A lot of businesses rely heavily on online resources to grow their business these days, and rarely have printed pieces. I’m all for digital, but there is one tangible piece I still recommend that every business owner has, and that’s a business card.

1 An Immediate Vote of Credibility 

A well-designed business card provides an immediate validation that you are a professional and have a serious company. This small, but important perception may mean the difference in a potential customer going to check out your website or not.

2 An Experience

A business card creates a tactile experience and humans are better able to recall things when they can associate them with more than one sense (i.e. voice and touch).

Better digital technology has made fancy finishes like foil, spot gloss, raised emboss, or specialty shapes more affordable than ever. These finishes can add a dramatic WOW factor that your clients are sure to remember.

My clients often write me to let me know how well their business cards have gone over. In fact, here is a sweet note I received from one last week:

“I wanted to let you know that when I was at the wellness conference last month and handed out my business cards, I always got an oooh, ah, or wow remark.”

– Dr. Cassandra Shaw, Live Well and Enjoy Life Executive Wellness Coaching

3 The Fastest Way to Exchange Contact Details

A business card is still the fastest way to give someone information on how to get in touch with you. I know we all have fancy cell phones and I even think at some point there was some way to bump phones and send contact details, but I don’t really see anyone using that technology right now.

And sure you can type it in, but that takes foreverrrrrrr.

Many leads may not be ready to commit to grabbing coffee with you (or making a purchase), but they might be in the future. By providing a business card with your social media handles and  website url, potential clients can learn more about you, follow you on social, and hopefully turn into warmer leads.   

In Conclusion

Business cards are a relatively small investment for such an important first impression. I recommend that you get them designed by a professional designer and that you print them on high quality cardstock and use a special finish if appropriate. 

Pro Tip: If you go to a lot of events and $1/business card is expensive, then get two sets. Get a fancier set with a special finish from a quality source like Moo Printing, and then get a larger inexpensive set with no extra frills from VistaPrint (watch for sales). Save your WOW-factor cards for important small engagements where you need to make a splash and take your no-frills cards to larger events with less-qualified contacts.