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We are returning to a world that has more physical contact. Some of us are happy to experience the return to in-person meetings, conferences, and other opportunities for personal networking.
One of the traditional elements of in-person meetings is the ceremonial exchange of business cards. I do not know the source, but someone once referred to a person’s business card as that individual’s personal billboard. I like this metaphor because when you look at a business card it does resemble a mini-billboard.
At a recent conference, I once again experienced the exchange of business cards. I will offer a few observations about the tried-and-true exchange of contact information.
One of the first things you notice with business cards today is the addition of personal telephone numbers. There was a time in which the telephone numbers presented were your physical company number and the fax number. Now the numbers presented are the company number and/or cellphone number.
On most cards the individual’s email address is in a prominent location. Additionally, there may be the company’s website address on the card. Additionally, I have found several cards that also had the individual’s contact information from social media sources such as LinkedIn or Twitter.
Another consideration for business cards has become the size of the card. There are square business cards and those that are slightly different in size from the traditional model. I attribute this difference to allowing the card to be identified by touch or a quick glance at a stack of business cards.
The touch of a business card always has been a principal element to me. The sense of touch is associated with the texture of the card stock and the feel of raised lettering. These features typically cost more; however, the texture quality offers a positive indication of the organization and individual.
Additionally, some business cards have pictures of the owner. This caught on with real estate brokers early and now has become a feature with other industries, as well.
A QR code has become popular to include on business cards from multiple industries. The QR code can provide not only contact information but connect a person to the organization’s website or additional information about the individual. A couple of the people I encountered did not have business cards, but they did have QR codes on their smartphones and offered me the opportunity to photograph the QR code.
The concept of the “Golden Rolodex” has been transformed and improved to one’s contact list on their smartphone or their LinkedIn contacts. The business card has evolved with the times. Your business card continues to be a method of differentiation, contact and future communications with others.
Cornell Wright is a consultant, author, and business coach. His firm, The Parker Wright Group, located in New Haven, consults with clients in the areas of executive team decision making, talent optimization though a business partner relationship with Predictive Index and Diversity Equity and Inclusion training and organizational enhancement. Cornell can be reached at 203-521-6748 or cornell@parkerwrightgroup.com.
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