digitalcards-blog

[digitalcards-blog]

How does a Digital Business Card match up to a Traditional Business Card?

­­Businesses today have started to be more digital and in sync with modern times, however business cards till continue to be made of paper and handed out in bulk quantities. Business cards are usually the first investment individuals and organizations make towards marketing their products and services. Although this has been the trend for centuries, it has severe monetary issues and environmental issues as well. Did you know that in a day 27 million business cards are printed and almost 88 percent of these are thrown directly in the bin! Let’s take a look at why the traditional business cards are still relevant and how a digital business card can match up to if not exceed the relevance.

Professional look

A business card is beneficial as you no longer need to reach out for a piece of paper to scribble your contact details whenever you need to share it with a prospective client. To get the best look and feel of the card, they should be professional looking with all relevant information noted in a concise simple to read manner. A digital business card makes this “professional-looking” process a cakewalk. There are many pre-defined templates to choose from or you can bring out the creative genius in you and design one. You can rest assured knowing that you will not miss any details as usually all important information such as name, address, contact number, etc are mandatory fields to be filled out.

Share information quickly

A paper business card allows the business owner to share his contact information quickly and conveniently, whenever the need arises. However as noted above, 88 percent of these business cards end up being trashed. Moreover, if any contact details change, for example, the location of your business, all the clients with your paper business card will be completely unaware unless they are informed. A digital business card is very beneficial, especially in this scenario. It allows convenient sharing of information without the need to carry a stack of paper business cards. More importantly, if any details change, you can update it on the app and it will get updated on all the cards you have already shared. Very convenient? Oh yes, definitely!

Personal Touch

To hand out a paper business card, physical contact with the recipient is a must. This adds a personal touch to the transaction of giving/exchanging a business card. In today’s age of technology, the internet has already played a major role in reducing the need for personal contact – whether this is a bane or a boon is a question for another time. With current times where hygiene has become such a big issue to avoid the spread of dangerous diseases, isn’t it preferable to share business contact information wherever in the world with ease and without the need for physical contact? Using a digital business card, I can be sitting in Australia and pass on my contact information with a client sitting in the United States!

Affordable

Printing paper business cards of good quality are decently affordable. Which means you can print a good quantity without burning a hole through your wallet. However, because 88% of cards are thrown away, you will need to print a large quantity to ensure your marketing campaign is effective and your business has received a profitable number of clients – a needed but unnecessary overhead expense. Using a digital business card, you can share your business identity with how many people you want without any additional cost. With competitive pricing and interactive user-friendly features why not try a Sailax Digital Business Card?

[digitalcards-blog]

Are business cards still relevant today?

With the emergence of technology and so many different networking options and sites, one might doubt the importance of a traditional business card. Do you? If yes, awesome! If not, hopefully, your perception might change by the end of this article.

Everyone will agree that the ability to share personal or organizational contact information is of paramount importance when it comes to creating and maintaining professional relationships. These days we highly depend on social media and mobile technology in order to connect with people, thus relying lesser on conventional networking means. Many business professionals use professional applications and websites can connect with anyone anywhere in the world without leaving the comfort of their cozy chair, but does this point to the fact that a business card is of no value anymore, or do we need to adapt to the changing times?

Keeping in mind the gaining popularity of social media, a business card is very crucial for a professional connection. It is hands down CLASSY. You give the impression of yourself as a specialist. It is a sign of professionalism and still has a significant value. Any person who has any idea about the significance of connecting with people will definitely have a business card. It makes it simple for people to remember you. After the end of any networking event, I’m almost certain you would go back home and go through the brochures, pamphlets and business cards you’ve received – whether it is paper-based or shared digitally. A well-designed card will instantly grab attention.

The point still remains that a paper business card may not be the easiest nor is it the fastest way to exchange contact information and connect with people, however, it is hands down mandatory to increase your professional image. Many sites especially LinkedIn has revolutionized the way business professionals connect people. It’s simple, easy and convenient. A traditional paper business card would never be able to store that amount of information. Moreover, with the increase in global warming, climate change has become one of the most relevant issues our entire world is facing. Many environmentalists are searching for ways to create more sustainable practices to fight climate change. Some of you might have heard about the zero waste movement – a venture where many companies and people decided to choose a paperless option like digital business cards and e-signatures.

Why not try a Sailax digital business card? It is a business card – but at the same time much more than that. Create your own design, upload pictures and or resumes and share it with whoever you want, anywhere in the world. Try it out now!

[digitalcards-blog]

History of business cards

Business cards – as the name suggests – are cards bearing the business information about an organization or an individual. It typically summarizes all the important details i.e. the giver’s full name, what organization he/she is affiliated to (usually with the business logo) and some form of contact information – street address, phone number(s), e-mail address, website, and social media pages. Due to the advent of technology, the business card has been modified to hold more and more information since its inception. 

Dating back to 15th century China, business cards were used as a courtesy call ahead of a person’s visit to their home or place of work. Funnily enough business cards – back then did the work to Whatsapp or Facebook messenger – giving a head’s up before arriving at your destination. “Meshi” were business cards used for the same purpose but for a royal family. These cards were presented in a grand ceremonious way, a process still done today.

From the 17th century onwards, business cards starting serving their purpose as they do today. “Trade cards” in England during the 17th century were roughly square pieces of papers or cards meant for the purpose of marketing services or goods. Merchants during this period would hand these cards out which had information such as the business name, which services were provided and locations where they were provided – sometimes a primitive map was used to display the locations. With the inception and advancement of the printing press – a “golden age” in traditional trade cards was ushered in. Almost every business ranging from shoemakers to forgers had a trade card to advertise their services. These early editions for the modern-day business card, share the same features as the cards in use today – providing essential information for doing business. 

By the 20th century, business cards became mandatory – for any sized company and important individuals providing a service. It would be weird and embarrassing for a business owner if a customer asked for a business card and the owner was unable to provide one. Safe to say, the customer would have left with a very bad impression of the business – somehow professionalism became attached with the ability to provide a business card.

As the centuries passed, business card etiquette transformed. From being used as a card to give a ‘heads up’ before arriving to advertising products and services, business cards by the Victorian era had become a “tool of commerce” – which aided in boosted trade throughout the Industrial revolution. The business cards of this day and age are given out anywhere, anytime. They are distributed frequently whenever appropriate and relevant – during networking events, in a casual setting and most importantly during formal business meets. Individuals try to advertise as much as possible about their business – often business cards are attached to brochures or leaflets to promote a product or service.

Even designs of business cards have evolved over the centuries. Originally written in calligraphy – with royal versions engraved with gold, business cards in the Victorian age had features because of the advancement in printing. Using lithography, which was very new then – mass production of business cards began. Today’s business cards contain job titles, qualifications, and contact details – all squished into a compact piece of paper.

Nowadays it has become super simple to design the most sophisticated, trendy and fashionable business card without the need to hire expensive design professionals. With the Sailax digital business card app, you can create your own digital business card in a very user-friendly manner and also eliminate the need to print 1000s of paper cards! Try it for free now!

[digitalcards-blog]

Environmental Impact of Paper w.r.t business cards

You will be shocked to know that each day 27 million business cards are printed in the US alone! The number of business cards printed worldwide would render you speechless – care to venture a guess? It’s 100 billion! Yes, that is billion with a ‘b.’ An even more astonishing fact is that 88 percent of these freshly printed business cards will be thrown away within a week! Agreed some environmentally conscious people will end up chucking them in the recycling bin, but a majority of these cards will be added to already overflowing landfills.

The main component of these business cards  - paper, usually sourced from trees! Cutting down of trees has led to abundant deforestation and destruction of natural habitats. Although these trees are the primary ingredient for a variety of things, 42 percent of the globally harvested wood is used to make paper! These trees play a very crucial role to keep the planet livable as they act like a sponge absorbing a lot of the carbon dioxide (CO2) gas – a major contributor to global warming.

With respect to the “most resource-intensive” and contaminating of all manufacturing industries worldwide – paper production tops the chart. A mind-boggling 324 liters of water is needed to make just 1 kilogram of paper! Surprised? Shocked? Take a minute to let that fact sink in! To top it up, bleaches used to whiten paper contain harmful carcinogens that are released into the water bodies and atmosphere. These are just the direct environmental impacts associated with paper production - let’s get to the indirect impact – energy consumption! A huge issue in modern times! From manufacturing to transport and finally managing the waste materials, energy is needed in every step of the way!

Just some statistics – Half of all business waste is paper! One-third of all municipal waste is paper! A quarter of waste in a landfill is, guess what? – you’re right, its PAPER! This paper in the landfill decomposes and emits methane (CH4) - a greenhouse gas that is a whopping 20 times more potent than CO2.

Why add your paper business card to this waste? Switch to Sailax digital business cards! Create an unforgettable impression and help save our mother earth!