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The Importance of Business Cards in Networking

In recent years, business communication has been transformed by technology to become largely digital and web-based, there is still one means of business correspondence that remains largely physical… and printed: business cards. It may surprise you, but the benefits of business cards have still not faltered under the pressure of a largely digital world.

This article will explain the importance of business cards, outlining why it is still beneficial to carry a business card for networking purposes and portability.

1. Faster than Sharing Digital Information

In such a digitally immersed age as the one we live in today, it is hard to see how printed business correspondence could have the edge over digital communications any more. However, the trusty business card might very well be the exception to this rule.

They have a very long history of adding a personal touch to business communications which, In the past, were usually shared via a handshake after a friendly conversation. However, while one-on-one interactions and handshakes have been complicated in the recent pandemic years, business cards still seem to hold the same importance that they historically have.

Today, many businesses are also including QR codes on their business cards which can be scanned to send a copy of the person’s details to the recipient’s iPhone or Android. In today’s fast-paced and technologically-dependant world, this is how business cards are keeping themselves relevant.

Instead of just giving recipients something tactile and colourful to represent your brand, today’s business card’s offer the personal touch of the catalyst of sending your details directly to someone’s smartphone. Given that most people do not have time for lengthy, one-on-one interactions at business events anymore, this is a great way to save everyone’s precious time without compromising on marketing and networking.

2. Conveys Professionalism

In today’s world, your degree of business professionalism speaks volumes about your preparedness and seriousness. The image you put out there as a business professional is what will attract new clients and customers in the long run.

Carrying a business card and having it on-hand can convey a serious sense of professionalism by giving the appearance of proper planning and a highly polished business image. On the other hand, not having any business cards on you at the time when you need them conveys that you’re unprofessional and not very serious about reeling in new clients when the opportunity arises.

3. Helps Market your Brand’s Identity

One of the many benefits of business cards is that they serve as your first impression plus first point of reference for your brand’s identity. Not only does it contain all the relevant information a potential client would need to get in touch with you, but the style and design can convey information about your brand’s identity and image within the marketplace.

The type of industry and the seriousness with which it takes itself can also be conveyed through an appropriately stylistic use of fonts, colours, and paper stock.

4. Gives a Personal Touch to Networking

Sharing a business card is not just about sharing your brand’s contact details with a potential client or customer. It’s a chance for you or your staff to interact with them personally. While no longer shared via handshakes, sharing them still typically acts as the conclusion to a personal interaction or friendly conversation about business.

They are also adapting to the demands of a technologically dependant world as can now, very easily, include a QR code somewhere on your business cards that, when scanned, will send a digital copy of the directly to the recipient’s phone, not only saving time, but it creating a personal touch that is well-suited to the current status of business communications in today’s world.

5. Make Your Company Referable

Your company business card should contain more than just your brand’s contact details and a striking colour scheme, they should also mention the skills, products, services, or agency franchises that your company possesses. By including these specific skills and services it also becomes a handy tool to create future referrals, with little effort. The most a recipient has to do is show it, or just a scanned picture of with, with another potentially interested person.

6. Can Be Used as a Networking Tool

As businesses expand further and further into the digital and virtual domain, networks and contacts have also expanded rapidly. This revolution in business communications has left potential clients craving more in-person and face-to-face business interactions, especially during these strange Covid pandemic times where social distancing has dictated otherwise.

For this reason, business cards play a vital role in generating more personal networking leads when the opportunity arises. What’s more, their importance today lies in their ability to create a personal touch point to a business interaction without taking up to much of someone’s time. This will not only help foster a more genuine brand identity but will also create a chain of personal relationships that will be indispensable for your brand in the long term.

7. Helps Build Trust

Today’s company communications and marketing spheres are more competitive than they have ever been. A brand can stand out to clients and customers based on how much trust it can build among its network and online and to a degree, business cards can facilitate to an initial bridge the trust deficit that many potential clients may feel when first introduced to people from a company they’ve never dealt with before.

Sharing a card with somone is much more personal than simply telling them to go and check out your company website, as it gives off the impression that you actually care about your customers and clients.

8. Avoid Any Tech Problems

Practically everything from grocery shopping to dating is digital nowadays. More importantly, the web is so saturated with content and trashy, spammy backlinks that sometimes it isn’t very effective to tell someone to just check out your website as we said above.

Notably, the digital realm may be convenient most times until the server goes down, and all your online content goes down with it for a while. That’s one of the many benefits of business cards in the physical world; no potential tech problems and your recipient won’t have to look you up online to get in touch with you again.

Final Words

While the digital and virtual spheres are increasingly becoming integrated into the world of business comms, marketing, and networking, the importance of business cards has not yet faltered. They provide a personal touch to your networking and showcase your brand’s image through creativity.

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