On a recent LinkedIn post, “goal getter” Jenn Laflin said “I may be old school, but I do like business cards.”
However she offers a slight variation to the traditional business card by creating stickers with an inspirational quote and her website address.
“That way, when people put my sticker on their laptop/water bottle/journal, [or whatever] my website is always there.”
Any way that you can convey your contact information and essential business message is a good idea.
Thanks Jenn for the tip.
(I recently spotted this post by multimedia specialist Darrell Butler at LinkedIn.)
As a Xennial (look it up kids ?), I’ve lived in both an analog and digital world.
So while the meme is funny, it’s actually inspired a serious question. ?
Are business cards outdated??? ?
I always felt so fancy whipping out my custom business card with my full name (don’t forget the W! ?) and title!
My parents use to beam with pride when I handed them my card. I even had a little case to hold them in my pocket, prepared to unleash them on anyone I deemed necessary. ?
But now, besides the occasional doctor’s office, I rarely see them. Instead, everyone seems to want to connect on social media. ?
I suppose that makes sense since you can also build your follower count that way, but is this truly the new norm?
Is handing someone a physical business card like giving them a vhs tape or floppy disk now (again, look that up kids)? ?
I ask because I recently updated www.fatdarrell.com and throwback me would have already ordered a case of cards bearing my new logo. ?
But now the trend seems to lean toward linktrees and QR codes.
So what say ye? ?
Are business cards still necessary in post-covid no-contact 2024?
What’s your impression when someone hands you a physical card lately?
Do you actually keep them or do you simply transfer the information to your phone and throw it away? ?
Comment below! I’m genuinely curious. ?
Bonus points if you include your old, embarrassing MySpace nickname. ?
Are physical business cards still relevant or should I retire them along with my Starter Jackets and cinch-cuffed Cross Colours Jeans (again, LOOK IT UP KIDS!)? ?
Have an EPIC week everyone.
? LFG???
Digital business cards have been around for a while but I have noticed a great number of people, myself included, have been slow to adopt this option. Well let’s get with it.
There are a number of options available and maybe at some point I’ll do a comparison but for now I have chosen to begin with swft.id because . . . “they gave me a offer I could not refuse” . . .free! Yep, nada . . . no cost . . . zip. So why not give it a try.
Let’s begin with why you need a digital business card. Well you don’t “NEED” one but here is why it is a good idea.
First of all it can be stored on your smartphone and transferred digitally so it assures that you always have a business card with you, making you ready to share your contact info when the right opportunity arises.
In this case “CONTACT INFORMATION” is the operative term. If you expect a potential prospect to contact you they need to know how to do that. Now you can direct them to your webpage but probably your webpage does not necessarily include your direct number, cell number, or direct email available for the whole world to spam you. Likely you only have a contact form, a generic email address (at best) and a business phone that is used primarily by those trying to sell you something. If you’re like me, my mobile number is reserved for real people, friends and prospects.
Also at this point I really want to get the person to have my information and make a follow-up appointment with me, that is my immediate goal. The digital business card keeps your new contact focused on connecting with you.
The SWFT CARD has a number of field options available including various phone numbers (mobile office etc), email, photo of yourself, company logo, company website link, social media icons, a text field, AND a place to embed a video AND place to embed your calend.ly (or other appointment calendar option.) I particularly like the video option since my business is video marketing and video production. I also like the calendar as that is the action I want them to take in most instances.
Sharing the card is easy. There are a number of options including your unique URL which will be swft.id/yourname. Alternately you can use a QR code saved on your smartphone which your prospect can scan with their phone, or for a small fee you can order a plastic card with an RF chip. Which your contact only needs to tap with their phone to fire the SWFT.id link bringing them to your unique business card landing page.
A hybrid alternative might be to add the QR code to your printed business card. That way they can have an analog version and still connect digitally or connect to your calendar if they want to.
Now if, like me, you’re an avid networker and/or avid LinkedIn user I think this digital option is particularly useful because in most cases I want to have a quick follow-up meeting with new people I have met. But sending them to my calend.ly page is kinda boring and my website might be a bit overwhelming. Afterall I am not necessarily pushing hard for a sale at this point. Right now I just want to further our conversation and this digital business card landing page seems much less threatening or intimidating.
This is still somewhat new to me too, so take a look for yourself and let me know what you think. If you want to connect with me personally reach out via the email address you see in the graphic and I’ll invite you to connect officially.
My brother recently got a 3D printer which caused me to get online and see what sort of things he might be able to manufacture. My search resulted in a few interesting business card related gadgets.
How about a braille business card writer? This simple device will allow you to easily emboss any business card sized piece of paper with your company contact details in braille, making you instantly ADA compliant, and delighting your visually impaired friends and business associates. As a former president of the Chicago Uptown Lions Club I found this device particularly interesting. It is probably one of the more complicated devices I found but also one of the most innovative. Likely not a good choice for your first project however you might want to check this out then “press” it into service.
https://pinshape.com/items/34568-3d-printed-braille-business-card-writer
I was able to find plans for a few different business card holders. This first one is basically a small business card sized box with an opening on one side for easily getting ahold of the cards. Kind of like a little recycle bin. It also has a small channel on the rim where you can slide in your card for display.
https://pinshape.com/items/64798-3d-printed-business-card-holder
The next desk accessory was an attractive negative space cup-like design for holding pens, pencils, letter openers, plastic sporks, an extra pair of reading glasses or whatever. The base has molded slots specifically designed for holding various digital media storage devices like portable USB flash drives and also SD cards. On the side is a rectangular space for business cards.
https://pinshape.com/items/38602-3d-printed-businesscardpenusbsdmicrosd-holder
The last of my list is the most simple design, utilizing the least amount of plastic material. Basically a kind of wire-frame that allows you to display about 20 cards upright in a traditional manner where they can be easily viewed and offered. The plans include a vertical as well as horizontal display option.
https://pinshape.com/items/32686-3d-printed-business-card-holders
Look around a let me know if you find anything else of if you try printing one of these options.
Among my numerous professional and avocation activities is writing theater reviews for ChicagoTheaterandArts.com which I then repurpose as content for my podcast at ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com.
It is general practice that the producers of the various theatrical productions provide publicity photographs that can be used by the reviewers. This week my downloadable package of photos for Orson Welles’ Dracula by Glass Apple Theatre in Chicago included a digital business card from the company’s artistic director. In the many years that I have been doing this I do not remember anyone taking this simple action.
Including a digital copy of your business card along with other digital assets is a perfect way to share your contact information in a form that fits the medium. In this case the image of the business card easily displayed in my download directory and provided me an opportunity to save the contact information conveniently alongside related information in the project’s digital file.
Many people feel that business cards are passé but I contend that they are relevant and in fact continue to be reimagined in many ways. The value of the traditional business card format is the fact that you can convey your contact information utilizing your logo, type style, colors and additional message in away that expresses your unique brand.
So before you zip that file why not include an image of your business card to add a personal touch to your digital package.
**Note: I have obscured the email address and phone number for privacy.
Author, editor and writing coach Arnie Bernstein includes a writing tip or quote from a famous author on the back side of each of his business cards. Part of his social media strategy is to share writing tips branded as “Your Daily Word” which can be found at LinkedIn and other platforms. This use of his card’s reverse side seems an ideal way to reinforce his services and add value to his personal encounters.
Each card has a different message on the back so essentially every recipient gets one at random from a pool of choices. Bernstein accomplishes this by printing the cards himself on his Epson WorkForce inkjet printer using Avery Clean Edge matte white card stock, with 10 cards per page. The cards are microperforated and easy to separate so they don’t look ragged on the edges. A link to software with templates provided by Avery makes it easy for you to design your own card. His tips are numbered, suggesting to the recipient that this is just one of a large number available, sending a subtle message that the editor and writing coach is full of great ideas.
Writing Tip #83 Proofread out loud. The mind plays a trick. You know what you wrote, so when you proofread silently, you miss “too” when you meant “two.” By proofreading out loud you will “hear” your errors. And consider this: a missing letter in “public” can lead to unintended embarrassment. Proofread out loud to kill mortifying prose!
Writing Tip #94 Avoid the adverb “very.” It slows down and adds nothing to your sentences when they should be strong and declarative. As Mark Twain said: “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.”
Bernstein says that this marketing technique is “inexpensive and the quotes make them stand out from the pack. So if they connect on some level, then they work. People still want business cards, which are also safer than sharing info via airdrop. I don’t put my Venmo on my card. Save that for after I get the client/connection.”
Utilizing the back of your business card is not uncommon, in fact doctors, hair salons and others often use this space for appointment reminders. Including team schedules and calendars is also a popular technique [page 49-50 “Turn Your Business Card Into Business”] that encourages people to retain and refer to your card over a period of time.
What tips could you share related to your business or service? How about a daily affirmation, joke or puzzle? Think about using this idea as a way to surprise and delight people you meet. Who doesn’t enjoy cracking open a fortune cookie and getting a secret message? This can be a similar experience.
Imagine a small group of people at a networking group each getting a different card and sharing the tip or message they received. What a great way to get people talking and even better the conversation is centered around you.
Think of this available blank space as a real word (rather than digital) social media opportunity. Use the same principles. Resist the urge to sell. Think in terms of sharing, connecting and building rapport with your recipient. Likely they have received the gift of your message in person so it is a chance to reinforce all of the goodwill you have garnered through that personal interaction.
Keep in mind, networking is not about selling, it is about connecting. The goal of a new encounter is to have your new contact walk away remembering that they met you. They only need to have a vague notion of how you might be of service to them or someone they know – – but they do need a mechanism to be able to find you when they need you, and a business card is often the best device to make that happen.
Most of the business cards you distribute will be discarded but they are inexpensive and in most cases they have already done their job of helping you make a memorable impression. Even the act of discarding your card means a person has to review your information one more time to determine if keeping the card has value or not, so that’s one more impression you have made. Of those that are retained, the only card that matters is the one that delivers a client back to you and I virtually guaranty that investment will be a thousand fold.
Well, this is just one more tip you can use to “Turn Your Business Card Into Business.”
Face-to-face networking is slowly making a come-back and that includes the Small Business Expo. This is a popular event that takes place in first and second tier cities around the country. The event does a nice job of presenting exhibitor opportunities, educational sessions and most importantly a chance to network.
One of the typical features of the expo is their speed networking sessions where business people can quickly learn a little about one another and then decide whether to follow-up to interact more.
During the lock-down SBE did a good job of keeping their events going with online sessions. I attended a number of them and made several good new contacts.
Here is a video from SBE founder & CEO, Zachary Lezberg, sharing useful and insightful networking ideas.
My message for years has been that business cards exist simply to communicate your contact information to prospective buyers of your product or service.
This simple and well conceived concept by Singing Bear Shop proves that business cards are alive and well even in the Internet age. An image of their business card has gone viral because it is clever but also because it succinctly delivers the essential message they need to deliver.
Of course I would prefer if it said what they do. Maybe they want to intrigue you enough to go visit and find out. That’s not a bad tactic but if you borrow this idea you might want to add a bit more information above the schematic or on the opposite side of the card.
Have you revisited your business card lately? What does your current card say about you, does it have all of your essential information?Have you ever shared your card on social media? If so send me a link, if not post it someplace and then send me a link, maybe I’ll share it, feature it here or talk about it on the web.
I was out for a walk today on a beautiful Chicago fall day. At some point I decided to see what time it was, only to find I had lost my phone. Looking back at the leaf strewn landscape all around I thought, “This is not good.”
Carefully I began to retrace my steps thinking that my best bet was to look around one of the two benches I had stopped at for a while. After all I reasoned that my jacket pocket was too deep for the phone to just fall out as I was walking so it must have fallen out when I sat down. Anyway it seemed logical.
Well yippee there it was not too far away under the bench where I had stopped, nestled in a small pile of golden maple leaves with the brilliant sunshine reflecting off of the newly purchased shiny screen protector.
Anyway it made me muse about how someone might go about reuniting me with my phone if it had happened to be found. Since it is password protected it is not easy to get at my contacts.
That gave me the idea of putting a business card inside the case behind my phone, which I have immediately done. The card has my business landline phone number and my name as well as my email address. You might say that maybe no one would think to take the case off to look for an ID but at least it would provide an opportunity for someone to find me.
If you don’t want to use a business card an alternative would be a piece of paper with the number of a friend or family member who can get in contact with you.
My wife has pointed out that a good idea is also to zip up the pocket on my jacket which does indeed have a zipper for just this purpose.
It goes without saying that business networking in 2020 during the wake of Covid-19 has been a challenge. In the past I typically would attend on average more than two events a month. This year I have not been to any public events since mid-March and here it is nearly the beginning of November.
One strategy is to take this time to reach out and have a few one-on-one conversations with some of the folks in your current database. After all half of the trick to successful business networking is follow up and that’s where most of us drop the ball. So pull out that stack of business cards or work through your LinkedIn contact list to mine some of that gold hiding in plain sight.
Keep in mind that good follow-up is not all about hitting someone over the head with your sales pitch. How about just calling to see if they are holding up alright in this environment? See if they are facing any specific business challenges or if they have identified any new business opportunities as a result of working from home. Make a connection and build your relationship. That is the key to good networking.
There are many business networking events taking place online. This week I attended the Chicago edition of the Virtual Small Business Expo. This organizer puts on roughly one event a week each centered in a different U.S. city. But what is cool about the virtual version is that you can attend them all regardless of where you live with no travel costs. If you have a product or services that can be sold remotely what a great networking opportunity.
At the Chicago event I met about 15 new people. Moshe Wolf offers I/T support on the far north side of Chicago and I just happened to have a good contact for him that I was happy to share. Jeffrey Stein is a media relations professional and avid Toastmaster. We have one friend in common who I happened to remember is also a member of the Professional Toastmasters Group that meets in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook. Ashley Lyle is a web designer out of Detroit but is also involved with a Black Literature and Art Network which I thought was a good fit with my client and friend Regina Harris-Biaocchi who is a noted African American Composer and Author. I also seemed to hit-it-off with Tehilla Newman, a networking ninja and salesperson at-large who is looking for the right sales opportunity. She and I had a great follow-up conversation by phone today and established what I think will be a good friendship and potential alliance.
I’m looking forward to another follow-up conversation next week with cardio health specialist Judy Feldhausen who incidentally has a number of interesting videos on youtube demonstrating healthy food preparation options.
One really fun conversation was the last of the day with Shawn Shapiro a business strategist from Minnesota and Shola Elerewe a data analyst from London. We just had a nice talk about life, business, and how cool it was that the three of us could learn about each other meeting face-to-face via the Internet across thousands of miles and several time zones.
The nice thing about online networking in this environment is the fact that you can see the person you are speaking with, which makes a deeper connection. Maybe this will require you to step outside your comfort zone but what’s really nice is that you do not have to step outside you home office.
I’m planning to attend a few more of these Small Business Expo events in the coming weeks and months so look for me at the roundtables or speed networking sessions.