Business Daily Media
Times Affiliate Marketing


.

Despite appearances, digital networking hasn’t killed the business card – yet

  • Written by: Jane Menzies, Senior Lecturer in International Business, University of the Sunshine Coast

Have you ever met someone, been handed a business card, and found yourself without one to hand back?

Perhaps you offered an alternative, saying “let’s connect on LinkedIn”, or displayed a scannable QR code[1] on your phone that linked to your details, or offered to send a text or email.

Perhaps you thought cards were no longer needed. You might not be right, at least not for all people, in all situations, and, strange as it seems, young people are among those who might find them the most useful of all.

My own informal survey[2] of 61 contacts on LinkedIn found that more than half used both business cards and LinkedIn for introductions, and another 11% said they used cards only, with only a little over a third eschewing cards altogether.

And business cards are continuing in surprising forms. Some use QR codes[3] to link to very detailed information. Others create contextual information[4] and link users via video.

Photo of business cards with QR codes printed on them.
Md Shakib[5] Some are paywave-style cards[6] that can be tapped, transferring information to the recipient’s phone. An Australian firm, Tapt[7], is one of the pioneers. Some send 10-second distributable videos[8]. Old-school cards are most used by older networkers. Six in every ten LinkedIn users are aged 28 to 43[9], meaning they are millennials[10]. While they are less likely to carry cards than older age groups, there are good reasons why they should. To get ahead, it’s important to connect with supervisors and potential employers from other firms. Whether just added to a pile or kept in a wallet, a card is a sign that the person whose name is on it genuinely wants to reach out. The design can say something about the owner’s professional identity, conveying values, aesthetic sense and distinctiveness. Unlike an email address scribbled on a Post-It note, a well-designed business card can convey a personal brand. And the mere act of handing over a card can build a bridge, ensuring that a meeting remains memorable. At times when time is of the essence, such as in an elevator pitch, cards can offer a swift and efficient medium for exchanging quite a lot of information. And they are likely to hang around, reminding the recipient of the meeting, all the more so the rare they become. They are not for everyone, but for quite a while yet they are likely to be for people seriously trying to reach out. Read more: Because you're worth it -- how a personal brand helps your career[11] References^ scannable QR code (www.forbes.com)^ informal survey (www.linkedin.com)^ QR codes (theconversation.com)^ contextual information (www.mdpi.com)^ Md Shakib (www.linkedin.com)^ paywave-style cards (www.mobilocard.com)^ Tapt (tapt.io)^ 10-second distributable videos (www.forbes.com)^ 28 to 43 (www.statista.com)^ millennials (theconversation.com)^ Because you're worth it -- how a personal brand helps your career (theconversation.com)Authors: Jane Menzies, Senior Lecturer in International Business, University of the Sunshine Coast

Read more https://theconversation.com/despite-appearances-digital-networking-hasnt-killed-the-business-card-yet-223858

Why the secrecy around car insurance?

Every year, millions of Australians receive their car insurance renewal and promise themselves they’ll look at it properly later. Then life gets in ...

Australian workers spend almost an hour a day administering email

Research finds email filing, searching and rework consuming an estimated 58 minutes a day and potentially exposing organisations to millionsAustralian...

Customer Service Is Becoming Part of the Small Business Sales and Marketing Engine

For Customer Service Week, 5-9 October, Thryv is urging small businesses to look beyond generating  enquiries and examine what happens after a custome...

Gift Cards as the gateway to agentic payments

Prepaid and stored value gives consumers the trust and control to try AI shopping agents By Blackhawk Network VP Head of ANZ Kieran Nolan For deca...

Why Data Accumulation Without Governance Undermines Sustainability Goals

In July 2026, Group 2 entities, the second cohort of Australian businesses, began their first reporting period under the mandatory climate disclosur...

Permanent $20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off Gives Small Businesses Greater Planning Certainty

The Federal Government’s decision to permanently legislate the $20,000 instant asset write-off will give eligible small businesses greater certainty...