Should You Still Be Giving Out Your Business Card?
As more people find themselves online, you may be wondering if you should still be giving out a physical business card. Well, the short answer is yes! Here are four reasons why you should still give out your business card:
1. They act as a great networking tool
2. They are simple and easy to hand out
3. It’s a fast way to share you info (like your phone number)
4. They are a “must have” in many circles
To find out more about all the points above and more, continue reading below. Or, if you are ready to design your own effective business card, reach out the experts at JH French today.
4 Reasons Why You Should Still Give Out Your Business Card
1. Business Cards Are a Great Networking Tool
While a lot of marketing and networking has gone online, it seems there is no replacing business cards anytime soon.
Many networking opportunities do take place in person - whether they are planned events or a random encounter. It’s great to be able to show quickly pass on your card if someone shows interest in your products or services.
Having your card on-hand while networking can show a potential customer or client:
That you always come prepared
A bit more about you and your business (where you are located, generally what services you offer)
A bit more about the ‘style’ of your business (is your business card unique and colourful? Is it artsy? Is it ultra professional?)
If someone is very interested in working with you, they have your contact information right away! This is a big deal - it means that you could ask them to send you an email confirming their interest, immediately set up a meeting, or plan a time for them to visit your office.
This is all without any extra stress of scrambling to find a pen and paper or struggling to put your info into their phone.
2. Business Cards Are Easy To Hand Out
While this may seem like a small and simple benefit, it is actually more important than you may think! People are busy, and often don’t want to have to wait around while you try to get multiple points of contact written down for them.
Cards are small, compact, and easy to give out
Business cards are a super easy thing to hand out - and it’s an easy thing to store too. You never know if your company’s card has ended up in someone’s wallet or glove compartment, stored for months before they end up seeing it again and giving you a call.
There are many places where you may hand out your business cards, such as:
Local restaurants or retail stores
Related businesses or collaborators
At networking events
At local events such as farmer’s markets or fairs
Sent with flyers or mail to those on your mailing list
Because these cards are designed to be small, compact, and easy to give to people, they are a low-risk, high-reward marketing tool.
3. Business Cards Quickly Allow You To Share Your Information
While you may be wondering “Do I really need a business card if I can just text someone my number so easily these days?” once again, the answer is yes.
Business cards allow you to quickly share your contact information regardless of whether you have a phone with you (or if your potential customer has one) or pen and paper.
People also view business cards as highly professional. A well designed, professionally made business card will always make you and your business look great.
Leigh Brown explains the reasons why having prominently displayed contact information is so important
The quick video above goes over the reasons why a business card is a great tool today and the benefits of being able to quickly share your information through a business card format.
In this video, real estate agent Leigh Brown mentions that a lot of her client-base prefer speaking over the phone, and that’s why it’s so important that her phone number is prominently displayed on her card.
This is the same case for many businesses - their typical or ideal clients or customers will want to talk on the phone rather than text or email, so easily and quickly providing this information may make the difference between a lost lead and a sale.
4. Business Cards Are Still a “Must Have” In Many Circles
While it can be a good business move to try to stand out and go against the grain in some areas, business cards are really still a “must have” within many cultures and in professional circles.
Business cards were and still are a sign of professionalism. Not having one at the proper event - like a networking gala or fundraising dinner - will likely be seen as unprofessional.
Business cards are such an important part of networking that there are even worldwide business card etiquette tips available for you to read in case you do international business travel!
For example, if you are travelling in China or France, it may be seen as rude if your card is in English only. In Italy, it is common to see information about your university education displayed on your business card. In India, it’s important that you hand over your card with your right hand (Source - Moo.)
As you can see, when it comes to business, having a professional business card is only part of it - how you present that information and pass it on to someone else is important too!
How To Get a Professional Business Card
While a business card may seem like a tiny piece of paper that anyone can design, it can actually be harder to create a professional business card due to the lack of space and small cavas to work with.
In order to get a business card that looks professional and grabs attention, very careful consideration must be made to colour choices, font face and size, spacing, logo and image placement, and contact information.
A professional printing company can help you design and print business cards and other stationary products
Creating your business card DIY style if you do not have design experience can take a lot of time and you may end up with a final product that does not look professional or isn’t as effective as it could be.
Your business card is like a first impression - if it doesn’t look professional or doesn’t attract attention, it might end up as someone’s bookmark or immediately tossed in the trash without a second look.
Working with a professional designer can turn your business card ideas into an effective, attractive, and professional reality.
How JH French Can Help
At JH French, we have over 100 years of printing experience. We are a full service printing company, which means we offer graphic design services and printing services alike.
We work closely with businesses to hear their design ideas and help turn those dreams into a reality. At JH French, we can professionally design a beautiful card for you and professionally print it too using our high-quality printing machinery.
JH French ships coast to coast, meaning we can help any business across Canada!
Choose JH French For Your Business Card Needs
At JH French, you can rely on our 120 years of printing experience to help you get the best printed business cards for your business. We work closely with our customers to help you get a professionally designed and eye-catching product.
At JH French, we print all kinds of business products - not just cards! If you need to print booklets, flyers, posters, stationery, forms, or any other documents or projects, we have you covered.
When you choose to work with JH French, you will be working with a full-service printing company that has over 120 years of experience. Get in touch now!