Business cards are traditionally the primary way that business people present their contact information to other business people and potential customers or clients.
Standard business cards are 2 by 3 inch rectangles of card stock with the business person or professional's business information, such as his or her name, the business name and address, the service or products supplied and the phone number(s), fax number(s), and website and email address(es) printed on them.
The back of business cards is usually (but not always) blank. For instance, if you're travelling abroad for business it is good practice to have one side of your business cards translated into the language appropriate to the country you are visiting. (When you present such business cards, you should present the card to the recipient so that the recipient's language is face up.)
Business cards are usually presented to one person by another in a face-to-face exchange, although they may also be attached to invoices and thank you cards, or even attached to a vehicle in a business card holder so passersby can help themselves to one if they're interested in the service or product advertised on the vehicle.
When business cards are exchanged in person, they may be exchanged at the beginning or end of a conversation. When you receive business cards, you should always look at the card and comment upon it before putting it away - preferably into a business card holder. It's bad manners to stuff business cards into your pockets.
Business cards originated as tradecards in 17th century England. They were used both as advertising and as maps as there was no formal street numbering system in London at the time.
Today business cards are still used as advertising as well as a convenient way to present a business' contact information. Business cards can even double as brochures, for instance.
