Are business cards relevant in the digital age?

We live in a digital world, a world of LinkedIn and social media, of super powerful handheld devices and easy to use, fast applications that connect us all in a way we’ve never experienced before. 

Just last week we were investigating a digital business card that can be sent from your phone to any other phone, automatically adding a new contact and allowing you to broadcast updates to your recipients.

So is the humble, physical business card still relevant? Does it have any use in this digital day and age? The answer, perhaps surprisingly, is yes. For a number of reasons.

The Personal Touch

A business relationship is always better when it’s built on face-to-face interaction, when eye contact is made, individuals weighed up and and conversations occur. The passing of business cards is part of that interaction, as important as the handshake.

There’s no eye contact if both of you have your heads buried in your phones, transferring contact details to each other, rather than slipping that physical card to each other!

Rediscovery

When was the last time you scrolled through the contacts list on your phone? In fact, do you even know who is in your contacts list aside from those you call or message often? We’re guessing you never have and you haven’t a clue.

So what makes you think by sending your digital details to someone that they’ll ever be seen again?

A physical business card, however, will be rediscovered at least once and potentially many more times. If it’s slipped into a pocket it’ll be seen the next time that item of clothing is washed. Stored in a wallet or handbag? Worst case scenario it’ll be found during that annual clear out!

The point is, no matter how slick a digital business card can be, a physical one has far more chance of being seen over time.

Brand and First Impressions

Your business card – whether physical or digital – is often the first thing someone sees of your brand and your business. There is still a certain prestige in a beautifully designed business card printed on good stock that feels high quality – and that right there is your first impression. A whole lot better than an impersonal transfer of data from one device to another, no?

Always Available

The beauty of those little pieces of card is that you can carry them anywhere, stored in your wallet, a cardholder or laptop bag. They are immediately to hand for a chance meeting in a coffee shop or restaurant, on a bus or plane, even at a party.

More importantly, your physical business card doesn’t depend on an internet connection – where your digital business card very much could. Think about that…

Global Acceptance

Literally everyone in business across the world is aware of business cards, they are a globally accepted method of sharing contact details. It may be that one day the digital business card is accepted just as widely and is just as welcomed.

But that day is not today. Many people are still wary of accepting digital data from others, especially those they don’t know. But there’s no danger in accepting a small rectangle of card.

Value for Money

Back in the 80s and 90s it cost quite a few quid to have a quality business card printed. In fact, many business owners, directors and even salesman took great pride in how much it cost to have 500 business cards printed.

Now though, ironically with the advent of DIGITAL printing, it costs much, much less. With the increase in availability of business printing and the constantly evolving technology the cost of business card printing has come right down. In fact, we’d say that a business card is now the most cost effective way of marketing your business. It’s not like you have to own an expensive mobile phone to carry a business card, after all…