Business Cards: Do we still need them?

Oh so you thought it was over? Lol.

First of all, I'm glad to be back! I was so inspired to restart posting on this blog. Marketing is a passion of mine and even though I've started my personal blog, I will definitely commit to posting more articles on here.

So let's get right into it!

I saw a poster for a networking event some time ago and one of the requirements was to bring your business cards. Now I was unable to attend the event, but if I did, I wouldn't have carried any business cards because I quite frankly, didn't have any! And, I still don't.
That might come as a shock to a lot of you because I think one of the first things every entrepreneur is eager to receive is their business cards. Right?

What is so appealing about business cards though? Can someone fill me in, because I think I missed something? It's a little 2" x 3" card that you share out to potential customers and even prospective business partners - usually prompting a connection to them, right?
So if you have time to pass them out, why don't you make the connection right then and there? Instead of sharing out your information to the client, you should record their information. To be quite honest, a lot of customers gather these cards, a lot of them lose them and you're left playing a waiting game. Someone has (or had) your information and you are now waiting on them to reach out when you could've had their info and be the one to reach out to them.

Some may think, well sometimes the potential client/business partner wouldn't necessarily have the time to chat. When you're handing out your cards at a networking event or even passing it to a client, there is most likely some exchange of pleasantries. Slip in "may I have your number or your email address please?". It takes a couple of seconds to record that on your phone or whichever device you wish. And now you have their info so you can actually use  instead of waiting on them to contact you! Even while the person is walking away you can make some quick notes about them.

You can even prompt more personal emails, text messages or phone calls by starting off with "Hey Chad, it's me *insert name here*. We met earlier at xyz". It's easier for the customer to respond to that vs. if they contact you and you're trying to remember which specific person you gave your card to.

Granted that some business cards are very appealing and there are so many features you can add to them to make them outstanding, they are one of the easiest (and smallest) ways for your business to lose money. And I mean, since when did networking events became a game of trading cards? Baseball much?

Sound off in the comments below. How effective are business cards to you? Do you actively use them?

Before you go, I've started my own personal blog so you can check it out!

Follow me on Instagram & Twitter for more content!!

(Please note the images used for this blog was found on www.pexels.com and did not require attribution).