Do you still use business cards?

Business cards have become a little outdated since the arrival of the internet but l still like to use them when possible, do you guys promote your links through business cards? is it still effective?

Thoughts?

I have a bunch, but rarely use them anymore

I wouldn't say they were outdated as they are still useful for offline business. A little overlooked and underrated definitely but not outdated because they still have a use today and still required by a lot of big companies. You can tell someone about your website, email address or contact number, but when its put down on a business card they don't have to remember it as its on the card. They just have to remember where they put it!

When they want to use your business or contact you for something. Of course most people just Google it, know it or save it to their phone but when all those things fail, the small cardboard business card is always there. Provided they can remember where they put it!

They're really good little things for drumming up offline business really. When you're out and about, on business meetings etc and you meet new people or start talking about your business you can just hand them one of your business cards. Most entrepreneurs and business minded people have them, or at least, a bunch of them in their wallet/briefcase.

I've used them in the past to promote businesses. By leaving them in shop windows, on counter tops in shops that were related to my business (which was a mobile business so most mobile repair shops in my area). That might just involve asking them if that's okay to leave some there in a holder and if its related to their business most will say fine where as some might want something for it.

Obviously you gotta pay for advertising sometimes even if its just leaving business cards somewhere. I used to leave them everywhere, pubs, clubs, peoples cars, on the bus/train, everywhere. I'd say about 20% of them drummed me up some business but as said I used to leave them everywhere and in shop windows, counter tops etc.

So yes business cards can still be effective. Useful and handy too. But it's just one part of your offline/online advertising and branding.

I think you can get like 1000 from Vistaprint for about 5 bucks so pretty reasonable too.

Hi CyberAlchemest,
I've had some printed for my wife's offline business, and hand them out regularly enough.

I have not considered them for my online pursuits as yet, but it really is more determined on where you feel you can drum up your customers.

They are still a very handy item for all the reasons Hawker suggested.

cheers, Mal.

I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that the majority of my online business comes from offline contact. I have gone through 200 business cards in the last 6 months.

I had an idea for them one time. Print them with a dollar bill image an throw a bunch of them off the roof of a tall building in new York. Practical for me since I lived there.

Imagine the attention you'd get from falling "dollars"

Maybe for a casino gaming site?

I still use them.
There's also others who leave their business cards at shops in my area.

Yes, I'm making website's for clients and go to business meetings, there I give business cards.

Hi CyberAlchemist

CyberAlchemist said:

Business cards have become a little outdated since the arrival of the internet but l still like to use them when possible, do you guys promote your links through business cards? is it still effective?

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

I usually collected business cards whenever i went for a meeting/interview with executives, sr. executives and managers of the company.

And in business world this approach of sharing business cards is still ongoing. However promoting links through business cards is not that useful according to my point of view.

But yes there may be some clicks through it. As most of the people prefer to search online for the things they need thus if you own a website, it must have good presence over internet.

I still use business cards all the time, mostly in my offline business pursuits. For the online stuff, sometimes I still create them. I will use them as an email signature in my email client. I think it makes you look a lot more professional. I guess it depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your business though. I have some online business pursuits where there is absolutely no need to have a business card. And in those cases I don't bother.