FREE DELIVERY on everything
FREE DELIVERY on everything
hello@print-print.co.uk 01952 850 730 |
First impressions tend to stick.
That may be an irrational quirk of interpersonal relations, but it’s also an inescapable aspect of human psychology.
And that means you need to do everything you can to get things right the first time round.
If you’re starting to take your business overseas – or you’re trying to woo visitors from abroad – you can earn some early brownie points by demonstrating an awareness and appreciation of their culture.
So what’s the easiest way to make a good impression early on? Focus on the first gift you’ll give them, and the lasting souvenir of your first meeting – the business card.
No matter where you are in the world, respecting a business card means showing respect to its owner. So when you meet with other businesses, always remember to:
With these few pointers out of the way, we can look at some specific practices and customs from a few countries in different parts of the world.
You won’t usually find much ceremony around the exchange of business cards in countries like the US or UK.
But in Japan, there’s a well-understood protocol. And while it might not be observed by every business you meet with, you should be ready and able to follow it correctly if you want to make a good impression.
First, remember that status and position are important in Japanese culture. The highest-ranking members of the meeting should exchange their cards first, followed by the second-highest, and so on. It’s not just a mark of respect for professional positions – it’s a way of helping everyone present to learn who the decision-makers are.
Second, you should put your full focus and attention into the physical act of giving a business card. That means you should be:
Finally, make sure you don’t put their business card away until the end of the meeting. If you’ve received just one business card, you can place it on top of your card holder, and place the holder on the table next to you.
Or if you’ve received several business cards, you should arrange them on the table from left to right, following the seating order from your point of view – it shows respect, and it also helps you to learn their names as the meeting goes on.
Education is held in especially high regard in India. So as well as your professional titles and qualifications, make sure your business card includes any university degrees or academic honours you’ve earned.
It’s also a country where you’ll find English speakers all throughout the business community. So while you may want to get one side of your business card printed with a Hindi translation, it’s really not essential, and you should have no problems presenting an all-English card to your new associates.
Finally (and perhaps most importantly) you should always offer your business card with your right hand – this goes for both handshakes and eating food, too.
Although Germany has a fairly relaxed approach to business cards that’s similar to the UK or US, there is one area in which customs differ.
In the UK, business cards are freely handed out or passed around, sometimes in bulk or placed on a table for anyone to help themselves.
But in Germany, the exchange of business cards is usually more limited and personal. They should never be handed out in batches, and should instead be given in a more discreet, one-to-one arrangement, to reflect the exclusive value of an individual business relationship.
Much like in Japan, exchanging business cards is taken seriously in China. So use both hands, take a moment to study their card, and keep it out on display for the duration of the meeting.
With the translated language, however, things are little more complicated. Presenting an all-English business card without a local translation on one side could be taken as a sign of serious disrespect – similar to refusing a handshake in a Western country.
You’ll also need to take care when choosing a translation. If you’re visiting mainland China, you should use the Simplified Chinese characters. But in Taiwan and certain parts of Hong Kong, you ought to use the traditional set of characters.
Finally, you should never write anything on another person’s business card in front of them – but you can write additional details or phone numbers on your own one.
In business or in life, starting a positive relationship with a stranger means putting your best foot forward from the outset. So if you want to show the kind of professional respect that wins new business, take a look at our immaculate business cards today.
Dean Williams is a design and marketing blogger working for Print-Print Limited, promoting business and building brands through quality print marketing. If you’re interested in small business promotion then please get in touch hello@print-print.co.uk
Get a feel for what we do!
Our FREE sample packs are full of great print ideas. They’ll give you a taste of what to expect when ordering your design and printing from us.
First impressions tend to stick.
That may be an irrational quirk of interpersonal relations, but it’s also an inescapable aspect of human psychology.
And that means you need to do everything you can to get things right the first time round.
If you’re starting to take your business overseas – or you’re trying to woo visitors from abroad – you can earn some early brownie points by demonstrating an awareness and appreciation of their culture.
So what’s the easiest way to make a good impression early on? Focus on the first gift you’ll give them, and the lasting souvenir of your first meeting – the business card.
No matter where you are in the world, respecting a business card means showing respect to its owner. So when you meet with other businesses, always remember to:
With these few pointers out of the way, we can look at some specific practices and customs from a few countries in different parts of the world.
You won’t usually find much ceremony around the exchange of business cards in countries like the US or UK.
But in Japan, there’s a well-understood protocol. And while it might not be observed by every business you meet with, you should be ready and able to follow it correctly if you want to make a good impression.
First, remember that status and position are important in Japanese culture. The highest-ranking members of the meeting should exchange their cards first, followed by the second-highest, and so on. It’s not just a mark of respect for professional positions – it’s a way of helping everyone present to learn who the decision-makers are.
Second, you should put your full focus and attention into the physical act of giving a business card. That means you should be:
Finally, make sure you don’t put their business card away until the end of the meeting. If you’ve received just one business card, you can place it on top of your card holder, and place the holder on the table next to you.
Or if you’ve received several business cards, you should arrange them on the table from left to right, following the seating order from your point of view – it shows respect, and it also helps you to learn their names as the meeting goes on.
Education is held in especially high regard in India. So as well as your professional titles and qualifications, make sure your business card includes any university degrees or academic honours you’ve earned.
It’s also a country where you’ll find English speakers all throughout the business community. So while you may want to get one side of your business card printed with a Hindi translation, it’s really not essential, and you should have no problems presenting an all-English card to your new associates.
Finally (and perhaps most importantly) you should always offer your business card with your right hand – this goes for both handshakes and eating food, too.
Although Germany has a fairly relaxed approach to business cards that’s similar to the UK or US, there is one area in which customs differ.
In the UK, business cards are freely handed out or passed around, sometimes in bulk or placed on a table for anyone to help themselves.
But in Germany, the exchange of business cards is usually more limited and personal. They should never be handed out in batches, and should instead be given in a more discreet, one-to-one arrangement, to reflect the exclusive value of an individual business relationship.
Much like in Japan, exchanging business cards is taken seriously in China. So use both hands, take a moment to study their card, and keep it out on display for the duration of the meeting.
With the translated language, however, things are little more complicated. Presenting an all-English business card without a local translation on one side could be taken as a sign of serious disrespect – similar to refusing a handshake in a Western country.
You’ll also need to take care when choosing a translation. If you’re visiting mainland China, you should use the Simplified Chinese characters. But in Taiwan and certain parts of Hong Kong, you ought to use the traditional set of characters.
Finally, you should never write anything on another person’s business card in front of them – but you can write additional details or phone numbers on your own one.
In business or in life, starting a positive relationship with a stranger means putting your best foot forward from the outset. So if you want to show the kind of professional respect that wins new business, take a look at our immaculate business cards today.
Dean Williams is a design and marketing blogger working for Print-Print Limited, promoting business and building brands through quality print marketing. If you’re interested in small business promotion then please get in touch hello@print-print.co.uk
Get a feel for what we do!
Our FREE sample packs are full of great print ideas. They’ll give you a taste of what to expect when ordering your design and printing from us.