a short rant about business cards

 
 

An old friend of mine was the Chief Technology Officer of one of the largest banks in the world. He helped Bill Gates design the techno part of his uber techno home. He wore navy pinstripes. He taught me a lot. The least meaningful but fun lesson: business cards are overrated. "If you want to find me, you will," he told people. "The older I get the more I lighten my load."

Adorable CTO, he was.

I've worked with a number of entrepreneurs who actually held off launching their websites or going to networking events because their business cards weren't back from the printer. That left me gravely concerned for their future. Business cards might have their place for on-the-road salespeople and a few retailers, but before you send your logo to Kinko's, check your reasoning. Business cards are not an imperative to a rocking business or being reachable.

WHY I'LL NEVER HAVE A BUSINESS CARD
  1. I've never, in twenty professional years, actually finished a box of business cards. Change is the only constant in my career.
  2. If you really want to get in touch with me, I’m very, very easy to find. (Most of us are.) Google me. Twitter me. Facebook me. LinkedIn me. Friend Feed me. Buzz me. Email me. (But whatever you do, don't call me. In that case, there's my super VA, Dawn.)
  3. If, after hearing me rock the mic for an hour, sharing a drink at a party, or 5 minutes in an elevator, you can’t actually remember my name or my website – then I’m doing a really lame job of showing up, or you just didn't like me enough. If you don't remember my name, it's not meant to be. I'm okay with that. And for the record, I never forget a face, but I suck with names - except when someone has really caught my attention.
    4. If I really want you to get in touch with me, I'll make sure that happens. I'll email you to say, "great to meet, let's save the world together."
  4. I can’t remember the last time I looked at someone else's business card to get their info. 2001? Maybe.
  5. I save about $100 bucks that I’d much rather spend on shoes or music.
  6. Ink, paper, toxins and trees – the world is a little better offer without another box of cards going into the landfill.

NOT HAVING A BUSINESS CARD WILL NUDGE YOU TO:
Shine. Handing out cards can make us feel like we're actually doing something productive. Sometimes we are. But sometimes, we're just filling space and copping out of saying a clear "goodbye" or "I'd like to know more."
Get your own on-line presence if you don't have one. You don't need a "blog," but in this day and age, every working professional should have a one page site/profile of their own, or one parked on LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.

Depending on your business, when someone asks you for your business card, it may be better to smile your twinkliest smile and repeat your Twitter name, your super easy (or clever) Gmail address, and very kindly say, I'm so easy to find. And memorable I might add.

. . . . . .

POST THE POST

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join the convoposted 11 Mar 10 in: business + wealth articles   ·   tags:   ·   View Comments

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  • I'm a photographer and since I use moo.com to design business cards, each card can have a different back. I use my own photos as the back for each photo and they have become great conversation pieces. I hand the person a bunch of cards and ask them to keep the one they like the most. People think they're fantastic and that they're the best cards they've seen. I've had people who are watching this happen and come over and ask to look at them. It's like having a mini portfolio on hand at all times.

    But I must say many people don't need business cards. I was once given a business card by a poet. I wondered why on earth a poet would need a business card. Still haven't figured that out.
  • Hi Danielle,

    I respect your decision not to have business cards. It may not be for everyone.

    I actually design business cards. They are beautiful and classy! If you had one of mine, you'd want to hand them out. Not sure why but a lot of newsletters that land in my box seem to pooh pooh design of any kind - no biz cards, no logos, etc. Then they promote their own businesses. It doesn't feel very abundant to me.

    What appears on a card runs the gamut. Yours would be very kewl!

    Thx, Giulietta the Muse
  • I haven't had business cards as a long time as a business owner, but I am uber excited about the ones that are being made for me right now. One of the biggest reasons is that the creative group that I've joined, is not only known for their out-of-the-box ideas, but their business cards. One of the first tweets I got in response to posting that I was officially joining the Francomedia group, was 'Do you get a cool fish business card?' - they've done a great job creating some very memorable business cards that tie into their brand, and make them memorable. You can read my review on some of the best cards I've found: http://officeassistants.ca/branding-through-bus...
  • my conclusion is this: 1/2 the world needs biz cards. 1/2 the world doesn't. But 1/2 of the 1/2 of the world that don't need biz cards don't know that they don't need biz cards. That means we need to convert a 1/4 of the world of card-carrying people. Dig?
  • ha. tru dat.
  • muyfifi
    Help me out, what is a VA?
  • Virtual Assistant
  • You know what's an even worse idea than business cards? Business cards made out of beef jerky. Yup. It's real. Meat Cards uses laser etching to print your business info on their edible card. However, one can argue that these would make you more memorable in a smelly, meaty sort of way. Check it out: http://www.meatcards.com
  • I agree, how very true! If they want to find you... they will.
    What do you think of giving bookmarkers, instead of cards? They contain more information, some great pictures and 'stand out' more. You can't put them in a rolodex, but people do put them in a book they read at home... Works for my wife's business!!
  • Sukie
    I actually put business cards in books as bookmarks, so..... :-)
  • Ha, Sukie, I do the same thing!!! I like to use my own little moo cards with just my personal domain name and contact info. That way if I loose my book, people can see the card and get it back to me. :-)
  • In my former life as a construction manager, business cards are still king. It's incredible, really. I never gave anyone my business card because I hated fattening my wallet up with them and I still managed to do more than my fair share of business.

    On the other hand, I worked with a few people that would give me their card EACH TIME I saw them. Dude....your info was in my directory the first time I met you. Im going to throw this card away along with every other one you give me and you ought to know I'll never call you unless I have to.
  • hpdara
    Totally Sister. I was just thinking the same thing as I stared down at my box of cards (1000 - ugh.) And since I hate to waste paper, money and beauty - I am going to turn them into "First Class Free" cards for my Nia class an hit the pavement. Otherwise they are fairly useless. Great post. I will pass it along.
  • There are a lot of lame business cards out there, and those aren't worth the hassle and money it takes to make them. But there are also lots of opportunities to do something beautiful and creative, even if it isn't expensive, and it's nice to leave something tangible with people you've just met. Mine are letterpressed and I get so many compliments on them.
  • So true! The only time I use my business cards is to write down information for someone, such as a website or book name that I am referring. I rarely even have my cards with me and the few times that someone asked me for one I just said I'm easy to find on the web and they have found me.

    That being said, I do think it depends on the type of business. Businesses that aren't as digital still need business cards. The only cards I ever keep are home services, such as the plumber, electrician, etc. For any other service, if you are not on the web, then I probably won't do business with you.
  • I agree- in the digital services spehere perhaps business cards are less than necessary but for those of us who provide physical services (I run a Face Painting business), we need a simple card with our name, phone # and website.

    Otherwise customers won't be beothered enough to give each of the other adoring parents at the party my info - and most of my business is generated through refferals.

    I also need cards for networking with other professionals. I may meet up to 50 new faces per event and I need a fast way to make sure they have my info.

    Interesting perspective though!
  • But how will you be able to enter the free lunch raffles at the local bagel shop? :)
  • Tania
    Oh great...just took delivery of a new batch of my pretty, precious business cards which I love, love love. But point taken. The same energy put into an online profile that I can love could be more effective and relevant.
  • I have some very simple cards: name, cell, email, location (not specific address in case I ever move) and my main website, which I've had since forever and, fates willing, will always have. The other stuff hasn't changed for years and likely won't anytime soon, so they have lasted a long time. People ask for them. They have double purpose for business or personal, and I can write stuff on them.

    Just last week, I didn't have any with me and I met a wonderful person (non business) who asked me for a card and I didn't have any, so I had to tear a piece of paper out of a notebook and write things down for her.

    I follow you but I have a lousy memory, and I'm sure others do as well. Plus, though I think my last name is easy, other people have a hard time with it. So the chances of them spelling it right on a google search aren't high. And my main blog has a long name. Plus...believe it or not, where I live there are lots of people who aren't internet savvy. Just south of here I think some people never heard of it :)
  • mdyak
    Not only that, but all those business cards other people give me lie around clogging drawers or go straight to recycling... it's like a snow drift of business cards piling up. The best use I've found for them is in making referrals. I keep cards of dynamite health care practitioners to pass out to friends, clients, etc., and I ask people to support me by giving my cards out as well. A lot more productive.
  • A business card is a very important tool for most people in business. I love your website, and you are very connected online, but not everyone is as well connected online in that way - and business cards help others find you online. But, i suppose it depends on the business you're in.

    In my business - art - you have to have a business card or you're not taken as seriously as you'd like.
  • I have a box of cards with my blog logo & URL - nothing else - and I give them out when I'm photo'ing something whilst out & about. Even in this day & age of easy to print myself, I have them printed elsewhere & spend money on them. It eases people's minds, they don't worry that I'm a criminal or terrorist or what have you, and it eases the way for me to take pix where sometimes people would ask me not to do so - even though legally I might have the right, I won't if someone is tense about it.
  • this is a great use of cards. when "I'm not a terrorist or stalker" doesn't quite suffice.
    xo
  • Agreed! I've had one box that a business partner decided I needed and had sent to me and most of the information on it was wrong - my website address, the spelling of my name, and my title. I never got around to ordering ones with the correct info and it hasn't hurt me a bit.
  • Great GREAT point. No cards for me.
  • I hear you, I hear you. Business cards aren't the be all end all; getting clients, developing and deepening relationships, having an online home base are most important. HOWEVER, I can't remember names (sometimes even in my own family!) and I like to write down a recommended book, website, tip on a business card when I meet somebody. When someone asks for my card, I feel like it's being kind and prepared to have a card to give. It makes people feel good to exchange cards--even people I've known for years but who may have changed jobs or started their own thing....They aren't expensive to make, so why not--as long as it does hold up the works. Hmmm...
  • Plus, if you're in the business of helping people stumble through the online/SM world, your best future clients may well be the ones who don't know how - or can't be bothered - to find you online.

    A simple card with your name, email address & phone number - printed on uncoated stock (so you can jot a brief note - remember pens?! - might end up being your most powerful marketing tool.

    Plus, as Janet implies, cards are "high touch." In a world where no one uses business cards, business cards become "sticky."
  • I agree on your view on the uselessness of the business card concept, but I would like to offer one exception. As a kid I used to love my parents business cards, made me feel very proud of them.

    So, if you have a kid, maybe (and I'm just saying maybe, don't go cutting down any forests) just get a few business cards (and also give the ones you receive to him/her, so they at least serve some purpose).
  • I can't tell if this post came at the best or worst time!

    We are launching my husband's stone artisan business and dealing with branding, logo & business card right now. His business is very face to face, regionally based and dependent on cooperatively working with other contractors and artists. When he meets someone he wants to start referring he does bring home their card and we transfer the info onto our computer.

    Also, research has showed us that our area is a little bit more old fashioned, especially the cliental he works with--they still use the yellow pages (gasp!) and they like certain things done the good old fashioned way.

    Part of the reason we are considering spending the extra money to letterpress his cards--making that impression on his specific audience.

    That being said--I so agree with you which leaves me wondering if maybe we shouldn't splurge.

    But I've just got this feeling it might be the right thing in this situation.

    (One short novel later ;-)
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