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Why We Still Need Business Cards

By: Elaine Fogel

The demise of the 3½ x 2? business card is a myth. If you’re working, you still need a business card. Why?

Here are seven good reasons:

They’re so easy to use. Business cards are the smallest form of advertising for your company or organization. Stash them in your pocket or purse in an attractive business card holder and you’ll look über professional when you whip them out.
They’re cheap to print. There are all kinds of business card offers online and offline. Some are cheaper than others to print. When you order cards, make sure that you’re comparing apples to apples in your specifications when you’re getting quotes. Some companies’ sizes are smaller or the stock is thinner. Our company charges $40 for 1000 cards on 14-pt white card stock, full color and bleed on both sides, and Aqueous coating. That comes out to 4¢/card! Now, that’s an inexpensive direct marketing tool. No stamps, no e-mail… you hand your business cards to people in person. Imagine that?!
They’re perfect for networking, meetings, and conferences. Business cards are small and light enough to bring with you wherever you go. Try transporting 1000 brochures to a conference! You can pack cards in a suitcase without paying for extra weight. You can stash them in your handbag and not get a backache. How convenient is that?
They can stand out and get attention. When you give out a creatively designed business card, people notice. Using your brand colors and fonts, your card reflects your organization’s brand personality.
They can direct people to your online spaces. Adding key social media links in addition to your website, blog, and e-mail address help drive traffic to your digital presence. Some people place QR codes on their cards, but they can take up too much space.
They’re used for card readers. Many people still use card readers to scan and import information into their contact management systems. These scanners are made to accept business cards. There are also mobile apps that take a photo of a business card and do the same thing. Bottom line? They’re easy for transferring information.
They offer diversity. Because they’re so inexpensive to produce, you can create different cards for different purposes. Depending on who your target market segments are, you can develop cards that emphasize specific products or services, or various aspects of your organization.

Are YOU still using business cards? Why or why not?

This article was originally published by Elaine Fogel

Published: January 3, 2014
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Elaine Fogel

Elaine Fogel is a marketing, branding, and customer experience evangelist, professional speaker, and author of Beyond Your Logo: 7 Brand Ideas That Matter Most For Small Business Success. People in 100+ countries regularly read her blog, Totally Uncorked on Marketing and her articles have appeared in many publications.