Are You Really Still Using Business Cards

For the love of god and everything that is precious in this world. People. Please stop using business cards. It’s 2014. That’s right I know. It did fly by quick. With the onslaught of technological advances both in hardware and software, why do we still insist on using one of the biggest paper wastes to ever creep its away into American business culture? The business card.
I remember getting my first business cards with the fly by night telecom outfit I worked for in downtown Manhattan. It made me feel so important. I think back to how many deals I got from people who took my card. NEVER. Through my career as an Account Executive for various companies and then my 7 year foray into mortgages I thought business cards were important. Even though I felt incredibly bad for trees. And the truth of the matter, they might have been important at some point. Maybe the 80s or even up until the late 90s. Not anymore. I used them as a crutch. Thinking that handing someone a business card and having a few laughs would close the deal. It doesn’t.
The reality is business cards do nothing. They no longer brand you. No longer generate any awareness. And they don’t work. You know who needs to give out business cards? Very few people. Plumbers, electricians, crime scene clean-up crews. That’s it. People who might be needed in an emergency.
“Oh, I am sorry I wasn’t reaching for your business card. I was trying to grab the last slice of pizza.”
If you really want to brand yourself and stick out from the crowd. Next time someone asks for your card, hand them a glass of wine and cheese, I can assure you they will not only remember you but tell their friends. Sound ridiculous? Visit Egypt and see how they do business. Tea, soda, juice, snacks. You could have a meal just from window shopping in Cairo. American retailers could learn a thing or two from Egyptian merchants.
Marketing Through Absence of Medium
Like me, when you tell people you don’t use business cards, people will actually remember you because, either you inspired them to throw away their business cards, or you humiliated them because they realize how right you are. Business cards are an incredible waste of resources that include paper, water, chemicals, ink, electricity, oil. While you’re at it, stop printing all those brochures, meeting books and every other none sense paper marketing material your company uses.
Business cards are a waste of money. Granted, they only cost a measly 10 or fifteen dollars for several hundred, however over the lifetime of your business, the number of cards you hand out will add up. And the amount of garbage will be astronomical.
Business cards make you lazy and overlook more important personal brand factors. Instead of spending money on business cards, why not spend money on your people skills, or communication skills, or a nice suit. Handing out business cards gives you a false sense of reach, kind of the way Facebook Likes and twitter followers give businesses.
Business cards are so last century. That’s right folks, last century. Let that sink in for a second. When someone asks me for my business card, I say, “Let me text you my Vcard.”, or I take a picture of their business card, and hand the card back to them. In some cases, I meet a fellow tree hugger and we just tap phones and exchange information with any number of different applications available at the Google Play or Itunes store. If I send them my Vcard, I automatically get put into their phone. And once I have their information I always play the proactive role of touching base with them afterwards, whether I am on the client or vendor side of the relationship.

However, as is the case with anything I believe and promote there are exceptions to the rule. Above I mentioned some industries where people might call on you if they have your business card. Highly unlikely and as Gen y and Millenials begin to dominate the scene, you’re going to look downright foolish handing one of these people a business card. However these business cards are well worth having and if you can produce one of these creative cards and use sustainable biodegradable materials, then by all means. Otherwise step into the present and use any of the other options available to you.