Just like all marketing tools, business cards are changing. It has always been important to have a business card that creates a great impact and makes the right impression. But now, with advancements in the internet, technology and social media, the plain-old business card is no longer an effective tool.
In the old days, business cards performed a simple task, to inform any recipient of your name, your business, your address, and your phone number. From the year 2000, business cards also included a website and/or email address.
But times are changing, and the way business interacts with their customers and potential customers is changing. A new interactive web 2.0 approach must be considered, even in the design and creation of a simple business card.
There are 2 keys additions you really should consider:
Your Social Media Networks
If your business is not on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and You Tube, then it should be. And these are channels which must be adopted and optimised, and definitely considered in the design of your business card.
Whether you put in the full address, abbreviation, or just the symbol or icon, it’s important to remind anyone who receives your business card that you can be found on these networks.
A Barcode
With the introduction of iPhones and Smartphones, a new kind of technology has come alive with all kinds of possibilities. 
This is the “barcode” technology. With the simple addition of a small barcode to your business card, you can link this barcode to a website or social media application of your choice. This has amazing potential, as you can link the barcode to anything you want – a website with a specific page created JUST for people scanning your business card. Or if you’re job hunting, the barcode can direct people to your CV or your Linked In profile.
In Summary
In terms of offline promotion, despite what some marketing professionals say, the business card is not dead, it’s just evolving to meet the current marketplace. Offline marketing will always continue to be important, and should form a part of your promotional strategy. And within this strategy, you should definitely have an amazing and effective business card.
Twitter: DonnaFontenot
July 22, 2010 at 9:55 am | Permalink
Fiona, that sounds really intriguing. Wondering, though, where/how to get barcodes added a business card. Do any of the business card printers (like Vistaprint) offer this? I notice in the photo there’s a little gadget. Is this something we’d need to purchase and manually stamp each of our cards?
DazzlinDonna´s last [type] ..Don’t Forget These 5 Things On A New Site
Twitter: abnormalmarket
July 27, 2010 at 5:05 am | Permalink
@DazzlinDonna, Hi Donna, I’m not too sure about Vistaprint, but if you use a custom designer for your business cards, I would just ask them to include one. Feel free to view my post on Stickybits, which is a tool exactly for creating barcodes – http://www.abnormalmarketing.com/2010/06/stickybits-future-online-offline/
For reading the barcodes, you just need a Smartphone (iPhone, Android, Blackberry) with the right application.
Thanks for your comment
Fiona Bosticky´s last [type] ..Simple Tips for Increasing Traffic to your Blog
Twitter: DonnaFontenot
July 27, 2010 at 6:38 am | Permalink
@Fiona Bosticky, Ok, so I assume it’s really like just adding a graphic image to the card, so really any printer should theoretically be able to include it. Interesting….
DazzlinDonna´s last [type] ..Challenge Yourself To Create An Exciting Piece of Content
Twitter: 2Heike
July 26, 2010 at 9:27 pm | Permalink
Interesting suggestions. We’ll have to start using both sides of the business cards to keep the information in a legible size.
Twitter: abnormalmarket
July 27, 2010 at 5:07 am | Permalink
@Heike, Hi Heike, I’ve always advised my clients to use both sides of the business card, but I’m surprised how many people still don’t. A blank business card back is really a wasted marketing opportunity. Thanks so much for mentioning this
Barcode concept is awesome-question though? Im guessing it is an Iphone app to have the ability to utilize the barcode technology where it will link to a Promo Page or pricing page or video or whatever? What percentage of people will actually be able to take advantage of the barcode? Please advise-thx
Twitter: abnormalmarket
July 27, 2010 at 5:18 am | Permalink
@Anthony Patane, Hi Anthony, Yes this technology is quite advanced for the average consumer for the time being. Only people with smartphones can really engage.
But with Google recently announcing that they are activating 160,000 Android phones a day, and with iPhone sales expected to surpass 100 million by 2011, the surge of the smartphone user cannot be ignored.
Fiona Bosticky´s last [type] ..Simple Tips for Increasing Traffic to your Blog
Twitter: theharrier
July 27, 2010 at 2:02 am | Permalink
As print brokers its always good to see articles about business cards although we refer to them as marketing cards. ICards need to be fresh and informative
Tom
Twitter: abnormalmarket
July 27, 2010 at 6:48 am | Permalink
@tom brown, Hi Tom, Great idea to call them “marketing cards”. I think sometimes people forget that’s exactly what they are! Thanks.
Fiona Bosticky´s last [type] ..Simple Tips for Increasing Traffic to your Blog
Twitter: theharrier
July 27, 2010 at 8:52 am | Permalink
Marketing ( business) Cards MUST be double sided its a most cost effective way to get across the message. From a business perspective avoid having hotmail or yahoo addresses it just doesn’t look professional. refer to your website on your cards and ensure all contact details are available. landline numbers are more indicative of permanence I’m always wary of cards with just a mobile contact detail
Tom
Fiona, there is also the opportunity to supplement the printed card with an entirely digital card too. We’re been powering a portable, web-based card for several years.
Warmest Regards,
http://lieflarson.businesscard2.com/
I heard about this barcode technology being used for name cards some time back. It is interesting but hasn’t taken off much probably because of the lack of penetration of smartphone into the market. As the market tilts towards a paperless society, I believe paperless business cards may also come to pass as all people need to do is to exchange their ‘cards’ through bluetooth or IR.