Is this the death of the business card?

The way in which we do business has obviously had to adapt and change to overcome the many new challenges that have been created by Covid-19, but have you considered how this affects your printed marketing, in particular how you use your business cards?

Business Cards have been around for decades as a simple method of sharing contact information with prospects you meet, to build your network and grow your business.

With the Covid-19 pandemic putting corporate events and opportunities for face-to-face networking on hold for the foreseeable future, does the business card still have a place in the current business world?

Could this pandemic be the death of the business card?

We have seen a number of print trends come and go, but the business card is one we hope to see remain for years to come.

The key to reviving this effective print solution is thinking more innovatively and intelligently about the design and distribution of your business cards.

Business Card Design

You will have likely handled hundreds or even thousands of business cards in your lifetime but think about the ones that really caught your attention.

• What did they look like and what information did they include?

• How did they differ from the hundreds of other business cards you may have discarded?

• What made you keep or remember that persons’ business card?

The design of your business card plays a huge role in helping to differentiate you from the competition.

You may choose to use die cuts to create unusual shapes for your card, or folds and pop-ups to create a unique and attention-grabbing design.

Although these unique design features can work, you don’t always need to resort to gimmicks to achieve this.

A concise, direct and visually appealing business card that has been designed to convey the spirit of your company’s culture is often just as effective.

Consider the type of materials you use for your business card and what they are saying about you. Does it reflect your brand, who you are and your values?

There’s just something about the feel of a business card when you hold it in your hand that can really make an impact with an individual, so choosing your materials wisely is key.

Imagery and colour choice is also key in creating a powerful business card.

Business cards aren’t designed to include lots of written text and information, so you have to rely on other features to do the talking for you.

You can say a lot with very little when you are intelligent in the images, text and colours you choose, helping to convey your brand and key messages or values in a simple yet effective way.

You could also consider ways to make your business card multi-purpose, for example adding interactive features such as a QR code that can be scanned.

QR codes in particular could definitely have a resurgence following the pandemic, due to their increased use within the Track & Trace system.

You could use a QR code as a way to direct the individual to a video all about your company, your history and the names and faces that make up your company, helping to show a more personable side to your business that they can connect and engage with.

Or a QR code as a way to take them to a platform that provides a virtual tour of your site, so you can demonstrate exactly how you do things and the scale of your business.

Distribution

Although all of the areas we have discussed above are great in helping you to create a powerful business card, there is still the issue of actually getting them to your intended audience.

Mailing your business cards out directly to your prospects in a tailored print marketing campaign is a great way that you can reach and engage with your target audience, putting your brand directly in front of them.

We can work with you to run a personalised print campaign and create print packages, containing a variety of printed literature tailored to the individual and their sector, including your business card.

This is where creating different business cards for different purposes and/or target audiences can be extremely valuable.

Tailoring the design of your business card based around your target audience, their needs, characteristics and the intended impression you want to make is great to help you achieve the best possible return on investment and achieve the desired results.

Another thing to consider is that this situation won’t last forever.

Although there is no current ‘end in sight’ so to speak, we have already adapted to overcome challenges and will continue to do so moving forward.

Investing your time and efforts now in creating a truly powerful business card that reflects your brand and values perfectly will help to equip you for the future.

When networking and face-to-face events are able to take place again, it will be even more important than before that your business card helps you make a great impression and says the right thing about you.