Is the Business Card Dead? 370
theodp writes "Attending SXSW, HBR's Susy Jackson was dismayed to find her beloved business cards no longer carried the cachet they did back in the day. Writes Jackson: 'I had a lovely conversation with two young entrepreneurs from New York and when it was time to part ways, I used that old line: 'Here, let me give you my card.' They both paused, looking unsure about whether or not I was serious. Then I saw the understanding wash over them. I was speaking a forgotten language. A business card. How precious.' And while Jackson appreciates the convenience of exchanging e-business cards, Twitter handles, and phone numbers (texting), she's still a softie for a good business card: 'Some cards are plain; others speak to their holders' personalities through odd trim sizes, quirky color schemes, or clever word play. Each will tell me something more about the person who gave it to me than I could have known from their contact info alone.' So, how telling are The Business Cards of Tech Giants?"
No (Score:4, Informative)
They may not carry much importance, but yes they still get passed around in meetings.
Re:Business cards are more than just contact info (Score:3, Informative)
In Japan, business cards are also very important. Not receiving it with both hands and carefully reading it is considered rude. It is also rude to immediately put it away if you are at a meeting and when you put it away, you must put it into something to protect it as a sign of respect.
As for your own cards, you should never hand over anything less than perfect; nothing dirty, creases, or bends.
I made my own cards to introduce myself and my website when I went to a job interview in October in Tokyo. It was a good thing I did!
The loss of formalities in the US commerce sector is pretty scary. We have people going into an office looking like crap and nobody cares about letters, CVs, or resumes anymore. Resumes is pretty much the only formality I still see, but that's about it.