The Power of a Business Card

In this digital age, people might tell you that business cards are unnecessary. That online platforms have rendered them obsolete and dated. In reality, however, attempts to reinvent business cards for the digital age have gone nowhere. As the Economist observes, even in the trendiest tech gatherings in Silicon Valley, people still greet each other by handing out these little card rectangles rather than tapping their phones together.

The Personal Touch

In a world where face-to-face communication is increasingly rare, we still place a high value on the personal touch. Today, business cards are a physical representation of you, your personality, your brand. A card can be memorable, fun, visually awe-inspiring, and each of these is a nod in your favor. Business cards can leave an impression in ways that words might fail to do, long after you have handed it to your potential customer.

Create a Conversation

Really well-designed and produced business cards can also start a whole new conversation with a prospective client. The more unique the card, the more you’ll open lines of communication, and that’s important when you’re meeting for the first time.

Be Prepared

How many times have you been about to take down contact details only to find your phone battery has died? Trying to find a piece of paper and a pen to scribble down the information not only looks unprofessional but is far more likely to get lost. Having a business card handy says you’re professional and prepared to do business, and that can make all the difference in a new client’s eyes.

A Physical Reminder

Cards can also act as a physical reminder that you have actually met someone rather than you just Googled them. Sifting through piles of different cards helps to summon up memories of meetings in ways that simply looking through your browser bookmarks or inbox never would.

There are so many things that machines have taken over, and now do better than humans. But they cannot look people in the eye and decide what type of person they are. Your business card can be a reminder of that.

Word of Mouth

Business cards provide an easy way of passing your information to others. This passing on of information may be the ultimate draw of cards, as they continue to have possible advertising power long after you send them off into the world. This is why making sure that you have a business card that you can be proud of is imperative, it might be sticking around for some time.

So now, it’s time to put your cards on the table.

How do you create a memorable first impression? How might you add a personal touch to your business?