DJ Business Card 1:

An award winning card by Deepak Nagar & Nasheet Shadani for DJ Mohit

“We created a card that replicated the scratch console to instantly draw attention to our DJ’s profession as well as efficiently deliver the idea of practically scratching the disk. The card generated a lot of hype as it successfully registered with people and at the same time it got nominated in many award shows.”

DJ Business Card 2:

Business Card for DJ Creev – Translucent Plastic

DJ Business Card 3:

Several prototype business cards made for DJ Christiaan from Nohmada by Paperversions.

A good business card is still a good marketing tool

A lot of blog posts and other commentary has surfaced about retiring the business card forever, opting instead for new technologies that make information sharing easy (generally, using a smartphone).

I object. For many reasons.

But forget my personal objections for the moment (or rather read about them here)

Here is a great NY Times blog post that summarizes some other people’s responses on this issue.

Read: O.K. I Guess We’re Not Retiring the Business Card (Yet)

What do you think?

Is it time to retire the business card? Or does this marketing tool still have some legs?

Prefer digital to traditional business cards?

Personally, I’m a fan of traditional business cards.

I like the act of handing them out.

I like that you can get a reaction from people.

And as someone else pointed out, what happens if 2 people don’t have the same digital business card sharing technology? You still need a printed card then, right?

But alas… different strokes for different folks, right?

If you prefer digital business cards to traditional business cards here are:

8 Digital Alternatives to Paper Business Cards

Perhaps these awesome yoga business cards will get your creative juices flowing.

They’re brilliant I say… brilliant!!

Flow Yoga Business Card

Yoga One "Get Stretchy" Card

Two great concepts that undoubtedly get passed around and around and around.

Kudos!

Why not sport your old school style with this retro Pac-Man business card holder. It features two compartments: one for your cards, one for everybody else’s.

Pre-orders are being accepted now (about $31) at GeekStuff4U

Are business cards dead? Or dying?

I’m Seeing a Lot of Online, Digital, and App-Based Business Card Options of Late.

Like card.ly for example.

Or that iPhone app where you just bump phones and your contact details are magically shared.

Well, a lot of people are saying that applications like these have rendered the old fashioned business card, dead.

Or dying.

Frankly, I Couldn’t DISAGREE More.

Is there a place for these applications? Absolutely. Will a lot of people use them? Surely they will. But that doesn’t mean that business cards don’t have a long, useful life ahead of them.

In fact, from a business building standpoint (especially small local businesses) I think traditional business cards that can be seen and felt have a lot greater potential than a novel fist bump. Why? Because a good business card gets people to LOOK at it. It makes an actual impression and encourages people to pay attention to it. And not just to contact details, but more importantly to a marketing message.

In essence, a GOOD business card is like a powerful ad matched with a genuine person behind it.

While novel, someone’s contact details magically whisked away to my smartphone makes less of an impression. I may not even look at it (right now, or ever) Not so with a good, creative, business card.

Long Live the Traditional Business Card.

Business cards are also a lot easier for your fans and referrers to share with other people.

You can leave them on your retail store counter. Or in your office.

You can leave them with related, non competing businesses. You can place them in envelopes, on restaurant tables, on community posting boards, and in outgoing mail.

That’s a lot of good use.  It’’s also why — in one man’s humble opinion, anyway — traditional business cards are more versatile than their electronic counterpart.

Consider This Case in Point

I was just at a DJ convention representing my wife’s company (Rock & Soul DJ Equipment for all you DJs out there — after 35 years, it’s one of the first and most famous DJ shops in the world) Well, business cards were out in FULL force and getting a lot of great use.

DJs were sharing them with other DJs as they networked. Businesses were using them to promote their stores and equipment. And they were collecting business cards to keep in touch with — and promote to — people they met at the convention.

Business cards, dead?

I don’t think so.

Not by a longshot.

If you like your digital business cards, by all means use them. I defend my choice without attacking yours. But please don’t tell that the traditional business card doesn’t have its place. They continue to be one of the most cost-effective and versatile little marketing tools on the planet. And a good card can make a great BIG impression. Period.

End of rant.

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A Trio of Die Cut Cards from Taste of Ink Studios

One of many food shaped business cards at WGBC.com

Die Cut Mushroom Cards

Die Cut Business Card Design by M. Brady Clark

Die Cut with a Paper Cutter and Square Hole Punch

Wow - Die Cut, Foil Stamped, Fold Over Card for Michael David Salon

Stylist Business Card

Microphone Die Cut Card for a Radio Announcer

Brilliant Cassette Tape Die Card Card and Case

One of my absolute favorites -- from Designer Phil Jones

Kevin Mitnick's Famous Metal Die Cut Lock Pick Card

Mini Die Cut Metal Card from expert Plasma Design

Pretty cool, huh?

Now go get your own die cut business cards!