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

by GordonJ
7 replies
Is the business card dead?

I don't know. I see them on bulletin boards in the grocery store lobby, but other than that, I haven't been handed one in years.

Maybe Realtors? But is there anyone here who still has business cards and if so, how do you distribute them and to whom?

I have a friend with a small print shop who is lamenting the loss of business, whereas not long ago he was cranking out thousands of biz cards, today, his presses remain silent.

Does anyone still own or use a Rolodex type system or is it all digital now?

GordonJ
#business #cards
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    Dude, it went digital years ago. When you see two people pointing their phones at each other's phone they are exchanging digital business cards. Some events even have public digital card machines that anyone can pass their companies card to the vendor(s). All nice and tidy.


    I have seen a lot of different ways. Salespeople leave their cards on vendor's booths, tables, etc. Others leave cards that mimic debit/credit cards. Even people that leave one dollar bills on tables with their phone number and domain name.
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    • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
      Originally Posted by Jeffery View Post

      Dude, it went digital years ago. When you see two people pointing their phones at each other's phone they are exchanging digital business cards. Some events even have public digital card machines that anyone can pass their companies card to the vendor(s). All nice and tidy.


      I have seen a lot of different ways. Salespeople leave their cards on vendor's booths, tables, etc. Others leave cards that mimic debit/credit cards. Even people that leave one dollar bills on tables with their phone number and domain name.
      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
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      • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
        Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post

        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
        Around here pre covid, almost no one used QR codes, now everyone does, including when running local television ads.
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        • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
          Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

          Around here pre covid, almost no one used QR codes, now everyone does, including when running local television ads.
          We're still testing, some change minute to minute, and others by the week or month. If one scans a code and doesn't want/like the offer, they can simply refresh or rescan and get a different offer. I think this is in its infancy, but could be wrong.

          As for the Biz-Card, a dynamic code on the back could take one to a different offer, and very soon, advanced enough to serve an offer specific to that card. Maybe a realtor could put her most recent listing on it, so if she gives them out at an Open House, and shows the visitors the scan, maybe they will hold on to them, and see what else she has to offer.

          The dynamic QR code, is, in my opinion, a potential game changer with changing offers.

          And the DISTRIBUTION of the card can be targeted as in the case of the Realtor, giving them out at open houses.

          Fast changing marketing could make the business card relevant again. Maybe??

          GordonJ
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    The thing with QR codes is the potential to scan an item in a store and now the only offers are for that store's offers. Few minutes later you walk by one of the offers and your device alerts you to a different offer for a different item. Annoying.

    Say you scan a QR code on the bulletin board and the code sets up a "hack" in your device wherein you just agreed to receive unsolicited offers from whomever posted the card.
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  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    I use a lot of cards... not a fan of the "digital pass".

    The issue I have with passing ( phone pass ) off my number, is that you end up with theirs and they have yours... and you end up with this whole I was I supposed to call them or were they going to call me? Handing someone a card puts all of the responsibility on the person receiving the card. If they WANT what it is you are offering they will call... if they don't they wont call. I only want motivated clients, and nothing says they are motivated like them calling you.

    Just my little point of view on the subject.
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  • Profile picture of the author aduttonater
    I only use business cards when doing an on-site estimate. I just feel like it's part of the first impression. Fliers are used for marketing door to door.
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