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6 Reasons Why Business Cards Aren’t Dead

4/4/2018 | admin

Long before emails and smartphones were invented, business cards were the only efficient way of giving your contact information to other people.

They allowed you to not only exchange info, but show the other person your sense of taste and style. Having a memorable business card was akin to being seen driving down the street in a Ferrari. Font, paperweight, color scheme, design, and finish all combined to create a masterpiece of a business card that was the envy of all your colleagues and coworkers. As the internet-of-things progressed, some people gave up on business cards.

Too antiquated Get on board with the digital age!

Nowadays there are apps, programs, and digital contact assistants that can store thousands of contacts in your cell phone. Some people who are more tech-savvy wonder if business cards have gone the way of the dinosaur? As it turns out, there are plenty of valid reasons to have a stack of business cards. Just because we’re all connected on LinkedIn and email doesn’t mean that business cards don’t serve several valuable purposes. True, the digital age has increased our overall efficiency and many people don’t want to be stuck with a pocket full of business cards after attending a trade show – but as any savvy marketer will tell you, you need to go where your competition isn’t.

1. Old School Folks

While some people (mostly the younger generations) prefer digital media and the ease of using a smartphone, there are others who prefer traditional offline methods. This is because despite being 100% proficient with computers and smartphones, they grew up in an era where business cards dominated the landscape and old habits die hard.

2. Quick Info

Imagine you’re at a trade show and stop by a booth. You like what the vendor has to offer, and you want to get their contact info to follow up at a later date. It’s going to take you at least a minute or so to have the person spell out their email address, phone number, and any other relevant information. As your fingers frantically try to type away on your small cell phone keyboard, spelling errors can occur. This can all be alleviated by simply asking them for their business card. No need to whip out your cell phone and try to jot down their information. There are plenty of cell phone apps that can scan business cards and create a contact record.

3. A Physical Reminder

Business cards are a physical reminder of someone. If someone jots down your information into their cell phone, it goes into the mystical land of bits and bytes and unless they set some sort of reminder for themselves, your contact info now resides in the digital graveyard that is their address book. An intelligently designed business card will not only remind them of you but can also spark a memory of the time and place they met you - which puts you above the competition.

4. In-Person Networking

No matter what, business cards are still king of in-person networking events. It’s seen as more professional and easier to efficiently and quickly get contact info out to someone else. Business cards can also remain the wallet or desks for years to come. Elevator pitches also benefit from business cards. You’ve got 30 seconds to tell someone who you are, what you do, and convince them why they should contact you in the future. It’s unreasonable to ask them to whip out their smartphone and jot down your contact info. As you’re giving them your pitch, hand them your card and they will instinctively reach out to grab it and put it in their pocket.

5. Your Brand & Soul

Business cards are a chance to differentiate yourself from the competition. They show off your style and brand and allow people to make a physical, intimate connection with you as they touch the card. Nowadays, anyone can have a memorable business card – even if you’re not graphically inclined. Just sit down with a professional graphic designer who will learn about your business and then design you an amazing and memorable card.

6. Employee Morale

Regardless of the demographics of your employees, giving them their own business cards makes them feel more important. It subconsciously makes them feel that they’re valued by upper management and an integral part of the company. There’s also a very good chance your employees will carry a few cards in their wallet and might pass them out on the weekends and on their own time. This could translate into exponentially more sales and clients as they continue to pass their cards out.

Business Card Printing in Raleigh

Having a business card in this digital day and age is just as critical as it was prior to cell phones, email, and LinkedIn. In fact, many would argue that having a properly designed business card is even more important – as many people have gone “digital only” and your business card will be front and center instead of being lost in a stack of cards. To learn more about how AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh can produce and design your next project, you may email us, request a quote or call us at (919) 832-2828.

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