How to Share Your Business Card at Conferences the Right Way

So you’re going to a business conference, and you have your business cards ready.

That’s huge. Attending conferences is a great way to network and expand your professional circle. And one way to do that networking is by sharing your business card.

However, contrary to what too many people do at these events, you shouldn’t just start handing out your business cards like candy. Sharing your business card at conferences requires some finesse to make the right first impression. There are ways to share your contact information that are more personal and professional than just passing out cards to anyone willing to take one.

Here are five tips to professionally approach this kind of exchange – so that the people who take your card actually use it to, well, keep in contact.

✅ Have your business cards ready.

When the time is right, you don’t want to have to go shuffling for your business card or digging it up from the bottom of your briefcase or purse.

You also don’t want to have to pull out a wrinkled one from the depths of your wallet. Make sure that your business cards are kept in a convenient place where you can easily grab them – and you have enough of them there. You might even consider investing in a cardholder that easily fits into your pocket or purse to keep your cards organized and easily accessible.

✅ Don’t lead with the card.

While it may be tempting just to drop your card around tabletops and pass it out to people, you shouldn’t lead with your card.

Instead, introduce yourself first and start a conversation. Ask the person to whom you’re talking about themselves and what brings them to the conference. If you sense some synergy and want to continue the conversation, you can share that and suggest exchanging contact information. At that point, you should share your business card.

✅ Ask for their business card in return.

Like conversations, a business card exchange should be mutual.

Ask each person to whom you give your card if they also have a card. This way, you show interest in following up with them and not just sharing your information. It also allows you to follow up with them in case they don’t reach out to you. It also helps you to remember with whom you spoke and what you discussed – and having their full name (with the correct spelling!), title, and other details will be important if you want to reconnect.

✅ Write a note on your business card.

While this move isn’t always appropriate or even possible, if you can and it feels right, write a quick note on the back of your card about what you discussed, whether it be a project or a specific opportunity.

Both of you will likely meet a lot more people at the conference, so this note can help to serve as a reminder even long after the event.

✅ Don’t forget actually to follow up after the conference.

Exchanging business cards for the sake of exchanging business cards can be a waste of your business cards.

It’s also unprofessional to make connections and not follow up – especially if you discussed specific opportunities for which you or they might be a fit. So, if you have their business card, as well, make sure to reach out via email to briefly recap your discussion (as a gentle reminder) and set up a time to talk more. Just be sure to copy the spelling of their name and any other details written on their business card.

The bottom line

Attending a business conference is an ideal way to get to know more people in your industry or other industries that interest you.

Business conferences are definitely places where you should share your contact information so you can grow your professional network. But there’s a way to share your business cards that’s more genuine and organic than passing them out to just anyone. 

Follow the above tips to make lasting impressions and build real rapport with other like-minded professionals. And remember: The key to networking is not just about collecting contacts. It’s about creating connections and building relationships that can benefit both of you in the long run.