I’m still trying come off the high and unwinding from a great week of connecting, workshops, and keynotes at the Echo Media Conference at Watermark Community Church in Dallas.
Reflecting and unpacking I started pulling out fist fulls of business cards. Matter of fact there are a few I know I received but lost somewhere between hand off and unpacking. Bummer because some of the designs were cool.
Unpacking it got me thinking, I thought business cards were dead. I swear I caught the news report or RSS that the business card died gradual death during some trade show years ago. I guess not!
It seems now more than ever everyone I meet seems to have one or more cards with their contact details, and some of them don’t even own a business. 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.
Interestingly, people are opening up their social networks to everyone by creating connection point on their business card. I did this (see below) to help deepen connections and it’s paid off big time. Essentially, it lowers the time to be able to connect (it’s a pain to enter the contact information), it let’s people get more details about you and a better look at who you are thanks to the information you populated on your network and it gives us multiple avenues to communicate.
What do you think? Are business cards dead, or are they reinventing themselves?
I think they are reinventing themselves. People now use business cards as trademarks. Something that when left with you leaves a lasting impression and connects people to you in different ways. Like your card. Photographers having cards that have very little contact info but images of their work. People, regardless of how high tech and digital they are, still like something paper in their hand. I will throw away a business card that is plain and just has their business name and contact on it…i can get that online, but if the card is creative, designed well, a different shape or size, has a great image…etc. I will keep it
I agree with Jake. It's been a few years since I've needed to give out cards, but this year it seems to have resurfaced in popularity.
The physical address has been replaced with your social media outlets and it reflects the identity of an individual versus their organization. Time to order new ones…
I agree with Jake. It's been a few years since I've needed to give out cards, but this year it seems to have resurfaced in popularity.
The physical address has been replaced with your social media outlets and it reflects the identity of an individual versus their organization. Time to order new ones…
I think that it's an issue of branding. What's more memorable "Hi, I'm Ryan" or "ryanbrymer.com". If I maintain my branding across media outlets a card helps me merge the digital world into the physical. There's a part of me that think it is a bit vain, but when you're meeting tons of people it's good to be able to differentiate yourself.
By the way, it's been good following you on twiiter.
The product is what matter. If your product rocks the card will be handy and referenced. If not, who cares. 🙂 Great post.
Matt,
I love business cards…that is, one's that stick out and give me the relevant information. That night we were hanging out downstairs at the Westin, everyone passing cards around had one's that really stuck out.
I like them personally…just got some new ones made.
Rhett
I was wishing at Echo that I had a business card. Do I have a business. No. You're right on.
dude…every conference or trip i go on i end up with a ton of cards and i've started using mini-moo for my wife and i we like the customization