Are Business Cards Dead?
Things are always evolving.
Anyone in the motion graphics or visual effects industry knows this is the truth, and with social networks popping up left and right on the internet, the methods of promoting yourself are no exception; but what does this mean for the more traditional methods of promotion such as the business card?
These days we are not all sitting around the conference table ogling each others business card like in the movie . With the way the internet and technology in general has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few decades, we are jumping on our laptops, tablet computers and smart phones connecting to wi-fi hubs in every corner coffee shop and 3G and 4G networks virtually everywhere else for business and for pleasure. We are consuming more online data than ever before, and with this new technology comes new ways to promote ourselves.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to many. Newspapers and magazines felt the crunch as traditional paper subscriptions were dwindling, but they found a new resurgence online and through apps for various devices such as smart phones and the Apple iPad. Burning your reel onto a DVD and mailing it out to companies is a thing of the past as online video sharing sites and personal websites become the method of distributing your reel, as I mentioned in my previous article, Get Your Video to the Masses; and, with more people using online search to find what they are looking for versus more traditional methods, websites such as Reel Roulette (Spin the Wheel on Reel Roulette) allow anybody to quickly search through many reels in a very short period of time allowing more content consumption with less work.
So, what does all this mean for the more traditional methods of promotion such as the business card? Are business cards obsolete, being taken over by online promotional methods, or is there still a place for them in this digital world? To find the answer, I asked some movers and shakers in the motion graphics and visual effects industry this same question.
/ GreyScaleGorilla.com and CreamyOrange.com (among many others)
“I think that biz cards are DEAD for people in creative and technology driven industries. They are a hold over from another age. If people REALLY want to get your info and you made a personal connection, they can put your info directly on their phone or ask their friend about you later. They could even follow you on twitter directly from their iPhone. THIS is the way I connect. Not in a heap of cards on my dresser when I get home from an event.” He goes on to add, “If your in a creative business and under 40, lose the cards.”
“I would say that Google-ing my name is good. But if someone with a more common name it might be difficult to find them. As far as social network/services, I wouldn’t rely on that to promote my self/business. But I have found LinkedIn to be a good way to find people in terms of searching for a skillset/business.” He adds, “My business cards have helped if only in face to face situations and I’m networking or don’t want to write down a number… [They're] part of a bigger machine of promotion which includes my work web site and word of mouth.”
“I feel like the business card is most useful in social or networking event. You don’t want to have take a break from the conversation to pull out your phone, follow that person on twitter and get them to follow you. I take their business card, put in my pocket and then re-visit it tomorrow or later in the week when I’m in front of the computer. It’s also a great leave behind, if that person follows me on twitter when I first meet them in two weeks they may have forgotten who I was. But with the business card at least they think of me again when we are not together.”
“I think that business cards are a really important way to promote myself. Also I feel that business cards shows the person you are giving it to that you are more serious, not only saying your Twitter or Vimeo name.” He goes on to say about using Google search, “It’s a great source to find information and people. However it’s easy to get lost in the woods of information.”
“Handing somebody a business card carries a certain weight with it, even to the point of giving an appearance of professionalism. Does it hearken back to the older days where cards were king? To be sure, but from what I’ve seen in the design industry (and, to a lesser extent, the visual effects field) is that as so few are doing the business card thing simply having one is enough to make an impression, and from a networking angle, that’s the whole point.” He also adds, “Cards aren’t a one-stop solution; you need to follow them up with adequate branding, self-promotion (and these days) an online identity and so on; they’re a piece of the larger puzzle, a stepping stone, as it were. My cards boast no skills, no software and no industry; they’ve got a logo on the one side and contact information on the back. By my reckoning I’ll have given all this information to a person prior to handing them my card.”
/ MarsSanford.com
“Personally I like having the business card on hand for events. I always prefer to add/follow right there in the moment, but if the conversation isn’t heading that way, its a good thing to leave someone with. I don’t think they need to be as jam packed with info as they once were, as Nick pointed out over a year ago!”
“I personally don’t think business cards are dead at the moment, but they are on the way out fast. Apps such as Bump on the iPhone have shown sharing information is as easy as bumping two phones together, and everybody has an email address, Facebook account, Twitter name or some other social media account to connect through. As time goes on, the simplicity of handing someone a card with your information on it will be replaced with a simple bump of our phones, a friend request online or a drag and drop of our contact information on our potential clients name. A Google search isn’t always accurate, especially if the search is for someone with a name as crazy as mine, and even a business card doesn’t help in that respect as they will have to type out what’s printed on the card. Why not make it easier for them by giving them a link they can click on or one “Accept Friend” button to push. The idea of a business card is to make it easier for the client to find you, after all.”
The Verdict
It would seem business cards aren’t completely dead and still have a place in promotion of yourself and your business, but don’t be surprised when the time comes when they are completely obsolete. As technology continues to advance so will the method of promotion; and just like newspapers, magazines and other forms of traditional media the push is going online. It’s important to remember, as was mentioned repeatedly throughout this article, that business cards are just a small part of the bigger promotional machine. It’s only a device that shows people where to go. It’s up to you to give them a place to go, and have what they are looking for.
If you choose to promote yourself using a business card and are looking for ideas on designs for your cards to set them off from the rest, here are a few more cards from people in the industry that might spark your creative juices. However, it’s good to note that ideas don’t have to come from people in the industry at all. Flickr has a great set of photos called that features many great designs from people in many different industries, and websites such as Designrfix.com has a series of posts that will inspire as well.
Justin Younger / JustinYounger.com
Michael Blank / BlankSight.net
Seth Hay / OrangesDesigns.com
What do you think? Are business cards completely gone from your promotional efforts? Are they a waste of time and money? Please, share what you think and tell us what methods you prefer over handing out business cards.
John Kostrzewski is the Editor of Fuel Your Motionography and a freelance motion graphics and visual effects artist, videographer and writer living in Minnesota. He is awesome. Follow him on Twitter at and .
nope – they aren’t dead. They leave your potential employer with material to remember you by. Lots of people don’t make cool business cards – if you do it leaves you memorable and more likely to get the job b/c you took the extra effort to promote yourself.
Thanks for your comment; you make great points!
I have to agree, as a leave-behind there is no substitute for a business card. As Brad Chmielewski mentioned, “I take their business card, put in my pocket and then re-visit it tomorrow or later in the week when I’m in front of the computer. It’s also a great leave behind, if that person follows me on twitter when I first meet them in two weeks they may have forgotten who I was. But with the business card at least they think of me again when we are not together.” That’s invaluable.
Also, as you said, you can design your own cards so that they are more memorable than others. That’s a big bonus when going up against others, as we usually are.
However, I have to ask, do you think with this push in a digital direction that a widely accepted digital version will take over, or do you think that cards are here to stay?
People still frequently ask me for them, so I guess not.
I don’t think business cards are dead, its amazing how many people i bump into who do not
A. Have an iPhone
B. Now what twitter is
C. Can’t use a mobile competently
I have several clients who all run successful businesses who are not interested in the online world at all.
I think those people, who are not like the rest of us geeks, will always require and want business cards. And they can be fun to make. ;)
They are fun to make, that’s for sure!
Very good points all around! If your client is not on any social networks, or into technology at all then only a business card would do.
I think a business card should be an import piece in someone’s overall self promotion. You will always find yourself in the situation where you will not be able to write down someone’s contact info, follow them on twitter, etc. A business card is also an important take away piece that someone may keep on their desk, (because it’s a nice design) to constantly remind them of your services.
I have meet back with clients and potential employers and have not only received compliments on my card, but I have seen my card pinned up in cubicles.
Nick makes a good point that “If your in a creative business and under 40, lose the cards.”, but you have to remember that some of your clients are “over 40″ and still appreciate the old fashioned business card.
“…you have to remember that some of your clients are “over 40″ and still appreciate the old fashioned business card.” – That is a good point! And as Phil mentioned in his comment, there are people who don’t (and won’t) fully embrace technology, so what do you do with them? A business card will only work in those situations.
Thanks for your comment!
A sort of 50:50 split there – glad as I have just got round to printing my business card anyway.
FWIW I think they are still invaluable and soooooo much easier to use than trying to get someone’s details into your iPhone or whatever.
And then having to delete them three days afterwards when you realise there’s no real need to keep in touch ;)
That is very true! If you do get their information in your phone, or they get yours into theirs, how do you go about remembering who it was anyway. As was mentioned, cards are a great leave behind if only for the fact that you can look them over later at any given time. Otherwise, they get lost in abyss with all your other contacts.
Great point!
Interesting post.
Business Cards are not Dead. Their purpose has changed though. Now it’s more of a flier to direct a potential client to your website where they can do a little more “homework” and be bombarded with your promotional material.
I don’t think we need to be as pretentious anymore with business cards as they were in American Psycho (great example, btw), but they are still an important marketing tool.
Great point, and Nick Campbell actually mentioned something similar to this in an earlier post on his blog. Business cards should be used as a directorial device leading your clients to your information online.
However, as it was mentioned in a few other comments, what happens when your client is web-illiterate? These people are obviously in the minority these days (and getting smaller), but they are still out there. Do we include the smaller details on the card for them or just hope they can figure it out?
Excellent point. I have a surprising amount of clients who ARE web-illiterate. Word of mouth has been my biggest advocate by far. Word of mouth is generated both by handing out a business card so there is a tangible aspect, but moreso by putting out quality work that people remember.
Not to toot my own horn too much, but as a non-Facebooker, Twitter minimalist, and only just now develooping a web presence after ten years of business (yeah, I know, I know), I can say with confidence that traditional marketing such as business cards and word of mouth are not dead and are still a great way to do business!
Until we get computer chips inside our hands, business cards will never become completely obsolete. (Shake hands and receive business information on a timeline of contacts *beep)
Social networks dump so much information from so many different people on us that adding a friend or following someone is no longer anything special. A business card, on the other hand, leaves the other person with a physical memory of your meeting, and a stronger impression then another person dumping more information into their feed.
Of course the role of business cards have changed dramatically, but this also allows you to be much more creative with how you present yourself (that is if you make your own business cards).
I do agree that meeting someone face-to-face is the only way to go, but you don’t see business cards being phased out over the years at all? Even for a paperless, inexpensive alternative?
Great point about social networks being an information dump, and they are a little cold and overwhelming when you want to make a personal touch. I guess that’s where a card comes in handy as well. It makes the person feel a bit more special; not like you just hit a button to accept them as a friend online.
Thanks for your comment!
Having recently been to SxSW where I traded hundreds of business cards, I would definitely say that business cards are still thriving in the entertainment and interactives industries. And I find that true of all conventions, trade shows, filmfests, etc.
That’s a very good point! There really isn’t a good way to get your information out there en masse at events except for the business card.
Just curious, have you gotten any replies from the people you handed your business cards out to during SXSW? I’m just curious if we are all going through the motions and not actually paying attention to the cards we get.
I recently had this discussion and I’ve come to the conclusion that they are on their deathbed. They are on their way out, and being replaced. On a practical note, I’ve never really liked them, because I always end up throwing them away.
Unless they are just amazing piece of printing or from someone I really admire, I don’t keep them.
I seem to either pin the cards on my board and not look at them again, or I just throw them. If I’m looking for someone, I have a list of contacts I go through or I get online. I rarely ever look at the ones I have pinned on the board.
If you don’t mind me asking, what methods of promotion do you use if not the business card?
Hi John.
Great debate!
As a visual artist, I have my cards made with images of my work on them at Moo.com. The cards give people a little something to remember me by. If they see my work and like it, I can lead them to my blog, website and physical address with the card. The art will remind them who I am, in the event my ordinary name doesn’t stand out, when they look at the card later.
As for the cards I pick up, they do become computer food. I enter the info into my mailing list or other pertinent areas. I don’t have the texting agility to enter all the info into my phone, while I am standing there with the person, so it would be a little awkward, to say the least. I am one of the over 50 folks who will always want to see and hold the real business card.
Thanks for replying, Beth!
I’m starting to realize, at least this day and age, that the business card will be hard to replace. As I’ve been reading in the comments, It does help in many situations where sharing information would otherwise be complicated and it allows the card holder the creativity to make a personal statement. Also ,if you don’t mind me saying, I appreciate the response from the “over 50 folk”!
Hi John,
Great article, but I think buzz-cards are not dead! The truth is business cards are one of the most overlooked of all business tools. A well-designed, professional card makes you and your business look professional. Especially in the ‘ creative and technology driven industries’, because this is probably your only hand-out where you can prove you’re creative!
I just posted 3 days earlier a post on the gonzoblog.nl with my answer to your question if buzz-cards are dead or not? Hope you n-joy the article and at least see through the tips my vision on buzz-cards?
Here’s the link: Tips for a Professional Business-Card
Thanks for sharing your article, I n-joyed reading it. Cheers & Ciao …
It’s very true that in the creative industry, mainly motion graphics and visual effects, a personalized business card is about the only thing you can hand out other than a DVD demo reel (but those ARE dead these days) that somewhat displays your talent. I know a lot of people in VFX who mainly rotoscope or motion track and who can’t design so they just get the standard cards. Apparently a card with Christian Bales rotoscoped head on it won’t sell their skills very well… but it probably would have a lot more people asking for them.
I do agree with your statement, “A well-designed, professional card makes you and your business look professional.” It does show you put effort into promoting yourself and you do take yourself seriously, and in the end that’s the message we want to send to our clients.
Hi John,
First of all, thanks for your reply, I appreciate that!
Anyone can give away a ‘common’ business card but the professional who expresses their organisation’s message and personality through their business-card will have a huge advantage.
So lets design more buzz-cards, cuase they are so NOT dead! Cheers & Ciao …
I think as long as people still meet face to face there will always be a need for business cards. As the point was mentioned above, not every client you will work with will have Twitter, a smart phone or be socially inclined to find out who you are at various locations on the web. A business card gives the client all the information they will need directly, to be stored somewhere for a later date or transferred to a contacts book.
Thanks for your reply!
It seems the business card is the preferred method of quickly giving out our contact information as digital methods either take too much time or need to gain more common ground, and by reading the many uses business cards provide, they really do prove to be versatile.
Precisely. I also believe that business cards are an extension of a person creatively. The amount of showcase sites that show really fantastic pieces of information, I think that can also help you land a client even possibly without really saying anything.
business cards are dead like paper ;] ill bet we make them more than ever…
I think the business card should be viewed as a calling card. “I am so & so, here is my card.”
In some situations it elevates your professional image above the herd. I know of a lot of people, even under 40, who are either too busy to become as technically literate as some others and rely on assistants to do emailing, web surfing, etc… or just not interested. At their leisure they will put the info from your card into their smart phone and it will then become another marketing tool by reminding them of your previous meeting.
You make very good points here, Michael.
There are those who are “technically illiterate” who will always need some form of physical media to remember you by, and I’m glad you mentioned the point that they will add your information at their leisure. I, personally, hate being rushed. I will put information into my phone, contacts, etc. when I feel like it; and sometimes I’m too much in a hurry to do so. A card would be the perfect way to get that information and enter when I have more time.
Thanks for your comment!
Business cards are incredibly effective…esp. as a graphic designer marketing to non-graphic designers. It gives you a chance to show off your skills and create an impression.
Thank you for the response from the graphic design industry! It would seem a perfect platform to both show off your skills and get your contact info out there. Just curious, as a graphic designer do you present your work with an online or offline digital portfolio or do you use a paper portfolio?
Whatever I think will work best with the perspective client ^_^ It’s really up to them.
I will typically email the portion of my portfolio that will best sell me to my client.
I will be putting a few pieces/case studies up on http://www.litup.com on Tuesday afternoon, complete with client testimonials.
@John – “Are Business Cards Dead?” I don’t think so, but I admit
that I haven’t since 3 years, anyone :) Ah …
As a designer for print and motion, I still can’t understand why so many in this day and age are so against tactile design. I personally love designing for print, and biz cards are a great way to experiment and do something cool without any client restrictions. I run a studio, and when three of our team have a meeting with 4 people from the client team we need to leave cards so everyone knows who’s who. We’re not going to sit there while 7 people spend the time typing in eachothers info to a phone. And why would you want a bunch of random emails and phone numbers cluttering up your phone anyway? I’m well under 40, and I’m not looking forward to the day when everything we view, share, and design is on a glowing screen.
I don’t think people are against tactile design. I think that people are trying to streamline their business as much as possible, cutting out as much overhead costs as they can even if that means cutting out business cards in favor of digital means.
I do agree they make the process of exchanging contact information much easier, and they help out the print design industry as well.
Thanks for your comment, Aaron!
LOL. This is crap. Not everybody in the creative field has that kind of technology, nor do they want it. In my opinion I believe everybody should keep up with the times, but in all reality it’s not possible. Some people are making a killing with their well polished traditional ways. So to say business cards are “dead” is garbage. They will always be around in one shape or form. Just because you can have it on a screen doesn’t make it manditory or even depending on the individual, the smart thing to do. A lot of people love having the power of a business card in there hands. So for people who are bloating about the traditional ways of business cards and demo reels are”DEAD” think again.
P.S. Go read a book.
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