International Business: Business Card Etiquette

by Lauren Nemec

“To know another’s language and not his culture is a very good way to make a fluent fool of yourself.” Winston Brembeck

Your plane tickets are booked, your glossy brochures are printed, your business suit is pressed and your trusty phrasebook is in your pocket. Are you prepared for your meeting?

In the United States, business cards are seen as nothing more than an easy way to exchange contact information. Elsewhere, however, a business card represents its owner, and as such should be treated with the utmost respect. In some business cultures, exchanging cards can be a ceremonious process, with plenty of opportunities to impress – or offend - your business associates.

Here are some tips and guidelines on appropriate business card content, appearance, translation, and ceremony.

Business Card Content

It may seem straightforward - all you need on your business card is your name, job title and contact information, right? Depending on where you are doing business, more information may be necessary. Your card should provide people with information about your background and qualifications.

Job Title

Your job title could be the most important piece of information on your card. Ensure it is translated accurately. Some job titles can be hard to translate, or the title might not exist in the target language.

In many situations, your title will help your business associates determine if you have the authority to make decisions on behalf of your company. You can determine the same thing about your counterparts by referring to the titles on their business cards.

Academic Qualifications

In countries where people hold great respect for higher education, it may be beneficial to state your academic qualifications on your business card if you have any advanced degrees. A few examples of where this would be appropriate are Austria, France, Germany, India, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru, and Russia.

Professional Qualifications

If you are member of a professional organization, or if you have received any honors, awards or other distinctions, you might consider putting this information on your business card.

Company Logo

A logo is seen an essential part of any reputable company’s identity, and as such, should be included on your business card.

Company Distinctions

Many cultures value tradition, stability, and longevity. If your company has been established for many years, it would be an asset to put the company’s founding date on your business card.

Translating Your Business Card

If your business card is in English, it is not necessary to have it translated when doing business in these countries, as English is widely spoken or understood:

• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• German
• India
• Israel
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Philippines
• Poland
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Sweden
• Switzerland

It is beneficial to have your business card translated when doing business in the following countries:

• Argentina (Spanish)
• Austria (German)
• Belgium (French and Dutch)
• Brazil (Portuguese)
• Canada (French and English)
• Chile (Spanish)
• China (Chinese, local dialect)
• Colombia (Spanish)
• Egypt (Arabic)
• Greece (Greek)
• Hong Kong (Cantonese)
• Italy (Italian)
• Japan (Japanese)
• Peru (Spanish)
• Russia (Russian with Cyrillic alphabet)
• Saudi Arabia (Arabic)
• South Korea (Korean)
• Spain (Spanish)
• Taiwan (Traditional Chinese)
• UAE (Arabic)
• Venezuela (Spanish)
• Yemen (Arabic)

If you do translate your business card, you can have it translated on the reverse side. Remember to hand over a double-sided business card so that the native language of your business counterpart is facing them.

Business Card Appearance

The quality of your business card may reflect the quality of your product or service, so opt for the best.

People may appreciate the elegance of an engraved or embossed business card. As this prevents anything being printed on the reverse side, have separate cards made for translations into other languages.

In China, the colors red and gold are considered to be auspicious, and would be ideal for use on a business card.

If you don’t already have one, consider buying a business card case. It is considered poor business etiquette to shove a card in your pocket.

Business Card Exchange

Exchanging business cards is a common practice in most countries. In some countries, it is quite common to distribute business cards to everyone you meet, including secretaries and assistants. Make sure you bring a plentiful supply of business cards with you. To avoid causing offense, be sure you offer a card to everyone present, no matter their station. Remember this example: Japanese employees can be very loyal, often staying with the same company for their entire career. The assistant you meet today could one day be an influential decision maker. He will likely remember you if you treat him with respect and politeness.

Rituals of business card exchange vary greatly from country to country. In Western countries, cards are usually exchanged with very little ceremony. However, in some nations, business card exchange can be a highly ceremonious event, requiring decorum, etiquette, and knowledge of the customs.

While varying slightly in formality, the exchange of business cards in countries like Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan is as follows:

Bow or shake hands and say your greeting. Present your business card with both hands (or your right hand only, see below), with your associate’s language facing them. Start with the most senior person in the room, and repeat with process with everyone else, moving down the corporate ladder as you go along. When accepting a business card, accept it with both hands and a gracious 'Thank you’. Politely read the business card for a few moments. This is a good time to clarify the pronunciation of a person’s name, ask a question, or make a pleasant remark about his or her card. You may want to leave the cards near you on the table to facilitate name-learning during a meeting. Be sure to carefully put all the cards away in a business card case.

A good rule of thumb for ANY country: treat a business card as if it is a precious gift. Don’t write on it. Don’t stuff it in your pocket. Don’t play with it.

In places like India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco and Egypt, the left hand is considered to be unclean. (If you don’t know why, click here for a good explanation). Therefore, in these countries, you should hand over your business card only with your right hand.

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Although poor business card etiquette may not be disastrous for your business efforts, good business card etiquette will leave a positive impression of you and your company in the minds of your associates. Knowing the ceremonies will help to put you at ease and open the lines of communication.

Before leaving on a business trip, it is wise to research local business card customs. Here are some resources to get you started:

Executive Planet

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