally exchanged at the beginning of or at the end of an initial meeting.
• Good business etiquette requires you present the card so the recipient's language is face up.
• Make a point of studying any business card, commenting on it and clarifying information before putting it away.

Business Card Etiquette in China

• Have one side of your business card translated into Chinese using simplified Chinese characters that are printed in gold ink since gold is an auspicious colour.
• Ensure the translation is carried out into the appropriate Chinese dialect, i.e. Cantonese or Mandarin.
• Your business card should include your title. If your company is the oldest or largest in your country, that fact should be highlighted on your card.
• Hold the card in both hands when offering it.
• Never write on someone's card unless so directed.

Business Card Etiquette in India

• If you have a university degree or any honour, put it on your business card.
• Always use the right hand to give and receive business cards.
• Business cards need not be translated into Hindi as English is widely spoken within the business community.

Business Card Etiquette in Japan

• Business cards are exchanged with great ceremony.
• Invest in quality cards.
• Always keep your business cards in pristine condition.
• Treat the business card you receive as you would the person.
• Make sure your business card includes your title. The Japanese place emphasis on status and hierarchy.
• Business cards are always received with two hands but can be given with only one.
• During a meeting, place the business cards on the table in front of you in the order people are seated.
• When the meeting is over, put the business cards in a business card case or a portfolio.

Business Card Etiquette in the UK

• Business card etiquette is relaxed in the UK and involves little ceremony.
• It is not considered bad etiquette to keep cards in a pocket.
• Business cards should be kept clean and presentable.
• Do not feel obliged to hand out a business card to everyone you meet as it is not expected.

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Personal Loans and APR – Is That All That Matters?

The advice from financial advisers has always been, if you are thinking about taking on new loan or any type of credit agreement, shop around. These days, there is such intense competition among lenders to get your business, that special offers and extremely low interest rate loans are always on the market somewhere, if you are willing to search them out. It is also worth checking out less well known lenders and not just the high street banks, as some of the best deals around will be from these lenders.

The government has sought to facilitate this by providing a standard benchmark figure that can be used to price loans from different lenders. This figure is the APR, or annual percentage rate for interest on the loan. It is calculated in the same way by all lenders and should give you an accurate and fair view of the real cost of any credit you take on. So for instance, if a credit card is tempted to tell you that they only charge two per cent interest, they will have to tell you that this is their monthly rate, and the APR is in fact, something more like twenty eight per cent.

However, the APR is not the only thing that you will have to check out when you are shopping around for credit. There are many other very important factors that will also effect which credit offers are the best deals. For example, as well as interest, it is possible that a loan will include other fees that do not go into calculating the APR. Some loans, especially mortgages, incorporate arrangement fees or set up fees that you will also have to take into account. Many other loans will have early termination charges that are added to the bill if you wish to repay the loan early.

Flexibility is also a consideration and you may want to check if over payments, or repayment holidays are permitted on your loan. This means that you can put a little extra against the loan when you come into extra money, or take a break from payments if you lose your job for example. This is very important in long term loans such as mortgages.

Some credit cards will also offer you low APRs but then charge very high penalties if you miss a payment. Others will offer you low APRs but only for an introductory period, after which the APR jumps to a higher level. You should be aware of these types of offers. Even zero per cent balance transfers can be subject to a balance transfer fee, that in effect means you are paying for the balance transfer, and it makes little difference to you whether it is as interest or as a fee.