On 30 Rock Season 1, Dennis the “Pager King” reminds us that technologies can be perishable. There are some wh0 think that business cards are going the way of the pager, the way of the WalkMan, and someday the way of the iPhone. But I disagree.
The business card is and will remain a tactile reminder to whomever you hand it to, that they met you and to call you if they need your services. They remind you of appointments. Most importantly, they can be a handy piece of paper to sketch out a million dollar deal (Note: Make sure to always leave enough writing space for the 8th digit).
The business card is a critical post-it note. An action item that transcends the 2 dimensional email window, or contact form, that can be turned off or deleted. The business card fills their REAL world with a small billboard about you.
I think that like direct mail, the internet and cell phones won’t kill the business card. It will have it’s place, perhaps diminished, but will fill a classic need in a familiar way.
For those who think that the cell phone killed the pager you are wrong. The pager killed the cell phone. It’s shouldn’t be called an iPhone, but an iPager. Perhaps someday you will call me from my business card.