Why I still have business cards…
You decided to start a business and it is the middle of a pandemic, are business cards still relevant? Yes, it offers a nostalgic sense of accomplishment. Think about how you will feel when the business cards arrive in the mail.
In the era of networking pre-COVID, business cards were becoming an ancient relic of connecting. LinkedIn has QR codes and gone are the days of leaving an event with a pocket (or purse) full of business cards. What did you do with the business cards anyway? Are they tucked away in a desk drawer?
A good friend runs an agency and she claimed business cards were not relevant in her industry, yet at every event, someone asked for her card. This was a conundrum, she did not have a card, it did not exist. In my opinion, it took more effort and time to explain that no card existed, and then recommend other ways to stay connected. Why make life harder? Even a card with only a link to the website saves time.
This moment warrants the question, will networking ever include the physical exchange of cards? For the 3 reasons below, I ordered business cards from MOO.
Here are 3 reasons why you still need a business card:
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It is Sentimental
Regardless of what generation you represent, movies taught us to idolize the power moves. One such move was handing out your business card. Smooth and fancy, right? It is a vestige of the past, yet new associates get excited when they receive their first set of business cards and who do they show first? Parents and friends. It is still a source of pride, even if you never have one client to give it to because you know Mom and Dad show it to their friends.
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It is a receipt
Whether in real estate or event planning, leaving your business card is like a graffiti tag, let the world know, “I was here.” Managing your email inbox is a skill, between subscriptions, newsletters, sales notifications, maintaining multiple email addresses, there is so much email. During COVID, many businesses expanded their email campaigns and on the cusp of spamming, inundated our inboxes. Post-COVID, businesses, where making in-person connections is critical, leaving a business card, and sending a followup email, will be more impactful.
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It is Efficient
You want to exchange information as quickly as possible. If maintaining six-feet of distance, while wearing a mask is the new normal, holding an authentic conversation will be a challenge. A new contact can take a picture of your business card. Placing QR codes on the business card is ingenious because the contact information is added, no retyping needed! Then you won’t have to teach people how to find it on LinkedIn Instagram, and/or Facebook. Creating a QR code is easier than it sounds. #TechWin
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You can get freebies (A debatable bonus reason)
Despite technology being ubiquitous, every business is not using technology to manage their customer loyalty programs. Brick and mortar businesses founded 5-10 years ago, that rely on local clientele or foot traffic, have not had a compelling business case to stop collecting business cards. How else will you join their mailing list? Do you want a chance to win a free [insert item here]? These businesses deprioritize or underfund technology upgrades and did not scale operational processes to support growth. Small businesses in this era initially use more technology. Technology is considered an investment and is used to find, engage with, and retain customers. It is ingrained in their business model.
Perhaps those businesses will update their data capture and customer engagement strategies by having customers to join the mailing list while completing their transaction. #TechUpgrade If not, you have a business card to leave for a freebie!
Business owners must consider life after COVID and although times have changed, networking is still about making strong connections and building relationships. Yes, you still need a business card, get it from #MOO
Chose MOO for QR code Business Cards
#hashtagMOO #wowingFromHome #Affiiate #IAMANAFFILIATE #IAMACUSTOMER
If you’re wondering why I chose MOO, it was easy to design and easy to order. I also am proud to say this company was very supportive of my needs as a business. When the company launched, the card needed to be as unique as the idea and #MOO made it simple. Through COVID, through #BLM, through 2020, #MOO shows up as a business that wants my brand to be seen. Have you seen it? You will. I represent IN-18!