For years, people have debated whether business cards are still relevant when attempting to lure prospective clients. Just as libraries have been usurped by Amazon and taxis have been lapped by Uber, the traditional business card faces stiff competition from digital devices and social media platforms.
LinkedIn has invested heavily in its infrastructure, developing QR codes and quick-scan profile exchanges. However, while the digital age leads a march of new technology, physical business cards are still relevant as a means of exchanging business and providing contact information for potential customers.
Even in a world of self-service checkouts and fast food delivery, the humble business card remains an essential marketing tool in your armoury. Failing to take care of this business essential can be costly further down the line, so be sure to tick this off the list early in 2020.
Why business cards help you stand out
The modern market is flooded with products, services and brands. Globalisation has created stark similarities in the market, and generating profit increasingly relies on presenting a convincing difference in choice faced by prospective customers. If the supermarket offers seven varieties of low-fat yoghurt, businesspeople understand that effective marketing is required to distinguish one brand from the others.
The same is true of any brand, and conventional business cards help communicate your unique selling points in a concise manner. When some business owners are shifting focus to online trends, printing business cards becomes an efficient method of sharing contact info and distinguishing your company. Remind people who you are and what you can offer by giving them a physical token, not just another Facebook invite.
Similarly, taking the time to design and order business cards shows a certain level of initiative on your part. That attention to detail, arriving prepared at meetings and industry conferences, may ingratiate you with a potential client. In a diluted market of rampant competition, where marginal gains can decide big contracts, no advantage should be overlooked. That includes the humble business card.
Business cards or LinkedIn? Which is more useful?
At present, LinkedIn is one of the fastest-growing social networks on the planet. With a strong post-sharing algorithm that improves the organic reach of content, LinkedIn now has more than 500 million members around the world. It is no longer just a jobs board and CV warehouse. It creates business and generates leads. For a small business, it can be particularly transformative.
However, LinkedIn alone is not an ideal tool for managing business relationships. It is great for making initial contact, but subsequent meetings and telephone calls are usually required to consummate and progress business agreements. That is where business cards can be vital in reinforcing your expertise, putting your company front and centre of a specific niche.
Contrary to popular opinion, business cards and LinkedIn are not mutually exclusive. You do not have to choose between them. They can complement one another, helping to build, maintain and grow relationships at every turn.
The rise of LinkedIn Local events – where members from a particular city or region meet offline to network – enhances the need for business cards. Even in the contemporary age, the instinctive first step following a productive conversation at a networking event is to swap business cards.
Some call it tradition. Others say it is courtesy, habit or expectation. Nevertheless, being caught without business cards can be tricky, and you do not want fumble around with apps and phones when spending time with a business contact. Be decisive. Be prepared. Print some business cards and take your LinkedIn game to the next level.
The art of luck and business cards
You never who you are going to meet. From the taxi driver who has a sideline in marketing to the cleaner who is keen to show their ability in business development, unexpected conversations make the world go around. Easily sharing your email address in a less invasive manner, by handing over a business card, is a great way of capturing opportunities that may be otherwise lost by competitors.
Just as a journalist should always carry a notebook and pen in case they stumble upon a great story, an entrepreneur should always have a handful of business cards stashed in their wallet for emergency use. Taking that precaution just might help secure the deal that transforms your business.
The more of your business cards in circulation, the greater chance you have of winning residual work and earning passive referrals. It may take weeks, months or years for a conversation to yield returns, but consolidating bonds with a physical business card improves the recall of acquaintances.
When the need arises for a specialist in your industry, your business card needs to be in the pile for consideration. In many ways, then, dispensing business cards is like buying a lottery ticket. There is a recurring chance to hit the jackpot, but you must enter the raffle.
Business card trends for 2020
Of course, the business card industry has modernised, just like everything else, and there are prevailing trends to be aware of when contemplating your design, style and posting arrangements. You want to be ahead of the curve, adhering to key themes, and we can assist in that journey.
Here at PSC Systems, we offer a full-service business card solution tailored to your needs. From initial consultation through to assisted design, efficient printing and cost-effective delivery, we take a personal approach to delivering enormous value.
We have decades of experience in the business card industry, learning from different themes, eras and campaigns. We understand the interaction between business card design, material and content better than anyone, and our team has proven expertise in marketing brands for maximum effectiveness.
To arrange a structured consultation or obtain a free quote, please contact our friendly team via telephone, email or live web chat. We are available around the clock to provide expert business card advice, so do not hesitate to start your journey with us.
It may be tempting to overlook business card as part of your 2020 vision, but doing so can lead to problems later on. Do not get short without business cards this year. Get in touch with PSC Systems and, together, we can capture every lead, no matter how bizarre, random or innocuous.
Posted on Monday, January 13th, 2020 at 2:01 pm in Latest News.
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