That\u2019s where business cards<\/a> come in.<\/p>\n The Bee Gee\u2019s sang it best, business cards are Stayin\u2019 Alive. But do you know for how long they\u2019ve been stayin\u2019 alive exactly?<\/i><\/p>\n A few years back, we produced an infographic that details the fascinating evolution of business cards. To better appreciate their staying power, we need to look back at how long they\u2019ve been around.<\/p>\n I won\u2019t keep you hanging – business cards have been around since 15th century China. They were called Meishi (visiting cards) back then and were used to \u201cannounce a meeting with another individual.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n A couple of hundred years later and here we are, still exchanging business cards when we have digital alternatives readily available. We can\u2019t help but wonder why right? So I dug a bit deeper and from what I\u2019ve gathered, business cards remain to be an important tool for personal and business promotion because: The short answer is yes, but do stick around for the long one. You will like that one, too.<\/p>\n According to Adobe\u2019s Blog, sales increase by 2.5% for every 2000 cards that get passed around. Insignificant? Not at all.<\/p>\n A related post on Small Business Rainmaker<\/a> did the math: if your business is doing $100,000 annually, a 2.5% increase means you\u2019ll be adding $2,500 to your income. That\u2019s a considerable return when you\u2019re only spending more or less a hundred dollars to get your professional business cards printed.<\/p>\nIf your business is doing $100,000 annually, a 2.5% sales increase is $2,500 additional income for your company. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n In the spirit of fairness, and because we simply cannot deny that many professionals and businesses are going paperless, we decided to launch a Facebook poll<\/a> to see where the changing digital landscape leaves the fate of business cards.<\/p>\n We asked UPrinting\u2019s Facebook followers to vote YES if they find business cards essential today, and to vote NO if they\u2019re good with digital contact swaps.<\/p>\n The results:<\/p>\n An overwhelming 82% of our respondents voted YES to business cards being an essential tool for their marketing and networking strategies, while only 18% no longer find them necessary.<\/p>\nAre business cards still important? 82% said YES, while only 18% voted NO. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n Now, what do these figures tell us? I think Uber Brands founder, Jonathan Long<\/a>\u00a0sums it up nicely, \u201cFear not. Conversations will still end with, \u2018Let me give you my business card,\u2019 at least for a little longer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n In an attempt to cover all grounds, I decided, for the sake of research (you\u2019re welcome), to bother the busiest people I know in the company – UPrinting\u2019s head marketing experts.<\/p>\n I sent over a few short questions for them to answer, gathering much-needed insights on how business and marketing leaders use business cards to expand their personal and professional networks, despite having smartphones.<\/p>\n Content Marketing Manager, Emilie Moreland @writtenbyemilie<\/a>, has this to say about having business cards at every networking opportunity:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m always sure to have a stack of business cards in my purse and laptop bag, especially at conferences and networking events. When I meet a lot of people in one day, I\u2019m likely to forget many of the names I only recorded digitally but can go through the cards I received at the end of the day and reach out to each new connection.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n We also find ourselves on the receiving end of business cards, that\u2019s just how it works. You hand out some, you receive some. For our VP of Marketing, Lilie Rahimzadeh, the business cards she receives are worth saving for future reference.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we purchased a new home (4 years ago) I met a lot of contractors or professionals (roof experts, plumbers, electricians etc.) and all of those small business owners gave me business cards, flyers and some contractors even had folders with brochures etc. I only kept their BC after looking at all the materials and to date I still keep it because you never know when you will need it.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Now let\u2019s try to add more context as to why business cards work and how they continue to survive and thrive in the age of mobile phones.<\/p>\n An article published in Harvard Business Review<\/a> explores how \u201cour bodily sensations help determine the decisions we make.\u201d<\/em>, subconsciously influencing our response to products, people, and situations.<\/p>\n In another article, Thrive Agency<\/a> highlights touch as a powerful contributor to sense-based marketing, prompting brands to take advantage of printed materials to emphasize quality. That\u2019s something you can\u2019t truly communicate online.<\/p>\n Business cards are tangible, they appeal to a potential client\u2019s, partner\u2019s, or investor\u2019s sense of touch, thus making them effective tools to trigger engagement, spark a conversation, and move a connection forward.<\/p>\nBusiness cards are effective tools to trigger engagement, spark a conversation, and move a connection forward. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n Yes, business cards still work today, but how can you make them work for you?<\/p>\n Admittedly, not everyone you hand your business cards to will keep it. Let\u2019s say you handed out 100 business cards at a networking event and 12 people decided to keep your contact; congratulations! that\u2019s 12 potential clients willing to do business with you, 12 possible long-term business engagements.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, it won\u2019t hurt to actually invest in business cards that have better chances of avoiding the trash bin.<\/p>\n Okay, bear with me a little longer, we\u2019re almost at the home stretch.<\/p>\nIf Business Cards Had a Theme Song What Would It Be?<\/h2>\n
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Do Business Cards Work in the Digital Age?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nWe Asked You<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nWe Asked the Experts<\/h3>\n
Print and Personal: A Win-Win Formula<\/h2>\n
Trash-Proofing Your Business Cards<\/h2>\n
The Anatomy of a Professional Business Card<\/h3>\n
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