The Japanese ritual of taking a business card with both hands and carefully examining it seems like an outdated practice in our modern, digital world, but business cards still have their place. Cost-minded companies often hesitate to print them for the rank and file, prompting one new hire I started with years ago to ask, “Can I have some business cards? My friends and family don’t beleive I have a real job!”
My cards from that same company bore an impressive logo and corporate name, though they quickly became outdated as the company name changed twice and my own title shifted. The new batch for my new job prominently feature their logo and information, with my own name and title relegated to the very bottom.
Of course, neither hold a candle to the cards I recently printed for my own photography business, which feature my color and black and white photos on both sides. I hope it’ll be more memorable to people than just rattling off my web address.
Do you still find business cards useful, and what makes your own or others stand out?
