Your business cards are one of your most important office weapons. This is true most especially if you are in sales or in a service industry. Prospective clients would not be able to contact you if they don't have your contact details. Thus, business cards come as a revolutionary invention. Otherwise, you'd be so busy walking down town just to tell people what your contact details are.

Thus, your business cards are your ultimate marketing weapon, as guns are the ultimate weapons of soldiers. As such, it's but imperative that you take care of them. Here are a few care tips:

1. Use business card cases.

Whether you are a fan of a metal business card case or a business card wallet, you must use one that has the ability to protect your cards from wear and tear. These cases are very useful when you are mobile. By using a metal business card case, you are sure that you always have a stock of business cards.

In addition, you can also save time as you don't have to search your bag or your envelope high and low just to find a single business card. This also puts up a good impression to your clients and customers. Of course, vanity-wise, the act of taking a card from an elegant metal business card case is very self-rewarding.

Indeed, by keeping your business cards on a case, you are making sure that your cards won't get wet and won't have unnecessary creases. There's nothing more embarrassing than giving out crumpled business cards to a very important client.

2. Use business card holders.

If you are just in the office, then it would not be very appropriate to take out your business cards from a card case. It is more fitting and more elegant to have business card holders - an engraved business card holder, for instance - right on your desk instead. As business card holders are small rectangular-shaped card slots, they will do a very effective job of displaying your cards. In addition, they also provide your business cards a comfortable home where they can "rest without being disturbed."

Just like your metal business card case, a business card holder protects your cards from wear and tear as well as from environmental elements such as fire and water.

3. Use your business cards by distributing them.

Business cards are meant to be given - to the right people, that is. Keeping them in your drawer or in your metal business card case will defeat the purpose of having them. It is like buying shoes and not using them, ever. As a result, your business cards - and your shoes - will naturally "die a natural death."

Therefore, distribute your business cards. Let them live their purpose. That's one way of taking care of them. Otherwise, they will cease to be effective and will rot and de-color of old age.

Not everyone has the opportunity to own business cards. Most companies only provide those that occupy managerial posts and those who have direct contact with customers. If you happen to be among the selected few with the opportunity to hand out their business cards, make the most out of it. Take care of your business cards - and your business cards will take care of you.