Today’s world sees an increasing number of business aspects losing their physical form in favour of their digital one. Business cards are stubbornly refusing to do the same, and will likely continue to do so in the future as well. The old-school business card is still an all-important business and marketing tool. It is a good idea to always have a pocket full of them. When it comes to the reasons that confirm such a mindset, the following provide more than an adequate explanation:
- Demonstrate preparedness
- Provide free marketing
- Make for a powerful first impression
- As far as direct marketing tools go, business cards are the most effective
- Add a human & personal touch to sharing contact information
Demonstrate Preparedness
When it comes to situations in which you want to share your contact details and can’t find anything other than a cocktail napkin to write your personal information on, you probably already realize that’s not the most professional approach. How would you react if someone did the same when meeting you? Would you have the same opinion of someone who always has a professionally designed business card ready? The latter shows preparedness, which speaks volumes about one’s seriousness and professionalism.
Provide Free Marketing
Handing your business card over to a potential prospect means you’re giving them a physical object they cannot ignore, which is not the case with memorizing your phone number or email address. If the prospect leaves a meeting with your card in their pocket, they will probably show it to other people, even by accident. This means your brand and you will likely be put in front of other prospects, which means free marketing.
Make For A Powerful First Impression
Think about this for a moment: would a retail store that’s trying to make a good first impression do so by creating a storefront sign with a pencil and piece of cardboard? No. It would invest in a top-of-the-line sign with all the latest bells and whistles. That’s the same kind of mentality that applies to making contacts with business cards. If you’re adamant about making a killer first impression, go for a unique or even flagship model business card that will dazzle and impress just by being in someone’s hand. After such an effective icebreaker, it’s up to you to continue impressing the other party.
As Far As Direct Marketing Tools Go, Business Cards Are The Most Effective
A business card exchange and a handshake are a much better way to attract leads and prospects than paid media, search engine optimization, or email marketing. You’ll never miss an opportunity to make a valuable business connection if you’re always armed with business cards. Airport lounges, happy hour, industry conferences and trade shows will all go along much easier if you’re prepared to make chance meetings with possible prospects with your business cards.
They Add A Human & Personal Touch To Sharing Contact Information
Making genuine connections is what networking is all about. This is nearly impossible to do when you exchange information over a digital medium. Think about the end result of a meeting in which everyone has their heads buried in their phones; there will hardly be any significant memory left of the encounter, let alone future contacts. On the other hand, a business card will at the very least provide a reminder of who you are and what your company is about. This could easily create the need for a follow-up conversation, which can result in the strengthening of a business relationship.
