Business people are talking about business cards becoming obsolete, but are they right? They propose that because of technology, business cards are no longer required as a social interaction. The reason? Technology has made it possible to scan someones information using a two-way portable device about the size of a matchbook.
The downside is obviously that most people do not have this product (have you ever heard of “RedTacton”) and have never heard of it (company is NTT), and it came out in 2005!
Here are a few reasons why traditional paper business cards are not, and will not, become obsolete anytime in the future.
1. Ease of Use.
Business cards only require the receiver to have an arm and a hand. Actually, if the person receiving the business card lacks hands, you could always tuck it into his pocket (hands free?) so hands are even a requirement.
2. Physical goods.
It’s long been known that many people prefer to have something tangible in addition to something digital. If you remove the physical element, you won’t have the ability to pass along something tangible.
3. Conversation starters.
Business cards are great conversation starters. When someone hands you a business card, you look down, read their company name and title. Maybe they’re in a related field or they have a title that interests you. Then again, maybe their company is located in the rural town you grew up in. Without that business card you wouldn’t have made that instant connection.
4. Spam.
Spam is inevitable in the digital age, but spam isn’t necessarily apparent on a business card. I guarantee, if you go to an event and everyone has one of those matchbook digital business cards, someone will spam you. If it can be profitable, someone will do it, and spam is obviously profitable that is why people do it.
Those are just 4 quick reasons why business cards aren’t obsolete and won’t be any time soon!