In this day of digital everything, especially after a pandemic that made us nervous about touching things, do we still need business cards?
The answer is, "Yes, but…"
In this blog, I'm going to talk about both the pros and cons of business cards, why you should still have them, and how to keep them relevant in the digital age.
Reasons to discard paper business cards:
Digital contact information is replacing traditional business cards.
- It’s quicker to save the information from a digital card or simply send an email.
- You can easily search for the name on LinkedIn or a website with contact information on Google.
- Physical cards can be lost or thrown away, or pile up on a corner on your desk.
- Digital business cards are germ free. Contactless.
- They have the most up to date information all the time.
- Physical cards create waste for the environment.
But here's why you shouldn't
- There are a lot of people avoiding social media these days, many of whom prefer traditional business practices.
- We are much more likely to keep something that's tangible.
- Traditional business cards are still the quickest way to exchange information.
- Your business cards are a physical reminder of you and the memory of the meeting.
- They are more meaningful and personal.
- At a networking event, business cards are more professional.
- A creatively designed business card is the first impression of your brand and business.
- Creating Business cards for your employees makes them feel valued by your organization.
- Redundancy is how humans communicate, and so there is real value in the physical act of connection through exchanging cards.
What do you want with a business card:
Like any piece in your marketing arsenal, business cards should have three things: a clear way to communicate what you do, the names of both you and your company, and your contact details. And while it should go without saying that a business card should have those pieces of information, you’d be surprised.
Another important consideration for your business card should be the paper stock that it’s printed on. There is no right or wrong stock; it depends on the company, industry, and design of the card that's printed on it.
Marketing specialists will usually include this in the brand guidelines. If your company doesn't maintain brand guidelines, we here at FASTSIGNS will offer good counsel regarding the right stock for your business cards. Most print companies like ours will have in-house graphic designers with print experience to guide you through that process, as well as support in branding, logo design, etc.
When you receive a business card from someone, you create an opinion about their company as soon as the card touches your hand. Is it thin and flimsy? Is it thick cardstock? Was it printed? Was it embossed? Is the font legible? Is the logo well designed? Is it a traditional business card size?
Having a quality business card sets the best first impression of a successful business.
