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Giving Business Cards

—DJ Watson

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Here are the answers I received in response to this question: What do you say to people requesting your card when you suspect they are adding you to their prospecting list or you just generally don't want to do a meaningless card exchange?

-- Jerry Fletcher

Never ever say no. You are prejudging -- a problem that most salespeople have. They will swear that they can tell the worth of a person just buy looking at them.

-- Patti Branco

If it is someone I wish to give the information to, I appear as though I am searching for one, and realize I am out, and then I ask for theirs and promise to send them my information with a short PS "not to share, sell, rent or loan my private information to anyone without my permission!" The other solution is to have two cards, one cheapie from Vista.com, and your nicer card. Give the cheapie one out with a junk mail box email address, the one you use for info gathering.

-- Thomas Leutner

Exchange the cards anyway, add them to your e-zine and sell them your products and services!

-- Jeanette Cates

I never purposely withhold my card. If I do get on someone's prospecting list, I just say no. Most people never follow up. Anyway, a method I've used is to rumage in my pocket or purse and say "sorry, I don't think I have any more cards with me. Can I get your card?" As an alternative I've also said "I know that you don't want to spend your time following up with a poor match for your services. So let me save you some time."

-- Lola Gillebaard

I ask for their card and write info on the back of it. I have never refused to give someone my business card. That's what they're for, for goodness sakes. Besides, I have gotten business from people who received my card from someone else. Don't be stingy!

-- Resli Costabell

A few approaches:

  1. Give them your card anyway. You may be surprised by what comes of it, or indeed, by the fact that you never hear from them again. If they do start trying to sell to you, you can always give them the polite yet firm No!
  2. Smile and say, "On one condition -- you make sure no sales people get hold of the information. Don't you just hate it when you end up on someone's sales call list?"
  3. Warmly ask them what you can expect. Just be straight with them. A bit of, "I have the sense that I might end up added to your prospecting list. Is that why you want my card, or have I got it wrong?"

-- Kelley Robertson

Here is a suggestion for you on how you can politely refuse handing out a business card. Say, "I'm in the process of having new cards printed. If you give me your card I'll mail one to you when they are finished." Or, pretend to search for a card and say, "I just gave away my last one a few minutes/hours ago. If you give me your card I'll send one to you."

-- Rita Risser

I say, "Oops, I just ran out of cards. Why don't you give me your card and I'll send you my contact info." Their card will make a great bookmark.

-- Peggy Duncan

I don't give out business cards unless I feel real synergy. I simply say that I don't have any. Instead, I'll give them a workshop flyer or a bookmark with tips on it. My Web site is on everything I hand out in case they really want to reach me. If they send me SPAM, I simply add them to my Junk Sender's List, and Outlook zaps future e-mails.

-- Leslie Charles

For some reason, I seldom carry biz cards, which means I can honestly answer that no, I don't have one, but please give me your card. Then I have control over whether there's any kind of follow up.

-- Nancy Stern

Just say you don't have any with you.

-- Maria Marsala

I have two business cards. One with my business address and one w/o. I give out the one w/o my business address most often. I'm very sensitive about permission-based marketing and the changes that have taken place over the past two years. So, I now ask what people plan to do with my cards. It allows me to set boundaries with the other business owner and in most cases, deepens the initial contact relationship with other conversations, allows me to educate individuals about permission based marketing, etc.

-- Nancy Lininger

I have two business cards. One with my business address and one w/o. I give out the one w/o my business address most often. I'm very sensitive about permission-based marketing and the changes that have taken place over the past two years. So, I now ask what people plan to do with my cards. It allows me to set boundaries with the other business owner and in most cases, deepens the initial contact relationship with other conversations, allows me to educate individuals about permission based marketing, etc.

At times I have timidly exchanged cards and tossed theirs, hoping that I would not get added to a junk mail list. Silly me. But generally I have given the lame excuse that I don't have my cards handy or that I am running out and need to save the couple I have left. Then of course I may give someone the impression that I'm a dingbat for not having a card to whip out on a moment's notice. But if I don't feel there's any synergy or real need to network with this person, then who cares if they think I am dingy? What I really want to do is to be so bold as to say, "And the reason we are exchanging cards is for...[silence]?" This does put them on the spot to explain, and then perhaps I could provide my philosophy about meaningless business card exchanges and attempt to politely back out if I don't like their answer. This could be awkward and I haven't had the guts to do it yet.

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