In the digital age, carrying around a stack of tiny, printed cards with your name and contact information might seem archaic. But it’s not. Business cards still have a place in today’s world, and you can improve your professional image and get the word out about your business using this affordable tool.
Here are some reasons business cards are still relevant and how they can help you and your brand:
If you don’t have business cards, what do you do when someone asks for your contact information? Do you ask them to take out their cell phone and type it in? Or do you scramble around, looking disorganized and foolish, unable to find a pen and paper? The first option makes you seem like you’re putting extra work on a potential client, and the second makes you look unprepared.
Neither is a great look for someone trying to convey professionalism and as we all learn at an early age, first impressions matter. If you have business cards ready to hand out, all you have to do is reach into your pocket or wallet, hand one over, shake hands, and know you might have just gained a new business connection.
Whether you’re attending a networking event or introducing yourself to someone new, having a physical business card can lend credibility and demonstrate your commitment to the particular field of business that you are in.
When people are looking for a service, their first instinct is to turn to the internet. But it’s very easy for you and your business to get lost in the overload of Google results, no matter how strong your SEO strategy is. Business cards can help you overcome this hurdle by being a constant reminder of your name, business, and service.
How many times have you taken a business card, only to put it in your wallet and leave it there, seeing it every time you open it? Or toss it on your desk and see it whenever you glance away from your computer? Probably quite often.
When people do this with your business card, your name become more familiar. Then, when they need your services, they will either turn to you first or, when they do a Google search, your name and business will stick out and give them a reason to click on your website instead of the others.
Having physical business cards has advantages for networking events. It can make it easier to establish connections and exchanges with others by eliminating the need for a prolonged conversation about contact information exchange. Business cards allow you to get straight to networking without any awkward pauses.
Business cards are also useful at networking events beyond allowing you to exchange contact information. They can also be used as a point of conversation or to break up some awkwardness.
There are also countless opportunities to leave business cards and take advantage of free advertising, such as the community board at your local coffee shop.
Many local businesses still have fishbowls that invite business people to drop their cards in to win a prize. While winning free food is always nice, the benefit of having business cards to drop in these fishbowls extends beyond the dietary benefits. Companies in need of services or expertise often want to find local businesses to collaborate with.
By dropping your business card in their fishbowl or on countertops, you’re showing them that you are a customer familiar with their business and already steps ahead of the competition. Small businesses need services for everything from landscaping to construction to marketing. It’s a lot easier to go with someone they know than to do a long search for the right partner.
Drop a business card into a fishbowl and you might land more than a free sandwich – you might land a new client!
In conclusion, having business cards in 2024 is still important for networking and building relationships. Although digital contact information exchange has become commonplace, physical business cards remain an important tool for introducing yourself to potential customers, partners, or employers. Investing in quality business cards can help you make lasting impressions and take advantage of advertising opportunities that digital contact information won’t provide. Therefore, having business cards will still be beneficial in the coming years.
Do you need help designing or printing professional business cards for your business? Look no further than The Printed Image! We offer high-quality printing services, a wide variety of design options, and friendly customer service. Contact us today to get started on creating the perfect business cards for your brand!
As the world continues to adjust to the ever-changing “new normal” way of working as Covid cases continue to fluctuate globally, making meaningful connections in the business world is different and a little more complex.
Gone are the days when the paper business card seemed an effective way to share your details, but somehow, just giving someone your number also doesn’t seem to strike that subtle balance of professionalism.
While the traditional paper business card may be obsolete, that doesn’t mean you don’t need business cards. Exchanging contact information professionally still requires a business card, but how that business card looks has changed.
With the world of work almost entirely digital at this point, the analog paper business card seems both redundant and wasteful. NFC business cards have become a popular alternative, but with some reliability issues on certain devices and the needless injection of more plastic into the world, a truly digital networking solution, both remotely and in-person, is needed. Enter the digital business card…
Digital business cards transform the way you can share your details into a seamless exchange. An app that we recommend is HiHello—HiHello is the top-rated digital business card app on the App Store and Google Play, and allows you to easily connect with innovative tech companies in a way that’s, well, innovative! HiHello’s free online business cards offer you the chance to set up a digital business card in minutes, and their business plans offer some unique features, including video profiles (where you can put a face and a message to your name), the ability to embed YouTube videos, attach PDFs with marketing materials that showcase your business and the option to create multiple cards for people, products, services and more!
Yep, you guessed it, it’s an app! HiHello takes up minimal space on your phone, and once you’ve created cards for you and your team, you can seamlessly share them via QR code, link, email, and text message. (You can even keep your cell phone number private!)
Your business card opens in the default browser on someone’s phone. They don’t require anything on their phone, no app, nothing. Provided they have a smartphone, anyone will be able to receive your digital business card. Every field on a HiHello card is fully interactive, so once they’ve enjoyed a whistle-stop tour of your business, they can save your details by emailing or texting your business card to themselves—which drastically increases the chance of follow-up—or they can save your details to their phone’s contacts. Once they’ve done this (and this is the really cool part), they can share their details back with you!
Whether you’re creating a traditional paper card, NFC business card, or digital business card, the content you choose can make or break whether your cards are effective, but picking the right information isn’t so simple. If you’re trying to fit the essential information on a tiny paper card or working with the unlimited space of a digital business card, there are 5 key things that should be on your business card:
1. Your name
2. A photo
3. Basic contact information
4. Your website
5. Marketing collateral
Learn more about the 5 must-haves for every professional business card in our blog.
Put simply: yes, digital business cards are here to stay. The humble paper business card is so limited and causes numerous headaches. From title changes and typos to printing delays and waste, they are simply not an effective way of networking.
Companies are always curious about HiHello’s history and trajectory. Founded in 2018, they’ve grown from humble beginnings to the number one rated app in the space. With users in 180+ countries, and over 13 million cards shared in 2023, HiHello continues to be the leader in the space. The future is an exciting one, having secured a $7.5 million Series A fundraise.
HiHello’s digital business cards are easy to create, simple to manage, and showcase your business in the most impressive and visually appealing way. 2024 will continue the trend of innovation and a different, more effective way of working. Showing up to a networking event with a stack of paper to showcase your cutting-edge and innovative company isn’t going to do the job, and well, if you’re networking remotely, it’s unlikely you’ll be mailing your card.
Main photo by Karolina Grabowska
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