Here are 8 tips to make the most out of your business cards.

· Include a business card with all your correspondence. People may throw away the letter, but will usually keep the business card.

· It's important to get the best quality business card that you can afford. Pay attention to the quality of the paper and the printing as well as the design. People are impressed by these things, and will judge you and how well or poorly you might treat them by the quality of the business card you hand out.

· A way of increasing the chances that your prospect will keep your card is by printing valuable information on the back, for example important phone numbers (local police, hospitals, etc), a calendar, or a football schedule.

· Throw in a business card in every product you ship.

· If you are in a profession where relationship selling is important, it may be a good idea to include your picture on your business card (i.e. real estate brokers).

· Offer to hand out cards of complementary (non-competitive) business people in exchange for them distributing yours. An example of non-competitive businesses are real estate brokers and mortgage brokers.

· When giving away your card, give two or three at a time, so that your contacts can in turn distribute them to other people. This will not only help you distribute them faster, but will generate a beneficial "endorsing effect".

· Don't miss an opportunity to ask someone for a business card. Chances are, they'll ask for yours in return.