First Today, Then Tomorrow

When we got back from our Thanksgiving trip Sunday night I was pleased to find my new business cards had arrived. That little square of cardboard, something that goes back literally literally hundreds of years as the “calling card”, is still a very useful thing.

And that’s strange, isn’t it? Here we are – you’re reading this on the internet. And in person we all carry phones and more sophisticated electronic devices, but we still need and want these little pieces of paper to leave behind with people we meet.

New Business Card - The Flip Side

There’s a number of reasons why we still need business cards – and the same thing applies to printed brochures, direct mail, catalogs and other conventional paper marketing pieces. But the best reason is this: they still work.

When I meet new people, I’m very happy to tell them my email address or give them the URL for this web site, but I can’t be sure it will stick. If I give them my business card and collect theirs, I have a high likelihood of being able to connect with them again. And I know how bad I am at catching names. If I don’t write down a new name or collect a card, even if the person is very interesting, it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to connect with them later. I’m sure the opposite is true as well.

So yes, I’m pleased with my new business cards. Sometimes a tried and true method works well.