Are Business Cards Dead?
What is the purpose of business cards for a business in today's world? Everyone I meet seems to have one or more cards with their contact details, and some of them don't even own a business but they like the ease of handing out their contact details to people this way.
It seems that cards are now just 'contact details' because we have so many ways for people to reach us.
Not that long ago we just had to tell them our name and phone number.
Purpose of business cards When designing your business card do you consider what you want it to do for your business or is it just a small bit of paper that has your contact details on it.
Can you truly say that you got a new customer just because of your card design? If you are handing out your card you get the opportunity to tell them about your business anyway in more detail than a business card can do, and your appearance will mean more to them than your cards.
Isn't the purpose of a business card to stay in the prospects wallet so they can contact you as soon as they discover the need for your type of product instead of calling your competition.
Business card Graveyard If your business card doesn't go straight into their wallet or business card holder it is doomed within 5 minutes to go to the great graveyard with other business cards they have been given.
If your card has no importance to the prospect it will be out of mind and pocket by the time they get home.
You would stand more chance of getting customers to keep your contact details by saying 'Here let me put my number in your phone for you' instead of handing out your card.
Cards can only say so much The limited amount of space on a card prevents you from listing how you can help them solve their problems by using your products.
There is even a strong internal desire for adding a fancy image or photograph to add visual power to show your greatness and further reducing space for useful content.
Would you do better by handing them a good brochure instead? You would but people feel strange handing someone a brochure instead of a card, yet it would be more meaningful to your business and they are more likely to learn about your business benefits.
What do you think? Have any of your cards ever achieved a customer on their own or should you just put your business cards out of their misery now.
For the record I have been running my businesses for over twenty years without a single card.
© Copyright 2008 by Paul Baker
It seems that cards are now just 'contact details' because we have so many ways for people to reach us.
Not that long ago we just had to tell them our name and phone number.
Purpose of business cards When designing your business card do you consider what you want it to do for your business or is it just a small bit of paper that has your contact details on it.
Can you truly say that you got a new customer just because of your card design? If you are handing out your card you get the opportunity to tell them about your business anyway in more detail than a business card can do, and your appearance will mean more to them than your cards.
Isn't the purpose of a business card to stay in the prospects wallet so they can contact you as soon as they discover the need for your type of product instead of calling your competition.
Business card Graveyard If your business card doesn't go straight into their wallet or business card holder it is doomed within 5 minutes to go to the great graveyard with other business cards they have been given.
If your card has no importance to the prospect it will be out of mind and pocket by the time they get home.
You would stand more chance of getting customers to keep your contact details by saying 'Here let me put my number in your phone for you' instead of handing out your card.
Cards can only say so much The limited amount of space on a card prevents you from listing how you can help them solve their problems by using your products.
There is even a strong internal desire for adding a fancy image or photograph to add visual power to show your greatness and further reducing space for useful content.
Would you do better by handing them a good brochure instead? You would but people feel strange handing someone a brochure instead of a card, yet it would be more meaningful to your business and they are more likely to learn about your business benefits.
What do you think? Have any of your cards ever achieved a customer on their own or should you just put your business cards out of their misery now.
For the record I have been running my businesses for over twenty years without a single card.
© Copyright 2008 by Paul Baker
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