Business card etiquette in workplace etiquette

Business card etiquette in workplace etiquette

Business cards are one of the most economical and practical entry media in contemporary interpersonal communication. Because business cards have the characteristics of standardized printing, concise text, convenient use, easy carrying and easy storage, and can be used by men, women and children regardless of their rank and occupation, they are widely used and popular.

As a self-introduction letter and social friendship card, business cards can be used to prove identity and get married in interpersonal communication. In view of the various important functions of business cards, we should raise them to the height of directly reflecting personal face, personal image and even unit image, and pay full attention to them.

In business communication, if you want to use business cards correctly, you must understand the specific problems of making, classifying, using, exchanging and keeping business cards, and try to conform to the etiquette norms in these five aspects.

First, the production of business cards.

At present, domestic printed business cards can generally be entrusted to business card manufacturers, so it is very convenient. However, if you want to make your business card standardized and practical, you must design it carefully and consider it carefully, so that your business card can reflect your own style. We should not let business card manufacturers design their own business cards at will, resulting in their business cards being shoddy.

1. specification

At present, the most common business card specification in China is 9.0×5.5, that is, 9 cm long and 5.5 cm wide. This is the preferred specification when making business cards.

If there is no special need, the specifications of business cards should not be expanded at will, or folded intentionally, so as not to give people the feeling of being unconventional and deliberately putting on airs.

2. High quality materials

When printing business cards, we should pay attention to the choice of paper, such as folding-resistant, wear-resistant and elegant white cardboard, recycled paper, synthetic paper, woven paper, hemp paper and scented paper. As for the noble and elegant, crisp paper is just ancient paper, and the paper with texture, you can choose according to your ability. You can also cover the film if necessary.

Generally speaking, it is not necessary to use cloth, plastic, leather, optical fiber, steel, wood, gold, silver and other materials to print business cards. They are either expensive or not very practical.

colour

The paper for printing business cards should be solemn and simple white, beige, light blue, light yellow and light gray, and it is better to use one color for a business card.

It is best not to print variegated business cards, which will make people see things in a blur. Don't print business cards in black, red, pink, purple and green, which will give people a sense of loss of solemnity.

design

On business cards, the patterns allowed are not only the lines of the paper itself, but also the company logo, enterprise blueprint, location, leading products and so on. , but the less the better.

It is not recommended to print portraits, cartoons, flowers and pets on business cards. Those things have no practical value and will give people a flashy impression.

5. Words

Business cards used in China should be simplified, not confused, but traditional. Business cards used in ethnic minority areas, foreign-funded enterprises and overseas may use ethnic minority languages or foreign languages as appropriate.

The best way is to print the same content in simplified Chinese and another minority language or foreign language on both sides of a business card. Never use more than two words on a business card, and never open two words on the same side by mistake.

6. Font

No matter what language you use to print business cards, you should use clear, standardized and readable printing.

Try not to use running script, cursive script, seal script or cursive script to print business cards, let alone write by hand. Remember, your business card will only work if others can understand it.

7. printing

It is best not to make your own business cards, nor to make them by copying, mimeogramming or photocopying. Business cards made by these methods are not formal enough.

Generally speaking, business cards can be printed with lead. If it is offset printing, the grade will be higher and the price will be much higher than that of lead printing.

8. Layout

When printing business cards, there are usually two formats to choose from.

One is horizontal. The order of lines is from top to bottom and the word order is from left to right.

The second is vertical. The line order is from right to left and the word order is from top to bottom.

Generally speaking, it is better to use horizontal style for Chinese and foreign business cards, because it is easy to identify and collect. Although the vertical business cards are simple in style, they do not have these advantages. If you print the same business card in two languages, you should avoid one horizontal and one vertical.

Second, the classification of business cards.

Due to different contents and uses, business cards used in daily life and work can be divided into four categories: entertainment business cards, social business cards, business business cards and company business cards. The first three categories are also collectively called personal business cards.

On formal occasions, pay attention to using different business cards when facing different communication objects. In addition, if you want to give people a different impression, you can also use different business cards. Therefore, it is not surprising that a person makes and carries a variety of business cards at the same time. Regardless of the object and purpose, it is inappropriate to abuse the same business card.

1. Entertainment card

Entertainment business cards, also known as real-name business cards. As the name implies, its content usually contains only one person's name, and at most one person's place of origin and font size can be added.

Entertainment business cards are mainly suitable for dealing with casual acquaintances in social occasions, showing identity when visiting others, replacing gift lists when giving gifts, and being used as notes or short messages.

2. Social business cards

Social business cards, especially personal business cards, are mainly suitable for introducing yourself in social situations and keeping in touch. There are two contents: first, the personal name should be printed in large font in the center of the business card; The second is the contact information, which should be printed in smaller font on the lower right of the business card.

A contact method of social business cards, mainly including home address, postal code, etc. , if necessary, you can print the home phone number. It generally does not print the office address to show the distinction between public and private. If you don't like being disturbed, you can just print your home phone number without printing your home address and postal code.

3. Business card

Business cards refer to personal business cards used for business, government affairs, academics, services and other formal business contacts. It is the most common personal business card at present.

A standard business card should include three contents: the unit to which it belongs, the name of the person, and the contact information.

The first is the ownership unit. This content consists of three parts: enterprise logo, work unit and department, which can be increased or decreased as appropriate. However, there should be no more than two employers and departments, so as not to give people the impression of being unprofessional. If necessary, they can print more special business cards. In addition, employers and departments should use their full names.

The second is my name. My address consists of three parts: my name, my position and my academic title. The last two items are dispensable, but not too much. There is no need to add Mr, Ms and Mrs after my name.

The third is contact information. This item usually consists of three parts: company address, office phone number and postal code. Because the three are indispensable, it is also called the three elements of contact information. Here, it is not appropriate to provide home address and home phone number. Whether the mobile phone number, fax number and email address need to be listed depends on your actual situation.

Usually, my address should be printed in big font in the center of the business card, and my affiliation and contact information should be printed in small font in the upper left corner and lower right corner of the business card respectively. If necessary, the business scope or location of the company can be printed on the other side of the business card without printing in foreign languages.

4. Business card of the company

Company business cards, also called business cards, are mostly used by companies. They are mainly used for the company's publicity and promotion activities. Its content is divided into two items: first, the full name of the unit and its logo; The second is the contact information of the unit. The latter consists of company address, postal code and company telephone number (including switchboard number or telephone number of public relations department and sales department).

Third, the purpose of business cards.

For employees, business cards are by no means dispensable, but a practical communication tool with value for money. In routine interpersonal communication, the specific uses of business cards are as follows.

1. Introduce yourself

When you meet someone for the first time, you'd better introduce yourself with your business card. It can not only explain your identity, strengthen the effect, let the other party never forget, but also save time and avoid verbosity. Vague.

make friends

Giving your business card to others on your own initiative means friendship, trust and hope for each other. Whenever you meet a stranger, there is no need to hand in your business card. In other words, clever use of business cards can pave the way for making friends.

keep in touch

A business card is like a pocket address book. Through the information it provides, you can keep in touch with the business card provider. It is precisely because of the various contact information provided on business cards that people's communication has become more realistic and convenient.

4. Business introduction

Business cards list the affiliated units and other contents, so they can also be used to promote business for themselves and their units, expand exchanges and strive for potential partners.

Notify change

Using my business card, I can inform my old friends of my latest situation in time, such as promotion, moving to a new home, changing my company, changing my phone, etc. Greeting old friends with new business cards can also make the contact between them unimpeded and let each other know more about their own situation.

Visit others

When visiting someone's residence or work unit for the first time, you can give your business card to the doorman, secretary or family of the other party, and give it to the person you are visiting, so that the other party can confirm who it is and decide whether to see or not. This kind of practice is more formal, which can avoid making unannounced visits.

Leave a message.

When you don't meet anyone when you visit, or you need someone to convey something, you can write a few lines on your business card and leave it or entrust someone else to convey it. In this way, the other party will hear his voice, and those who see him will not delay the matter.

8. Think of it as a text message

In the lower left corner of the business card, write a few lines of words or phrases in pencil and send them to you or entrust them to you, as formal as a long letter. If there is more content, you can also write it on the back of the business card. In foreign countries, French abbreviations are popular in the lower left corner of business cards to express condolences, encouragement, thanks and congratulations to others. Below, only some commonly used French abbreviations are listed:

Attention: attract attention;

P.f., congratulations;

Thank you for public relations;

P.c. I express my condolences;

Introduced by p.p.;

P.p.c says goodbye;

Happy New Year to the People's Liberation Army of China.

9. Make it a gift list

When giving gifts to others, you can put your business card in it, or put it in an unsealed envelope, and then fix the envelope on top of the gift package, so that you can tell who sent it.

10. Introduce others

When the introducer knows another person, he can use a paper clip to fix my business card (top) with the business card of the introduced person (bottom). If necessary, you can also write the French phrase abbreviation P.P. in the lower left corner of my business card, and then put it in an envelope and give it to the introducer. This is a very formal letter of introduction and will be highly valued by others as usual.

Fourth, exchange business cards.

In order to make business cards play a normal role in interpersonal communication, it is necessary to exchange business cards properly. When exchanging business cards, we should pay attention to the following aspects:

1. Exchange time

In the workplace, business cards can sometimes be exchanged with people, and sometimes they don't have to be exchanged with people.

First, the timing of the exchange. You should exchange business cards with others in the following situations: First, you want to know each other. Second, show that you value each other. Third, introduce each other. Fourth, the other party offered to exchange business cards. Fifth, ask for your business card in the opposite direction. Sixth, visit each other for the first time. Seventh, inform each other of their own changes. Eighth, I'm going to get each other's business cards.

Second, there is no need to exchange opportunities. When you meet the following situations, you don't have to give your business card to the other party, and you don't have to exchange business cards with the other party: First, the other party is a stranger who meets by chance. Second, I don't want to know. Third, I don't want to be intimate with each other. Fourth, the other party is not interested in themselves. Fifth, meet frequently. Sixth, the status, identity and age of the two sides are very different.

2. The method of exchange

There are also certain rules for exchanging business cards. The specific methods include:

One is to submit your business card. When handing out business cards to others, be serious. It's best to get up and stand, step forward, face each other with your hand or right hand, and give them to each other. Don't hand in your business card with your left hand, don't turn the back of your business card upside down, don't hold it on your chest, and don't give it to others with your fingers. If the other party is a minority or a foreign guest, it is best to face the other side of the business card with the words approved by the other party on it.

When handing someone a business card, you should show it orally. It can be said: please give me more advice, please take care of me, keep in touch in the future, let's get to know each other, or introduce ourselves first.

When exchanging business cards with many people, we should pay attention to the order, from near to far, or from respect to inferiority. Be sure to do it in turn, don't be picky, and take a leap-forward approach. Of course, there is no need to spam business cards. When the two sides exchange business cards, the most formal way is that people with low status should first give their business cards to people with high status. However, on the whole, there is no need to stick to this rule too much.

The second is to accept business cards from others. When others say that they want to hand in business cards or exchange business cards, they should immediately stop everything in their hands, stand up and look at each other with a smile. When accepting a business card, hold it with both hands, or with your right hand, never with your left hand.

It is very important to read business cards first. Specifically, after receiving the business card, it takes about one minute to read it carefully and silently from beginning to end. If in doubt, you can ask each other on the spot to show that you value each other. It is impolite to play with other people's business cards, or leave them on the table, or put them in your pocket, or give them to others without looking.

When accepting other people's business cards, you should thank them verbally or repeat the polite expressions used by the other party. If you please take care of them and give them more advice, don't say nothing.

If you need to hand in your business card at that time, you'd better hand it in after receiving the other party's business card, not at the same time.

Ask for a business card

If it is not necessary, it is best not to blackmail others' business cards. If you want to ask for someone else's business card, you should adopt the following methods:

The first is express delivery. That is, to exchange business cards with each other.

The second is the transaction law. That is to say, take the initiative to hand in my business card, which means that if you want to take it, you must give it first.

The third is humility. That is to say, ask the other party: how can I ask you in the future? This law applies to asking elders for business cards.

The fourth is contact information. That is to say, ask the other party: How can I contact you in the future? This method is suitable for asking for business cards from peers or younger generations.

4. Refuse others to ask for business cards

When someone wants my business card, but doesn't want to give it to them, it's not appropriate to be straightforward, but to express this intention euphemistically. Sorry, I forgot to bring my business card. Or: Sorry, I have run out of business cards. But if you are holding a business card and it has been seen by the other party, it is obviously inappropriate to say so.

If I don't have a business card and don't want to make it clear, I can also express it euphemistically in the above way.

If you really don't have your business card or run out of business cards, you can naturally say so, but don't forget to add that you must make it up another day, and you must do what you say and put it into action. Otherwise, the other party will understand that they don't have a business card, or they deliberately don't want to give each other a business card.

Verb (abbreviation for verb) deposit of business cards

In order to make the exchange of business cards conform to etiquette and make it play a full role in interpersonal communication, we should also pay attention to the following three issues.

1. Placement of business cards

Before taking part in social activities, you should prepare your business card in advance and make necessary inspections, just like preparing cosmetics.

It is best to carry your business card with you in a special business card bag and business card holder, or in your coat pocket. Don't put it in your trouser pocket, skirt pocket, handbag or wallet. It's neither formal nor messy. Always put business cards in your briefcase and desk drawer for easy use.

In communication situations, if you need to use business cards, you should prepare them in advance, and don't rummage through them temporarily when using them.

After receiving someone else's business card, carefully put it in your business card bag, business card holder or coat pocket, and never put it anywhere else.

2. Business card collection

After attending social activities, you should immediately sort out and collect other people's business cards you have received for your convenience in the future. Don't put them in books and materials, or press them under glass plates, or throw them in drawers.

There are generally four ways to arrange other people's business cards, all of which can be used interchangeably.

First of all, the names are classified according to the alphabetical order of foreign languages or the phonetic order of Chinese.

The second is to classify names according to the number of Chinese strokes.

The third is classified by industry or department.

The fourth is to classify by country or region.

3. Use of business cards

With the deepening of interpersonal communication, you can also write down information for your reference on business cards collected by others, making them social notebooks and memos. When collecting other people's business cards, the information that can be recorded is beneficial to interpersonal communication:

The first is the specific situation when receiving the business card. Including the place and time of receiving the business card, whether to exchange it with the other party in person, and so on. There is a practice abroad, that is, to fold the upper right corner of the business card and then restore it to its original state, which means that the other party personally exchanges business cards with himself.

The second is to exchange personal information of business cards. Such as gender, age, native place, education, expertise, hobbies and so on.

The third is the change of business card exchange after the exchange of business cards. For example, changes in units and departments, changes in occupations, transfers, changes in positions and academic titles, changes in contact information, and so on.

A famous person once said very seriously: In modern life, a person who doesn't have a personal business card or can't use it correctly is a person who lacks modern consciousness. What he said was not to make a mountain out of a molehill, but to the point. It can be said that this sentence fully illustrates the importance of business cards.