Business cards have been a staple in the world of trade and commerce since they were brought to the market in the 17th century. Millions of companies all over the world have been utilizing the power of business cards to grow and expand their businesses. In fact, over 27 million business cards are printed every day in the U.S., which equates to over 7 billion business cards a year.
However, the new digital age has made many businesses think twice about utilizing business cards. Since Covid-19, the printing of business cards has dropped by a staggering 70%, so this has left companies wondering if business cards are still important in 2023.
In this article, we will look at all things related to business cards, and come to a conclusion on whether or not business cards are still important in 2023.
Why Do Businesses Use Business Cards?
The simple explanation as to why so many businesses have been using business cards for so many years is that they are an incredibly simple, easy, and cheap way of promoting a business. They also give the receiver all the information that they need in order to get in contact with a business.
In addition, a neat and high-quality business card will ensure that the first impression of your business is a very strong one. As we all know, especially in business, first impressions matter, and can influence whether a customer is coming to your business or not.
How Business Cards Have Changed Over the Years
As the world has changed and markets have developed, so have business cards. While there have been so many developments in the way of business cards over the last few decades, the most impressive and extreme changes came early on.
When business cards first came onto the scene in the 17th century they simply featured the business name on the front, and often a map of the business location on the back. Moving into the industrial era, the world of business cards was taken over by the printing press.
It was not until the 20th century that printing techniques advanced and allowed business cards to use bright colors, different materials, and unlimited design options. This took the popularity and importance of business cards to a whole new level, as businesses could personalize their cards and use them as a marketing tool.
However, the most drastic change has certainly come in the last decade. There are now numerous platforms on the market that offer digital business cards. This is a business card that features a QR code that when scanned, and brings up a digital card that features and stores all of the information a customer could need to get into contact with a company.
What are the Benefits of Business Cards?
The popularity of business cards is not without reason. They provide both companies and customers with a huge amount of benefits that make them a very important tool of business. These benefits are, but not limited to:
Affordable Advertisement - One of the biggest benefits of business cards to businesses is their affordability. You will struggle to find a cheaper form of advertisement than a business card. A business card is incredible for increasing brand awareness and reaches people at a bargain price that will not be beaten by any billboard or ad campaign price.
Easy to Distribute - Another great benefit of business cards is how easy they are to distribute to a large amount of potential customers. Unlike ad campaigns and billboards that can take months of work and preparation to be ready to publish, business cards allow you to quickly and easily spread the word about your business.
First Impression - In business, first impressions are important. Business cards not only allow you to make an incredible first impression, but they also allow you to make a lasting impression. This is because the receiver will take that card home and have access to all the contact information they need to get in contact or make a purchase. Business cards are also incredibly customizable, so you are able to add your own branding to create a high-quality card that will be sure to wow your customers.
Convenient - Business cards are incredibly convenient as you can take them wherever you go. Whether you are meeting customers, at an event, or on a work trip, you can always have business cards with you that you can hand out. This will help to grow your business's notoriety and client base.
Proven Success - Business cards have been used by companies for a number of decades and have always been valued very highly. This is because business cards have been consistently brought in business for companies since their inception. You can therefore trust that these business cards will provide you with a huge amount of benefits and are worth their very minor investment.
Should My Business Still Use Business Cards in 2023?
The short answer is, yes. Businesses should still be utilizing the power of business cards even in the digital area that we are currently in. This is because there are not too many disadvantages of business cards. As a product, they are cheap and not at all time-consuming, which means that there is very little invested in their success. However, throughout the decades business cards have well and truly proven their worth, and are an effective tool.
While business is becoming more and more digital, there truly is nothing more personal than a handshake and a business card. This personal touch will ensure that business cards are always extremely valuable to businesses for making personal connections that lead to conversions.
In summary, business cards are undoubtedly still important in 2023, and will be for years and even decades to come. The simplicity and effectiveness of business cards makes it an efficient form of marketing. This means that businesses cannot neglect the importance of business cards.
