When was the last time you were asked for “your card”? Or you gave one away? If you’re like me it’s few and far between.

It seems like today business cards are dying a slow vaporizing death (like Marty McFly in Back To The Future), along with several other print meda in our iPhone/ Crackberry age. It makes total sense. Why do I really need a small piece of paper with your contact info on it? In 1995, before the “you-twitter-face” era, I might not ever see you again. Our brief encounter lost in the passing by happen chance of the ages, but that’s not necessarily the case today.

I can easily add you to my contacts, send you a FR (friend request) on facebook, follow you on twitter, or go old school and send you an email. Will I really ever meed your direct contact info?

Maybe, but lets be honest, the real value in a business card is the impression you leave in the mind of the recipient. It’s a great way to build the perception you want for your brand. So the question is, what kind of impression are you leaving? Are you leaving one with 3 phone numbers, 2 faxes, a tagline, mission statement, brand promise, national accreditations, car make & model, highschool yearbook photo, and your favorite Proverb?

Instead, maybe you should simply leave someone thinking? Maybe it simply challenges? Inspires? Starts a conversation?

Maybe your message is printed on a steak (there is actually a new process to do that). Not the most sustainable message, but I guarantee pulling a rib eye out of your pocket will start a conversation.

It’s hard to do something different and break the norm. Real innovation happens when you don’t just accept the way things are, but challenge them.

What are some of the best business card ideas you’ve ever seen?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 at 6:00 am and is filed under Branding, Business, Word of Mouth, brand. You can follow any responses to this entry through the feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.