Special Etiquette For Exchanging Business Cards

When it comes to business cards, it's a word: save.

You can distribute your business cards more freely and more freely outside the United States and Canada.

In international business, people can not only formally exchange business cards with each other, but also can be a valuable record to record the people you meet, and it is also the basis for your further contact with them.

However, you must clearly realize that in some cultures, exchanging business cards is a special Etiquette (unlike North America, people can often exchange business cards informally).

In Japan, the form and essence of exchanging business cards are as important as exchanging business cards.

The following are the specific steps:

1. hold your card with your thumb and forefinger.

When delivering a business card, the front is oriented towards the person accepting the card.

At the same time, you should bow slightly, that is, the head is slightly low.

2. the person who accepts the card must give thanks by nodding his head, and at the same time hand over his card in the same way, then spend some time to read the contents of the card carefully.

The reason is: business card is your identity; it shows who you are and what you do and who you work for -- business card is your appearance.

3. next, at the right time, in these small ceremonies, everyone has to hand his card on his chest for identification.

4. try not to mark or annotate your business card.

In the Middle East and many Southeast Asian countries, you must pass your name card on your right hand and never use your left hand, even if you are left-handed.

In these areas, the left hand is used to clean up the body, so it is considered to be an "unclean" hand.

Don't put business cards in your clothes pocket in any culture.

We have noticed that a small number of Americans who stick to the rules should use their business cards as toothpicks.

(across the table, your client must be thinking, "Hello!

That's my identity, not your toothpick. "

Bilingual business card

In some countries where English is not popularized, some knowledgeable visitors will use a business card with English and the local language on the other side.

Ensure that both sides have the same print quality, so as to avoid inadvertent hints that the local language is a second language.

In many big cities, there are many twenty-four hours of service in this area.

If you go to a city like Tokyo or Hongkong, but do not have bilingual business cards, ask the hotel gatekeepers where such services are available.

Title

In any case, make sure that you write your position and title clearly.

Choose a title that allows the local people to understand and accurately reflect your position.

For example, such titles as "deputy", "associate" or "executive assistant" can easily be confused outside the United States.

The difference between the two words like "director" and "manager" is hard to understand in many parts of the world.

The title of vice president is rarely used outside the US, but businessmen in other countries know that they represent a special position.

Similarly, abbreviations like CEO (Chief Executive Officer), CFO (chief financial officer) and COO (chief operating officer) have puzzled people outside North America.

In our English speaking countries, the "chairman" used by the British is corresponding to President, the legal person of the United States.

In the United Kingdom, "director" is a high-level position, corresponding to the "vice president" of the United States. At the same time, such title also implies that this person is a member of the board of directors.

Two businesswomen in the United States told stories about their respective use of business cards in Japan.

One is the president of his company (president), where in Japan, wherever she goes, she is always received by senior Japanese businessmen.

On the other card, director is the manager of the international market, but she is treated with the opposite treatment.

The two ladies agreed that identity and status in the Japanese business community are quite important.

As a result, the director of the international marketing department, with the permission of her company, appointed herself as the president of "an international company" (the name of her own company). In fact, the name of the company is an official name of a foreign sales organization (FSC), a department specializing in tax affairs, and she is also right about her appointment.

A few months later, the lady went to Japan again, and this time, the title "President" renamed on her business card brought her a very warm reception.

Warning: don't make up your title to make a good impression.

Otherwise, once your international colleagues find out that you are bragging, you will lose credibility. In the long run, it is harmful and useless.

Special note: in countries where men are dominant (such as Latin America, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia), if you are married, you can consider adding "Mrs." to your name to show your identity.

The advantage of this is that it can prevent some offensive attacks that are not desirable.