I had an interesting question this month on if I wanted business cards printed up as I am starting my new job with Youth for Christ doing social media work for the organization. It brought up a great question for me, my job is purely digital so do I honestly need to have physical cards? For those that I do meet in person, I’d rather connect with them on Twitter at that moment rather than a business card I am sure to lose or forget about.
I occasionally do have meetings with others in person but always have had an email conversation beforehand with a digital signature with all the business card info on it. That being said, I will say that I can see the need for them when I go to conferences by YFC where my initial interaction will be face-to-face.
This discussion brought about many questions if I were to avoid physical cards. Is it considered bad form to force them to do social media to engage with me? Lets be honest, the only reason they need to connect with me is to do social media. Otherwise it is only personal and not professional.
I asked this question in the Google+ Church Tech Community and received a lot of amazing responses that are strong for the physical model, but recognize that the future is purely digital. Here are a few viewpoints:
“It depends on the other party and their generation. Smartphones and social media have eliminated the need to reference a card in order to contact someone. The only benefit I see of a business card is that it is something that can be seen which could trigger a conversation. Other than the tangible presence, I’m all for digital.” – Teron Haughton
I’d get both. Some people you want to connect may not have consistent access to the Internet, or they may not tweet. Some people also just like to organize their contacts physically. On top of that, once you had a few hundred people to your social media accounts, you start to see them less and less. A business card can serve as a visual reminder of you, particularly if the card is useful and apt to be kept in a wallet, or on the fridge. – Michelle Waters
I don’t know that I would call it “bad form,” I would just say that it is a short-sighted tactic. Many of the most interesting and rewarding relationships I’ve formed over the last few years have been after an offline meeting and the exchange of business cards. That is true even with the most technologically advanced people I know. - Daniel Rothamel
What are your thoughts? Physical or digital?
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