Business cards are an important part of networking and building relationships, but do you think they’re going the way of the dodo bird? According to recent reports, businesses are moving away from paper business cards in favor of digital versions. Is this a sign that paper business cards are on their way out? Or is there another reason behind this trend? Read on to find out!

Downsides to Paper Business Cards

Business cards are a great way to introduce yourself to new people, but they may be dying out. According to a study done by the American Marketing Association, only 36 percent of Americans carry business cards with them at all times.

This is down from 54 percent in 2003. The main reasons given for not carrying business cards are that they’re outdated and unnecessary.

When it comes to physical business cards, there are a few downsides. First of all, they’re an environmental disaster. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, business cards printed on paper consume up to 120 pounds (54 kilograms) of paper per thousand cards printed, which is more than any other type of print production.

Additionally, the average American throws away 2.3 pounds (1 kilogram) of paper each month, which means that businesses are sending out and discarding more than enough unwanted paper business cards each year.

Second, business cards can be difficult to store and transport. They’re bulky and often require a special wallet or holder, which makes them less convenient to carry around.

Finally, if your card design is particularly intricate or time-consuming to produce, printing and distributing a large number of paper business cards may not be feasible.

The Rise of Digital Business cards

Digital business cards are becoming more popular as technology advances. With the ability to send and receive digital business cards, these cards are becoming an increasingly popular way to stay connected with clients and customers.

Digital business cards can be customized with your company’s logo and contact information, making them a great way to promote your brand and connect with potential customers. They’re also eco-friendly, as you don’t have to waste paper printing out new cards every time you want to update your contact information.

Digital business cards have taken over as the go-to choice for businesses of all sizes. There are a few reasons for this shift:

1. They’re more efficient: With digital business cards, you can save time by printing and distributing your cards without having to wait for them to be delivered by mail. You can also easily share your contact information with colleagues and customers using email and social media platforms.

2. They’re more secure: Business cards can be scanned and digitized to create electronic files, which makes them easier to store and protect. If someone unauthorized accesses your digital business card file, they won’t be able to view your contact information or take any other actions that would jeopardize your business relationship.

3. They’re more cost-effective: Printing and distributing physical business cards can be expensive, especially if you have a large number of employees or customers who need to receive cards regularly. Digital business cards don’t require any additional hardware or software to be installed in order to function, making them a more affordable option for businesses of all sizes.

4. They’re more professional: Digital business cards look professional and polished, compared to paper cards which can look outdated and cheap. And because they’re electronically transmitted, you can easily customize them to match your brand style.

Conclusion

If you’re like many business owners, you probably don’t love the idea of printing and handing out paper business cards. After all, they’re a pain to produce, store and distribute. But if you want to keep your branding consistent across different mediums (like website design, email marketing campaigns, social media bios, and more), then it’s important to use digital business cards!

However, there are some compelling reasons why you might consider ditching the traditional paper card in favor of a digital version. For one thing, printed cards can be expensive to produce — especially if you need large quantities.

In short, paper business cards are on the decline, but they’re not necessarily dead. If you want to keep your networking and relationship-building efforts up-to-date and efficient, using digital contact information is the way to go.