Business Cards are Serious Business
Why business cards are still relevant in a digital age
These days, everything we do in business is digital — sending mail, signing contracts, attending meetings, even networking. Given this digital reality, why should your company continue using old school business cards? In a word: effectiveness. Whether your company is a creative startup or a well-established accounting firm, business cards offer an instant opportunity to differentiate your brand.
Business cards are personal. After all, they contain your personal information and tell people what you do for a living. If you have the opportunity to make them Human Interesting, why not create a unique piece of artwork that says something about your brand? Equity Creative recently partnered with Studio On Fire to create new business cards that reflect our mission to make things more interesting. Interesting fact: it took 5 machines to make our cards.
In a time when printing costs are getting slashed and digital is king, creating a unique, well-made business card says something. It announces that a prospective business relationship is worth a good first impression and, hopefully, a second glance once we’ve parted ways. Case in point, Airbnb is an inherently digital company. That didn’t stop them from creating beautiful analog cards that help define their brand by engaging in an interesting conversation about humanity.
In a recent Entrepreneur article, Jonathan Long outlines five reasons why business cards still matter:
A business care is the first impression of your brand.
A memorable business card does more than just pass along an email address or phone number. A unique business card will create a memorable first impression of your brand that fuels the conversation even further.
Business cards are the most effective direct marketing tools.
Email marketing, search engine optimization and paid media all do a great job of attracting leads and prospects, but they still aren’t as effective as an in-person meeting sealed with a handshake along with a business card exchange.
Digital networking is impersonal.
Networking is about making genuine connections. Engaging in eye contact and actual conversation is how real relationships begin. Transfer the information from a business card to your mobile device after the conversation.
Creative business cards get shared.
If you hand over a creative business card that makes a great impression, that person is likely to show it to other people — putting you and your brand in front of additional prospects.
Business cards show you are prepared.
If you met two individuals and one was scrambling to find a pen and something to write on, and the other person simply pulled out a business card, whom would you want to do business with? We thought so.
Sure, impactful cards cost more. Our recommendation? Forgo purchasing the office air hockey table until you create some interesting business cards that will create a great first impression of your brand. Keep some in your pockets, wallet, briefcase, or laptop bag. The next time you encounter a business prospect you’ll be armed with memorability.
How do you feel about business cards? Do you still use them? Do you see them sticking around for a while?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
Some great examples produced by Studio On Fire
