Why Business Cards Remain Essential for Your Business

Why You Shouldn’t Give Up on Business Cards!

Are physical business cards as useful as they once were?  There’s a range of opinions on the subject, but we’re convinced that they still have a purpose.

I know… as a graphic design company, you might expect us to say something like that!  It’s just that we firmly believe business cards are still a meaningful – and memorable – way to present a brand.

You just have to do them the right way, that’s all.

First, your business card should be of exceptional quality.

Don’t think you can spend 15 minutes on VistaPrint or Canva and come away with a business card that makes a positive and lasting professional impact.

Most likely, you’ll end up with a bland or generic design that other people are also free to choose for themselves.  Think “same dress nightmare”, only with business cards – a phenomenon we’ve witnessed at networking events more than once!

The feel of your business card is important too.  You just can’t convey a sense of quality and expertise with a thin, flimsy piece of card.

Don’t leave the back of your business card blank.

“But it needs to be blank so people can take notes.”

This is a common idea, but for us and many others, leaving your business card blank on one side only makes it look unfinished.

(Besides, have you ever actually written notes on the back of someone else’s business card?)

If you’re struggling for ideas, the back of your business card could include a website QR code for people to scan, or even a special offer: say 10% off for referring a friend to your company.  You could even use the back to share a useful snippet of knowledge about your industry. 

Meanwhile, folded business cards will give you four sides, which can be helpful if you have more than one service to promote – or you want to combine a loyalty card with your business card.

What about digital business cards… aren’t they the way of the future?

There’s something more special and personal about reading a paperback book compared with an e-reader.  We feel the exact same way about physical and digital business cards. 

OK, so a digital business card won’t get lost at the bottom of your bag or gather dust in your wallet.  But a physical card is a tangible reminder of who you are and what you do.  Is that really something you want to get lost in all the online noise? 

It can also feel a tiny bit intrusive when a digital business card automatically transfers its details into your phone’s contacts.  Wouldn’t you prefer to choose who you’d like to add for yourself?  (We certainly do!)

For those who worry about the planet, there are plenty of eco-options available for physical business cards – including seeded paper that can be planted, and even a (clean) paper made from elephant poo!

That’s not to say there aren’t any benefits to going digital.

However, do make sure your digital business card will load properly even when the meeting venue’s Wi-Fi is patchy, and that you don’t lock yourself into a restrictive – and potentially costly – contract with a digital card provider.

Northsouth Design offers a one-off, one-stop-shop design and print service for your business cards.

Design for print is very different from design for digital and the web.  We know this because we started our illustrious careers as print designers!

Since then, we’ve designed creative, memorable business cards for companies of all shapes and sizes, to present to the people they most want to connect with.

So we’d love to chat with you about your business card requirements, and show you exactly what we mean when we talk about “exceptional quality”.

Contact us here.