Viva la business cards! It’s also lots of fun to look though books about business card designs. There are so many great designs out there. Actually, let me get more webby, here’s some great business card designs in online galleries: http://delicious.com/search?p=business+cards
Staples Cashes In On Social Networking
By Mike Maddaloni on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 06:00 AM with 7 comments
Just in time for Colonel Tribune’s tweetup this evening in Chicago, an offer to help you when you meet people – social networking cards.
So what is a social networking card? In reality is nothing more than a rebranding of the tried and true, standard business card. However since you may not be in business or want to represent yourself as an employee when at a social networking event, Staples had the foresight to take something they already sell – in-store made business cards – and offer them to a new market with a new name.
In my humble opinion there has not been a true replacement developed for the business card. Sure, you can beam contact information from one Palm device to another, send a text message to retrieve contact information or simply tell someone your social networking site or link. The business card works on a lot of levels. It is small, provides visual cues along with the information on the card and allows you to write on it, providing you did not get a gloss coating on it. And they work best in a crowded room, where it’s loud and busy, and you are trying to balance a drink in one hand and the last thing you want to do is tap on a portable device.
Will the business card be replaced? Maybe. But in the meantime, you should have your own, and they work best when you carry them on you.
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Comments
Comment by I used to collect business cards Matt, and still have a few unique ones - someday I’ll get around to scanning a few.
mp/m
Comment by oooo, you should see mine, Mike. My resume is a map, and my portfolio is inside a retro suitcase. So my business cards are designed to be vintage luggage tags. (cuz y’know luggage tags have all the contact info on them!)
That’s a great idea. I’ll definitely have to check ‘em out for, well, you know.
Comment by Yes, Daniel - they come in handy designs for everyone! ;)
mp/m
social networking card, just business card covered by a new veil, but sounds interesting and novel. Enjoy getting fun from them…
Comment by I agree with the importance of business cards and keeping them on you. While I think that the social networking cards from staples might be fine I wouldn’t get business cards from them.
Business cards can just as well make a bad impression as a good one. Every now an then I receive a business card printed from a color copier like staples produces or a business card from an inkjet that they printed at home. If the person doesn’t care enough about their business to get a well-designed card and have it printed on a quality equipment then I lose respect for that business and to a lesser extent the person.
The business card is normally your first impression with someone. If the person cuts corners on a product whose sole purpose is to represent their business, what does that say about their business?
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