Is the Business Card Dead?
Ever wonder if you should have your social media contact information on your business card? If you already do, your card may look something like this:
- Your Name
- Company
- Company Address
- Telephone Number
- Cell Number
- Fax number
- Email address
- Twitter handle
- Facebook page address
- Linked In profile address
Pretty soon business executives and salespeople will have to exchange 8 ½ x11 sheets of paper with all their particulars on it. Enter Poken, the handy little device about the size of a key that is a mobile, digital business card.
As they describe it on their web page a Poken is your “social business card”. It continues to describe a Poken as the “easy way to share your contact details and on line social networks in the real world”. Rather than exchanging business cards you just hold two Poken palms together – like a high five – and the digital information on your Poken is exchanged with the information on your new connection.
To retrieve the information slide your Poken into the USB port of your computer and the information is downloaded. This lets users connect easily with new associates without searching for them on social media platforms. It also allows information to be used for scheduling and emails on programs such as Outlook.
It is easy to create a Poken identity. The first step is getting your Poken. They come in different shapes and ‘personalities’. The PokenSpark has 18 different looks ranging from a black ninja, alien and kitty cat to name a few. For the more mature business associate they have the PokenPulse that has an added 2GB flash memory in a slender black ‘stick’ as opposed to a nifty personality like the Spark.
After purchasing your Poken you register it on line and choose the social networks you want on your Poken. These are the networks that you will share with your friends and business associates.
Pokens are meant to be a tool for the savvy business executive and it also appeals to entrepreneurs that want to have fun and be social without all the business card exchange. It is an easy way to get connections but seeing high-tech businessmen in suits giving their Pokens high fours (Pokens have four fingers not five) sounds kinda’ goofy.
I don’t think the business card should list all of your social media websites. That’s what your URL is for. Pay the $8/month for a domain name and on your website list all the places people can find you in social media (with links). Then just put the URL on your business card and you don’t need any other online information listed besides your email address.
Physical business cards are definitely still the easiest way for me to share my contact information when out networking. My business contacts are usually handmade crafters and artists or nonprofit attorneys and paralegals. Generally these people are not spending money on hi-tech gear like Poken. Also, I’m not really sure why but all I can find on the site are little monster or cutesy animal characters – not exactly what I think of when I think business professional.
So, while Poken seems like an awesome idea, I’m not ready to declare the business card dead yet. Poken will have to get much cheaper, more widespread, and more diverse in its offerings before it enters my circles.
Excuse me, I misspoke. Change $8/month to $8/YEAR. That’s really all I spend on my website. Hosting is free.
I would like to offer my two pennies worth, if I may, I love the idea of these cards, however, the business card is king, Surely if you added a simple QR code, you can deliver as much information as possible, or wanted, via an auto website re-direction thro smart phones. There are many cards now with this code, that can do either enter the info directly into customers smart phone, or send them to a url for further information.
As Elle says above the card is still a great way to do business, especially with QR codes. Check out QR codes, brilliant.
You can find me on twitter @sifu33
Paul
Business cards are still one of the most effective tools that a sales rep or business owner can use. With the big buzz of social media I think that just having the icons for the social media is enough. Let them search for you. I would suggest also to put a barcode so there I-phone can scan all your info. The business card is far from dead!
although the idea of exchanging social business card is an interesting, i dont think it will replace the regular business card because not everyone is tech savvy.
Connie recently posted..paralegal job description
I own a Concierge Mobile Marketing business (BTW I love this site, great stuff!) and I create custom double-sided business cards with QR code and call to action in the form of ex TEXT: enelir TO: 77948 to get a Free Month of Concerge Mobile Marketing. Which links to their mobile website, special offer, ino, video, FB Fanpage, and most importantly puts them on a cell phone list that they opted-in to, for future marketing.
That to me is the best way to promote ones business, by offering something free and collecting mobile numbers for future marketing. email is out, the future is mobile… but then again I may be biased
As much as people spend an increasing amount of time on social networking sites, the business card is the one true portable and tangible expression of your brand. Poken and technologies like it help to enhance the networking experience, not replace it.
http://blog.veraprint.com/?p=5
It’s hard to imagine the business card ever disappearing, but the business associated with doing business the old fashion way are sure to vanish.
Business card is very useful, specially for internet marketing to see all the details of one’s website owner. this is very important for other user to know if they are legal and not scams.
I really think adding social networking sites to my business cards would be a bad idea. My response time is better if I’m expecting emails or phone calls from one email address. Good article. Awesome feedback.
Mr MakingUsmile
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Portable Welding Machines
Visitekaartjes zijn nog steeds een van de meest doeltreffende instrumenten die een verkoper of ondernemer kan gebruiken.|Opstijgend vocht| Met de grote drukte van sociale media denk ik dat gewoon met de pictogrammen van de sociale media is genoeg. Laat ze voor u zoeken. Ik zou ook voorstellen om een barcode te zetten, zodat er I-telefoon kan al uw informatie te scannen. Het visitekaartje is verre van dood!
There are many cards now with this code, that can do either enter the info directly into customers smart phone, or send them to a url for further information.
You are 100% write “social business card” play an very important rule in these days.And “connie” i disagree with you.
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Nearly individuals shell out an escalating time frame in social network sites, the business unit card may be the one particular true easily transportable in addition to touchable appearance to your company. Poken in addition to engineering enjoy it be an aid to enhance the web 2 celebrities. experience, possibly not replace it.
Poken seems like an awesome idea, i’m not ready to declare the business card dead yet. Poken will have to get more cheaper and more diverse in its offerings before it enters my circles.
Poken appears to be an awe inspiring thought, i’m not prepared to proclaim the business card dead yet. Poken will get more cheaper and more different in it is offerings before it drops in my rings.
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