Once you’ve done some stellar business card printing, you’re ready to get those little gems out to the masses and into people’s hands. But you can’t just stop people on the street and say "Here, please take my business card and keep it for future use."Unfortunately it’s not that easy to get people to accept your business card. But it can be done.

Use the following tips to get your business cards out to the public:

Always have cards with you. You never know when an opportunity might arise, so keep a stash on you, in your car, at your desk, at home – everywhere. Many important business card exchanges have happened over the weekend at unlikely places (like when you’re going out to eat and you see someone important).

Hand out clean cards. No one wants a dingy or frayed business card. Make sure the ones you hand out are clean from pen marks or scruff marks. The best way to keep your cards clean and neat is to invest in a business card case. If you get a nice card case, which can even add to your image when you fish out a business card from your fancy case.

Ask for business cards. Generally, if you show interest in someone and ask for their card, it’s natural for that person to ask for your card in exchange. Show good business card etiquette by taking the time to actually read the card, and try to compliment the logo or card design. You can also strike up some other small talk based on the card.

Hang your card on a community bulletin board. Many libraries and local restaurants have community bulletin boards for people to hang up flyers and other materials. Take advantage of this free advertising and tack up some color business cards that will catch people’s eyes as they are walking past.

Practice your business card presentation. If you fumble around to get your cards out and just say "Here," the receiver won’t be impressed by your well designed business card because your presentation was sloppy. Practice how you’ll get your business cards out of their holding place and what you’ll say as you hand it off.

Don’t ask someone of higher rank for their business card until they ask for yours. This is an unspoken etiquette rule. It’s rude to offer your card or ask for a person of higher rank for their card first. Let them initiate the exchange.

Hand out more than one card at a time. If you hand out two or more cards at a time, people can pass your card along to someone else. It helps if you make a comment like "If you know anyone who could use my services, please have them call me."