Do We Need Business Cards Anymore?

In General | 15 comments | permalink

I was in Dubai recently at a seminar, and as per usual, business cards were being handed out as freely as free beer…. mmmmm, beer.

But I no longer bring any business cards on trips, in fact, I no longer use them at all.

It got me thinking, in a social media world with Facebook, Twitter, iPhones, Blackberries and Twitter lists, do we even need business cards at all anymore?

Here are a couple of ways I now manage new contacts:

1: Let Them Make the First Move

This is particularly useful when I speak at events, everyone and their dog wants to give me their details, but instead, I give them my Twitter or eMail, and let them contact me.

I do this for two reasons:

1) It saves me time and hassle

2) I know that those who take the time to get in touch, are action takers and are less likely to be time wasters.

2: Use Twitter & Twitter Lists

Twitter Lists is a game changer in my opinion…

For example, I could create a list called Dubai, and then when I meet cool peeps at the seminar, I can add them to my Dubai list.

The only problem is that none of the major iPhone apps (that I am aware of) are fully supporting the list feature at the moment, but I suspect that by the time you read this, it will be a standard feature.

3: Facebook

I had over 50 friend requests on Facebook when I returned from Dubai, over 30 of them also joined my fanpage on Facebook, so clearly there was no issues in finding me.

A simple search allows you to find people on Facebook, but the vanity URLs make it even easier, I can now just tell people: Facebook.com/DeanHunt (simples!)

So with all the technology at our finger tips, do we really need business cards as we go into 2010?

Dean

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15 COMMENTS

  • Tom

    I do like what smartphone companies are doing with 2d barcodes. just show someone a small image, and their phone will fetch all your details for them.

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  • http://profitsrgood.com Roland

    Business cards are a great tool. They are easily kept and referred to. People can pass on your card to others for referrals. Don’t throw them away yet! They can bring in huge amounts of business.
    Roland´s last blog ..Spend Your Money Wisely and Well My ComLuv Profile

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  • http://www.helpfulguy.com/feed John Hutson

    Very good point Dean,

    I think also, phones should become more universal, where you can send contacts across seamlessly. At the moment, Sony Ericsson address book files differ from Nokia etc.

    Overall you’re right though – people can find people with a quick search now and if they do they are action takers and genuinely interested as you say.

    Wonder if business cards will morph into electronic versions you can send easily in the future?
    John Hutson´s last blog ..Twenty-Five Random Things About Me, John Hutson My ComLuv Profile

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  • http://www.philbegnett.com phil begnett

    Interesting comment Dean. I think someone like you who has a easy to remember name has no problem at all, but guys like me with the surname begnett, people just arent going to remember that so they need to read it somewhere! :)

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  • J

    I’ve stopped using business cards 3 years ago. Now I just write the name & maybe phone & occupation of a person on my phone and I can easily find their profiles online later.
    The only problem is that others don’t do the same, so it’s always me who writes them first if I want to continue the relationship. I also have to apologize quite often for not having cards.
    I do store all the cards I get (would be rude to refuse them), but in a few days/weeks I can’t find them anyway, so yes, getting rid of them completely would be a good thing :-) (not to mention the trees)…

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  • http://dollarpages.org Nicholas Salimes (TheAnvil)

    In theory it seems right. But it is not so. The business card just evolves. For example, a card with just a ‘vanity’ url on it like so: twitter.com/DOCTORnicely is all that is required on the card, or on a bumper sticker, etc.

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  • http://dollarpages.org Nicholas Salimes (TheAnvil)

    And another very serious issue, is that you must own YOUR OWN website! PERIOD!!! I had a 3 year Twitter account that just started going viral (a steady 14 joiners per day and climbing) then I make a post at a ‘legal forum’ asking about the legitimacy of an online scam, and the owner SLANDERS me, and then attacks my Twitter account, so now I gotta sue the bugger. As a business owner, who was going around like you, just giving out the ‘vanity’ url, I just lost years of customer goodwill! I had to go back and do some MAJOR re-branding. NOT COOL! Twitter did thank me though, but the account mysteriously stays closed, and the Yahoo verified scammer is allowed to thrive. (for now). So, I must disagree with your approach, until Twitter and similar services, employ an ACCOUNTABILITY feature, so that people just can’t go around knocking peoples accounts out. Just imagine your contacts coming across the Twitter message that says your account is suspended due to suspicious activity. OK, that is not cool. Twitter is working on it though. First of all, they need to NOT shut the flagged account down, until they investigate first. And I mean a real investigation. So, it would be nice if these services were more dependable, but that is not the case yet. It is not safe to rely on your approach, and clearly it can have huge negative impacts. cheers! On a positive side note, it is cool to see that people such as yourself, are thinking along these lines! Believe me, I approach people on the bus (great for networking, I seldom drive anywhere anymore) & they have NO CLUE about Twitter! That must also be taken into consideration. Society is always 7 years behind, for some reason. At any rate, the future looks bright.

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Nicholas.

    I am very sorry to hear about your situation.

    I had to remove your links, as I am legally responsible for anything you say on here.

    I would say owning your own website should be a given in 2009.

    I use Twitter as a first contact, they go to my twitter, which links to my blog, which links to my facebook and email and LinkedIn and YouTube…

    So even if I lost my Twitter account:

    a) I have multiple Twitter accounts
    b) they would still be on my facebook and blog etc…

    Granted, it must be very frustrating for you, but just wanted to stress I am not reliant on Twitter, it is simply an easy way for people to make first contact.

    Dean

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  • http://dollarpages.org Nicholas Salimes (TheAnvil)

    Well, I do not agree at all with you saying that part about being legally responsible. I am just doing what people are supposed to do on the net: spread information. And here you are CENSORING the freedom of distribution of information. Essentially you just appointed yourself Judge & Jury by imposing your views. In an era of syndication, it makes no sense. Your actions are what keep these scammers going, for longer than they should. The FTC is investigating, a report was filed on Nov. 9 2009. They need to see a pattern, and when I spoke with them over the phone, they said that in these types of cases, they go for a class action law suit. The more complaints the better. Here I am trying to inform others, and you skirt around and downplay a very important issue. I have spent months putting that website together, that the FTC is looking at as we speak, and you just kill it, just like that. It is difficult to understand you, and one must conclude that you just simply do not care.

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Nicholos,

    They are not my rules, anyone with a blog or forum knows the rules.

    We are liable based on what you say on here. It sucks, but that is the way it is.

    I don’t have time for your negativity and baggage though, please don’t bother commenting on here in future.

    But best of luck with your situation, I hope it works out for you.

    Dean

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  • http://miltski.com/ Miltski

    Well, some social media sites are designed to be part of mixing complication for some aspirant. Like for example the Facebook, being the leading social bookmarking site, it enters not only business aspect of internet but also the gaming industry which they have now as one of the most played game online.
    Miltski´s last blog ..Free Traffic-Getting SEO Plugin from Jeff Johnson My ComLuv Profile

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  • http://www.johnpaulaguiar.com John Paul Aguiar

    I agree , bix cards are def the old way of sharing info or saving contact info.

    Chances are you may nebver actually call that person anyway, since you will be communicating on twitter, facebook etc…

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  • http://blogict.com/ Ardit

    For the most part regular old business cards are out dated. But really if you put your twitter on a business card along with your facebook and site url they can still be at least semi-useful.

    Well until there’s a universal way to swap info on phones in seconds, then cards will be as obsolete as mailing people letters instead of emailing.
    Ardit´s last blog ..Big Restart Button Has Been Pressed My ComLuv Profile

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  • http://www.leisuretimebiz.com Angus Fraser

    Still a business card user/receiver, as quicker for me to write some notes on the card at the same time following the meeting. Now print up my own cards prior to any networking event, so fresh & adapted for the people meeting, &, now added Facebook & Twitter ID. However, may all change, as after couple of years of making a decision (not usually that slow!), invested in an iPhone (typically the following week the 3Gs version came out!) so my life may totally change!?!

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  • http://marketmetweet.com/blog Tammy

    Good post. Twitter is definitely a game changer, i’d agree to that :)
    Tammy´s last blog ..‘Twitter’ Most Popular English Word of 2009 My ComLuv Profile

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