In today’s world of business the vast majority of corporate entities, big and small alike, tend to rely a little too much on the internet. More precisely, the various social media platforms that exist utilize the latest trends now – social influencers, as their primary form of marketing, reaching out and communicating with their target audience and potential clients and the more traditional options like business cards and integrated business cards are left behind.
Of course, reaching out client prospects has never been faster with Facebook or Instagram. Indeed, it’s ultra-fast and hassle-free and with just a simple direct message you can avoid awkward moments of silence or nervousness that could arise in person, (that is, if you are not the type that does business that way). However, the traditional forms of marketing still exist today even though people tend to neglect them in the name of commodity and convenience. Of course, I am talking about the business cards.
Let’s not forget that people are always familiar to things that can be seen or touched and because of the practicality they are of a more reliable value to us. We want to have a taste of the real thing before we settle for it. A business card is a tangible product, something much more real and life-like than a digitalized social media message or even email no matter how personalized, or “warm” it can sound. It cannot replace the human aspect – a genuine tête-à-tête conversation that the business card that you can hold in your hand can do.
Behold the business card and the power it holds!
1. A business card shows that you exist. That you are a real person with a real company that actually physically exists somewhere, with a real address for your office location on the card. Because nothing says I’m a legitimate company consisting of one or more employees by hiding behind the computer and typing all that in a message, right? Instead, do your thing in person by having a nice friendly talk and top it off with a slickly designed business card that has all the vital info in case they want to reach you back.
2. It shows that you have multi-focused marketing, that you are present everywhere, not just in the digital world. Putting aside your digital marketing, handing out a business card to your potential client after a brief conversation or even before that paves up and solidifies the road to a much more meaningful and long-lasting business relationship in the future than just sliding into their direct messages through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Another way to distribute your business cards is by having them printed as integrated business cards on a sales brochure, where the potential client can get more information about your company and the services you offer while taking the cad with them.
3. It’s a great/awful first or last impression. Depending on the quality of the craftsmanship of your business cards, they can make or break your business. Whether you are putting the finishing touches on a business conversation with a newly acquired potential client or decided to open the conversation by handing them one, it’s an ace in your sleeve, no matter how and when you decide to use it.
4. A business card is an extension of your brand. It makes you legitimate as a businessman, upholds your credibility and boasts professionalism, shows that you are serious about your work, that you are ready to do business.
5. Business cards can be your“word of mouth”, your referral to other people by your most recent clients or contacts to anyone who has seen your card by chance or peeled them off in a sales brochure as integrated business cards. If you impress someone, be sure that he or she will pass on or show your business card to other people in his business circle when talking to others. They, in a way, do networking for you, and leave you surprised when the next client sends an email or comes to your office’s doorstep, telling you they got your info from your business card. It’s basically passive marketing.
6. Exchanging information in person is a lot faster and more effective with a business card than using the phone and having to stare at your screen while typing down information which can come across as a disrespectful and unprofessional way of reaching to your potential clients. It also gives a personal touch to whatever it is you have to offer to people professional or personal.
All in all, a small, simple and yet something of a great value, a business card is your ace in the sleeve when talking and doing business. Be smart about it, always have it in your back pocket. It will save you in tricky situations or help you gain clients,depending on how you decide to use it.