The Importance of Business Cards

The business card is a way of saying hello, remember me, and so much more. Today, it seems like everyone from your kid sister's babysitting business to the ubiquitous "mommy blogger" has his or her own business card. But business cards have a long and varied history that extends long before the term "blog" even existed. Once part of a formal royal visitation in 15th Century China according to this infographic from MOO Inc., a printing company, business cards now have many, many different uses and purposes.

Infographic Courtesy of Moo

But are business cards something you really need as you enter the workforce? It's common knowledge that a well-written resumé and cover letter are essential if you want to get a job. A diverse portfolio certainly doesn't hurt, either. But where do business cards fit in all of this? There has to be a reason they've been in use for hundreds of years, but what purpose do they serve now? And should students, especially, be forking over money for these ephemeral objects that are then going to be given away for free?

What it really comes down to is memorability and branding. A business card acts as a personal ambassador. It makes you look good; it provides your information in a quick, easy-to-access way; and it represents you when you're not there. A business card makes it easy for you, instead of the 50+ other applicants, to be remembered. While it is true a resumé, cover letter, and portfolio do the same thing, none of those objects fit into a pocket or a wallet.

Carrying around copies of your resumé is simply impractical. You really never know when an opportunity will present itself, and business cards allow you to always be prepared. Imagine sitting next to someone on a plane who casually mentions that his or her company has a job opening that is basically your dream job. If you have a business card you can hand to him or her, before it's even read that business card is already doing its job of making you look good. Writing your contact information down on a scrap piece of paper or pulling a crumpled resumé out of a bag just doesn't have the same professional impact.

Image Courtesy of MOO Inc. 

Business cards do more than represent you, though; they also create relationships. It is rare for the offer of a business card not to be reciprocated. All of a sudden, a job interview becomes a networking opportunity. Even if you don't get the job, you know that whoever interviewed you, personally, has your information and he or she felt you were important enough to get his or hers in return. That person you sat next to on a plane? He or she is probably going to offer you a business card in exchange for your own. That dream job is even more of a reality.

The relationships that business cards can help foster are not all professional. Even if the person sitting next to you on a plane doesn't have a job opening at his or her company, you may still want to stay in contact. In Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic Little House on the Prairie book series, business cards are simply "name cards" and are given to friends and potential suitors. Just because the name of the card has changed doesn't mean it can't be used in the same way.

Image Courtesy of The Design Inspiration

Business cards, as their history has proven, are extremely versatile. They don't have to be a standard size or shape. They can be fun, functional, and even truly artistic.  And despite the increasing digitization of so much print material, business cards seem to have found an existence that straddles digital and physical.

Image Courtesy of Juke Box Print

Business cards can now have QR (Quick Response) codes that, when scanned by a smart phone camera, will open a specified website. Most business cards list an email or an email and a website, and some print companies are even looking into NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled business cards that contain a small microchip. When tapped to a smartphone, these cards tell the phone to download information, open a webpage, save a photo, or any number of simple tasks.

QR Code

All these new technologies have essentially ensured the business card's survival as the world becomes more and more digital. Unfortunately, there's no getting around that business cards do cost money, but that doesn't mean there aren't options for those who can't afford to spend a hundred dollars on something they're going to give away. Moo offers a 20% student discount, and VistaPrint will print a run of 25 cards for under 5 dollars. And never overlook the option of printing them yourself. Many stationary supply stores like Staples sell pre-perforated business card printer packs that allow you to print business cards with any standard home printer.