By Bill Post
Nobody can stop the onward march of technology. But one thing we can always do is to step back and see how that march affects all the things in its path. Some things get stepped on, trampled over and left behind. If you don’t believe me, look at that slide rule gathering dust in your attic. But technology is not always this cruel. Some things join the parade and become better (e.g., TVs, computers). And then there are things that never seem to go away, like the good old reliable business card. It’s been around forever and probably always will be. But does that mean technology hasn’t left its mark? Not really. That little card is evolving and changing with the times too. Here are just a few of the ways the business card is adapting to the digital world:
Customized business cards:
Cards no longer have to be boring and predictable. It’s now very easy and cheap to add your own innovative touches to your cards. Just go online and you’ll see lots of sites that let you design your own cards. You can even make them all slightly different by using your own photographs to create several cards, each with its own personalized image. And to make them even more unique, you can now print them on aluminum, plastic or magnetic material.
Cards on your phone instead of in your wallet:
There are now apps for your smart phone (e.g., ScanBizCards) that let you take a picture of a business card and the card (image plus content) is instantly downloaded to your phone. Not only can the data be imported into your contacts, but you can now flip through your cards visually on your phone as if they were in your wallet!
Smart business cards:
How about tiny electronic chips in your business cards? Well, the technology already exists and when you have these, all you need to do is wave your smart phone near the card and presto—the information on the card is downloaded to your phone.
Technology marches on, but don’t worry— that trusty old business card isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon. But it will change, and we are already seeing the changes! Your business card was always an effective tool—and in the digital world it can now be even more effective.
Bill Post, Small Business Research Analyst, has been providing research on issues of concern to small businesses for 123Print.com Business Cards for three years. Prior to his involvement with 123Print, Bill was a small business owner himself, providing marketing and branding services to other small businesses in the Washington, DC, metro area. Before working with 123Print on Business Card Templates, Bill spent several years after receiving his degree in the fast-paced corporate world. It was there that Bill not only honed the skills he uses to help small businesses get ahead, but it is also where he realized that he’d rather help the little guy prosper than make huge corporations money.
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