Who still uses business cards? And if so, HOW?

Yes it did. Went digital years ago. The ones I've seen recently at the Bulletin Board (talk about OLD world, although still good for lost cats, dogs and reptiles)...

have had QR codes on them, wonder if they ever get scanned?? With the dynamic QR codes, a business card could have a monthly offer on it, so might be kept longer??

The THING about biz cards, paper, or digital is...DISTRIBUTION. Getting the card into the hands of potential customers and with the low cost of mail, and dynamic QR codes, maybe a zip zone mailing might replace the leave on the table approach.

I don't use them, but they still might have a use??? Thanks for your response.

GordonJ

This. Also, some people will keep your paper card, even if they toss it in a drawer. And when they stumble across it days later, it will be more memorable than an entry on their smartphone. Can't have too many arrows in your quiver.

Thanks sbishop,

Sounds like the ol biz card works for you. I get the quote, it is a useful place to put your quote on, and when the consumer stops shopping around, then you may get the call.

My question for you is, How did the guy who called you 6 months later GET your card in the firstplace?

A few years back, we tested the "paperboy" route method, had kids hand out a small plastic bag full of business cards of local businesses. It wasn't profitable enough, although most of the small businesses like the idea of distribution.

In the old days, we would leave them on tables in restaurants, put on bulletin boards in lobbies, hand then out randomly, give out at meetings and events. This was NOT a very effective way to get the word out, however, the low cost of the card meant one could afford to give away dozens to find ONE customer.

Guys like you, what I call neighborhood tradesmen, have success passing out cards in the neighborhood they have a customer. So, once you complete your landscaping job, you spend some time (or pay a kid) passing out cards.

In your case, there are a lot of POTENTIAL customers in any given neighborhood, so I believe a shotgun approach would work, because like your guy, a person might throw a card into the kitchen drawer or hang it on the fridge and keep it in mind.

Next month, April 2021, I'll be retesting a version of the "paperboy" distribution method having found a cheap way to get the cards into the hands of the neighborhoods. Today, we are looking at about 11 cents a house, so a local landscaper could have 1000 biz cards passed out (GUARANTEED) for 111.00.

As someone who uses them, what is your opinion on that COST of distributing your cards to a very specific neighborhood? Would my service be of interest to you?

Thanks for sharing and any insight would be appreciated.

GordonJ

Well, scores of businesses have PAID to have their printed on paper business cards distributed since my original post.

You may be right, they may become obsolete, but as of May 18, 2021, savvy businesses are still using them and paying to have them distributed.

Thanks all,

GordonJ

I sadly had to look this up... LOL oh my - I ordered one, ok 5 of them, BUT.. I am still going to hand them a paper card - and here is why..


My phone has over 300 contacts in it.. I know many people with MORE.. so to "Tap" and the data goes right in there is all fine and dandy, but the person days later is going to say.. hmmm what was that guys name again?

But to have a laugh here is my info "Tap" aint technology cool? ooh ahh, and then say here is my old timers card incase you are like me and am great with faces and bad with names hahaha ( im not bad with names btw )

And besides I like keeping the lumber and paper industry alive and working! hahaha

You mean business card scanning app?

I think you are right.

If anyone is interested in seeing how thousands of biz cards were distributed recently, and at a very nice profit too...check out businesscardconnections dot com and see how old meets new and how it solves the distribution problem.

This might be something some of you might like to do.

GordonJ

Monetize, I'm jealous of your Rolodex...miss those things.

We know people still buy them, usually 500 to 1000 at a time, for best price.

And yet most have half of those still in the box in their desk drawer.

Mikey, a kid with a bike, can put the cards into doors...and pretty cheaply too, although if Mikey gets bit by a dog, or more likely, he tosses handfuls into the trash...the cheap distribution can get expensive.

With EDDM, the business is mostly assured their cards are going where they are suppose to go and when. It just makes sense to distribute your cards to those people who could be a customer (in most businesses, not all)...but getting 2500 hundred cards delivered for a very reasonable price...is a smart way to do it.

Don't let Mikey do it, let USPS and EDDM.

GordonJ

P.S. Thing about a Rolodex, never had to worry about the battery or internet service, never lost data, and it held a lot of information too.

True. But I'm reluctant to share my personal Facebook profile, so I just share LinkedIn.