In a digital world, are business cards (really) necessary? If you have heard, business cards are useless and old-fashioned and, all you need to do is a google search we want to challenge that thinking.

We’re going to discuss the three reasons why Business Cards are still relevant today including, why you need one and how it will make you stand out. Let’s discuss it!

Before we start – missed a part of our Creative Business Series? Catch up below.

• How to Pick the Perfect Email Address
• Should I name my business after myself?
• How to Prepare your Business for the New Year
• Spring Clean Your Computer Checklist

Index

What Business Card Team are you on?

1. Elements of a business card

What exactly is a business card?
The 3 P’s of a Business Card Checklist
Size, shape & thickness of your card, and how they reflect your business

2. How a business card helps business

Leave behind a piece of your brand
People Power of passing on your card (& brand) to others
Snail mail and your business card

3. Standing out in a crowded market

As a creative, get creative with your design
Showcase your work
Take advantage of the Nay-Sayers!

What Business Card Team are you on?

When it comes to business cards, we find there are often two distinct Teams.

Team 1 believes that business cards are dead.

They also think:

• All you need to do is exchange details via your phone or do a google search for that person later on.
• Paper greeting cards are a waste, and if they must send a card, they’ll send a digital one.
• Reading books is always online and, they can’t remember the last time they picked up a physical one.

Team 2 believes the business card is more relevant than ever!

They also think:

• Exchanging business cards is more personal, professional and effortless.
• Paper products are their jam. From greeting cards to using snail mail, the tactile exchange and personal touch are what means the most to them.
• From hardcover to paperback, the physical book wins over a kindle or ebook every time!

Where do you stand? While camp 1, makes some relevant points, we are (and will always be) Team 2! But before we explain why we should first examine a bit more about business cards.

Are Business Cards still necessary?
1. Elements of a business card

What exactly is a business card?

Typically the size of your driver’s license or credit card, a business card is left behind as a reminder of you and your brand. Without you being there, it explains who you are, what you can do for them and how to contact you.

Although business cards can also come in other sizes such as square and mini the standard size of 88mm x 59mm or 3.46″ x 2.32″ is a popular choice as it fits perfectly in your purse or wallet. So it’s taken with your potential client wherever they go and, when needed, they know where to find it.

The 3 P’s of a Business Card Checklist

Although we always encourage creativity when it comes to designing a business card, there are some essentials that we believe every card should have. After all, the goal of leaving a business card behind is for potential clients to contact you afterwards.

There are 3 P’s we always consider when creating a business card. They are People, Place and Purpose.

People

• Name – include your first, first and surname or a mixture of both.
• Nickname – my sister, is a School Readiness Teacher and, she always puts “Miss Tish” on her card. Tish is short for Letitia but, everyone in her community fondly refers to her as Miss Tish.
• Business title or position – Adding this gives a quick snapshot of what it is you do. And also a reminder to you if someone asks at a later date.
• Pronunciation – If your name is hard to pronounce, we have seen some business cards that phonetically spell out the name in brackets, turning a common mispronunciation into a quick fix!
• Qualifications after your name – if required, you may want to include post-nominal letters which are abbreviations of your education or titles.

Place

• Street address – If you have a physical location, add your full address including the street number, street, city, state abbreviation, country and postcode (Zip code). And if you feel required, basic directions or a map.
• P.O. Box – Don’t have a physical location? Another safe place of contact is via a P.O. box.
• Online address – Are you purely online and your website is the only address you have? Then include that.
• Email –  Prefer to have everything in writing when communicating with clients? Adding your email is a must.
• Mobile or Cellphone – Just because you have one, doesn’t mean you have to add it to your business card. But, if you prefer verbal communication, include it. And, if dealing with international customers add your time zone and country’s prefix.

Purpose

• Tagline – Adding a clear, memorable tagline will ensure your customers remember what you do. (Even when you’re not there to explain!)
• Services – In point form, add the three most relevant services you offer. Three is the magic number due to the space available on the card and the number of points someone will remember.
• Visual Branding – From your brand’s logo, fonts, colours and overall look and feel this all gives potential customers an idea of what type of brand you are and what you stand for.
• Appointments fill-in – A favourite from hairdressers to specialists, the purpose of their business cards acts as a written reminder for your next appointment.
• Stand out – your business card can make a statement and a lasting impression with a tangible reminder of you and your brand.

Size, shape & thickness of your card (& how they reflect your business)

Size

Business cards sizes have come a long way over the years and apart from the traditional 88mm x 59mm or 3.46″ x 2.32″ that can be single or double-sided, they are also available in:
– Small or as Moo printing like to call them the MiniCard
– Square business cards
– Rounded in shape or rounded corners
– Large business cards

The advantage of choosing an alternate size is that they will stand out.

The first time I saw a mini business card was at an expo for hand-made crafters and one designer had cleverly attached the mini card to each product as a takeaway product label and business card in one. Using this can be a great cost-effective way to stand out and remember your brand.

Landscape or Portrait?

Want a wide-shaped card? Go landscape. Prefer a Tall one? Then portrait shape is best for you.

But there’s more to landscape and portrait cards than you think.

Think of any company that you worked at that supplied you with a business card. Was the card landscape? I know all mine were.

And coming from a media background, this traditional style is the shape of choice. Other organisations such as banking, medical, retail and beauty also favour landscape. The majority of businesses do.

A way to stand out, however, is to use a portrait card.

The portrait shape shows you don’t follow the traditional path. It has a modern look to it and is what start-ups, tech companies and creatives such as designers and artists seem to favour. (And still fits nicely into your purse or wallet).

Thickness

The thickness you pick for your card says volumes about the style of business you have.

Thin, flimsy card stock is often associated with cheap, discount and generic. And the only way you’ll stand out with a card like this is for all the wrong reasons.

While thicker, good quality paper that is lush or even Luxe as moo printing offers, shouts quality, professionalism and a premium product.

Isn’t that how you would like potential customers to think of you?

You can take being remembered a step further by trying out a metal business card!

Maybe recycled paper is more of a fit with your branding? There are so many quality options available now. Try cotton business cards. Made from 100% recycled t-shirt offcuts, they are also a great conversation starter when handing out your card.

Are Business Cards still necessary?
2. How a business card helps business

Leave behind a piece of your brand

Meeting potential clients face-to-face forms a unique relationship that no matter how hard we try to justify it, is not the same as an online one.

And leaving your business card with that potential client further establishes it due to a business card being an extension of your brand.

Not everyone has a smartphone or one on them at the time you want to exchange contact details. And if instead, they ask you for a pen to scribble down your details, good luck in finding that!

Sure, you can email them your details, but they may not go through or get lost or end up in their junk. Or they can do a Linkedin or Google search later on to get all your details.

But that’s making them work too hard. And, the minute you leave, they’ll move on to something else and, you and your brand will be a distant memory.

Keeping a bundle of business cards on you at all times ensures exchanging them is a quick and easy process.

The card promotes you and your brand while you’re not there. If they can’t recall your name, your title or how to contact you, your business card does all the work for them.

A business card is a physical, tactile reminder of you. And the impression your card leaves will also reinforce what you and your brand stand for.

People Power of passing on your card (& brand) to others

You’ve made a powerful impression and left your business card behind. Now that card takes on a life of its own as it markets you to a whole new set of contacts and potential clients.

Shopping for a bed in a department store my husband Tom and I experienced the power of a business card.

The conversation with the sales assistant moved from beds to trees and, my mum’s frustration in finding a reliable tradesperson to do some work in her garden.

The sales assistant happened to have her son’s business cards (where she also worked) that specialised in exactly what my mum needed.

She had already impressed us with her bed knowledge so, we knew that she would be a safe bet when it came to other business recommendations.

The quick and easy business card exchange resulted in a recommendation we may have never found on our own. (And yes, we also ended up finding the perfect bed!)

Snail mail and your business card

In this environment, if you’re concerned about exchanging business cards face-to-face then consider snail mail.

When I purchased a planner from Bonnie Christine, at the back of the planner attached with an adorable brass clip was her business card.

But this wasn’t any ordinary business card. It looked and felt like a piece of art personally gifted to me.

Her floral pattern placed between the rounded corners of the card blended so well with the gold foil bling and soft-touch finish.

And she incorporated both a traditional and modern style into the design.

She showcased her work in portrait while the flip side was landscape style allowing her signature logo and details to fit nicely with the size constraints.

Did I take a look and forget about it? No, I immediately took it out and showed it to my husband Tom and other fellow creatives and placed it on my desk. That’s the type of reaction you want your business card to make.

Are Business Cards still necessary?
3. Standing out in a crowded market

As a creative, get creative with your design

We talked earlier about how to pick the style of your business card. Now it’s time to consider the design. And what will best reflect you and your brand?

Designing and creating a business card that attracts attention takes time and work. And some people just can’t be bothered, don’t want to pay for it or think it’s a waste of time.

So, the more people not on Team Business Card, the better for you! Because when you do present your card, you’ll stand out.

Plus, people love to show and share creative business cards. Let’s inject your creativity into yours.

Showcase your work

Have you ever considered using your business cards as a portable mini-portfolio?

Years ago, this would have never been possible. But now digital printing allows you to have a different design on the back of every business card.

Create a beautiful collection of your work that you can hand out to clients, or they can choose the one they like the best. Our favourite online business card printer Moo (no, we’re not an affiliate, just fans!) does this with Printfinity.

To your potential client, it feels like they are taking home a mini piece of art. And this is one business card that won’t be forgotten quickly.

As a surface pattern designer, you could showcase your latest pattern collection.

A wedding photographer could include their favourite close-up and detailed shots. They could showcase the beautiful image on one side and include the details we discussed earlier on the back.

And an artist’s card becomes a mini canvas showcasing their work. This mini piece of art will also make you and your brand memorable. Like Bonnie did to me in the earlier example.

Take advantage of the Nay-Sayers!

By now, we hope we have given you a new way to think about business cards and how they could help you promote yourself and your brand.

The nay-sayers will always rubbish them and call them unnecessary in our current environment. But don’t let that stop you! If everyone gives up on business cards, that means when you present your card, you’ll stand out.

You did it!

That’s a wrap on Are Business Cards still Necessary?

How do you feel about business cards now? Are you on Team 2 and believe they are more relevant than ever? Or do you still believe business cards are dead in a digital world?

Let us know. And in the meantime, follow us on Pinterest for more blog posts like this.

Where to now?

1. Check out our latest Showit Template for Artists & Illustrators Show Me!
2. Should you use Blue as your Branding Colour? Find out here
3. Or Should you use Red as your Branding Colour? Discover here

Want more insider tips?

Grab our FREE Essential Guide for Creatives. “Do’s & Don’ts of what to add to your website”. We give you a simple plan to follow so that you’ll never have to question what to show online again.

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