Why Business Cards are Still Important in the Digital Age
by Bhavin Shah
We keep our contacts with us on our mobile devices all the time, and our offices are going paperless. So why are more people ordering and using business cards than ever? (Moo, the company that makes custom business cards in a slim and chic form factor, reported a 400 percent increase in orders from 2008 to 2013.)
As New Business Networking author Dave Delaney says, “Don’t believe anyone who tells you cards are going away or are a thing of the past. Business cards are here to stay — at least for the foreseeable future.” Rebecca Hiscott writes, “There is something solid and comforting about that palm-sized piece of card stock as it passes from hand to hand, which modern gadgetry still can’t replace.”
Moo’s VP of Marketing Stephanie Shore says personal interactions are more important than ever in the digital age, and business cards are a marker of those connections. “When you’re looking at someone’s business card,” says Shore, “it’s like you’re looking someone in the eye.” The card serves as a reminder of your encounter, and how the person you met presents himself.
There’s a physical aspect, of literally “getting in your face” when you look at the card. “When you give someone a paper card, they have to pull it out of their pocket when they get home, so they look at it,” says Cynthia Henry Duval, associate director of Career and Professional Development at Nova Southeastern University. “They put [the card] on their desk — and it probably sits on their desk for about a week or so — and then they pick it up because now they have to do something with it. And so that’s three points of contact with your information.”
Still, as important a tool as business cards are, networking experts say you should be selective about who you offer your business cards to. “There is nothing worse than the guy at the networking event who rapidly hands out business cards. “I would rather leave an event with some genuine new relationships than pockets full of cards,” says Delaney. If you want to be truly memorable, you should only offer your card to someone you’ve actually made a connection with. There will be a better chance that they’ll remember you, and will be willing to develop a professional relationship. Gem Project founder Amanda Ebokosia offers this rule of thumb: “Treat your business card like a credit card, give it by connection not by sight”.
What information belongs on a business card? Less is more in the digital age, says Rebecca Hiscott: In addition to name, job title, phone number and email address:
- Limit the social profiles you share (LinkedIn and Twitter yes, Facebook and Pinterest no)
- There’s no need to include http://www. In your website address— this isn’t 1999
- Unless you’re a fax salesman or one of those rare people who still receives information by fax, leave off your fax number!
Your cards should be well-designed, says Thomas Devito. “High-quality business cards enhance your profile, increase your perceived value and set the tone for what it’s going to be like to do business with you.” Fortunately, there are a number of sites that will help you put your best foot forward with your cards, including Moo, Tinyprints, Zazzle and Vistaprint. Still worried people will forget you? That’ll be hard when you hand them a business card that also happens to be a refreshing stick of gum!
Like business cards, Refresh is an indispensable tool for creating a lasting impression with the people you meet. We’ll help you stay on their radar with Notes to help you remember important conversations, Follow-up reminders, and yes, even digital business cards. Your Refresh Business Card contains personalized insights such as your recent email exchanges and friends you have in common, and is a perfect complement to your physical business card.
What’s on your business card? What are some of the more memorable cards in your collection? Tweet us @RefreshApp and let us know!
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