Business networking begins with business cards. In the past, if you didn’t bring along your business cards, you might have missed a business opportunity. How can the conversation continue if the other party didn’t even have a way to contact you again? Today’s digital age is no longer limited to traditional paper business cards. Digital business cards can fully display personal and company information, with both text and images, so that the other party can fully understand the company’s business and it can facilitate further communications.
Business owners have been seeking advice from me: should digital business cards completely replace paper business cards?
Before answering this question, I would like to share a scene that I experienced at a business meeting: A young man showed his digital business card, several people tried to “scan” with their mobile phones many times but still failed. It took quite a lot of time and they finally successfully connected to the webpage, and everyone just looked down at the information on the digital business card, and there seemed to be no conversation among them…
I personally think that business cards need to keep pace with the times, but the importance of paper business cards has not disappeared. Just imagine that in a back-to-back meeting schedule, or the other party is not familiar with mobile phones, exchanging paper business cards is still a quick and effective way to introduce each other.
A paper business card is not only a quick way to establish contact when you meet for the first time, but also to grasp the identity of the other party in the shortest time, and it is also proof that you have met someone in person. Most importantly, a successful business is always built on mutual relationship and trust, and potential business partners or customers often need to strengthen their understanding through conversations and personal contacts.
Exchanging business cards is a kind of etiquette and the beginning of getting to know each other. At present, many business cards are printed with QR codes, and after the initial meeting, you can keep in touch or continue to communicate on social media.
If most of the contacts of the business owners accept digital business cards, which are even more popular than paper business cards. Business owners may need to prepare both, and use digital business cards or paper business cards depending on the occasion. Another great benefit of digital business cards is the convenience of storing data or sending information through electronic channels.
In addition to business cards, business owners also need to properly manage the company’s official website and social media, those are the channels to showcase the company’s value and promote the company’s products and services.
Build a strong business network
Today’s business card is part of the corporate and personal brand image. The ultimate goal of a business owner is to establish and maintain a business network to generate new business, find new customers, and communicate with other business owners and professionals. Follow-up after the first meeting is more important. Business owners can take the initiative to ask to meet for coffee or lunch to discuss ideas and potential cooperation.