Are Business Cards Still Relevant?

May 19, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

Are you still purchasing and giving others your business cards? Are your independent representatives? Heck, we don’t even have to talk with each other face to face anymore….or do we? We can just use our phones to text each other, so, I ask you, “Do we need to be passing out these pieces of paper?”

The answer is unequivocally “YES”. You ask why? Well, let me tell you.

Most Powerful Networking Tool

The business card is still the most powerful networking tool of all time because of its simplicity, speed of communication, and effectiveness. There are literally tens of billions of cards produced worldwide every year. While some sources cite declining sales and others say the business card printing business is thriving, there hasn’t yet been invented a better networking tool.

Memories of You

Handing someone a professional-looking business card makes a statement about you and your business. Business cards transfer more than just contact data. Together with the memory of your interaction, a business card transfers a story and leaves mental imprints. When you make your conversation memorable by focusing on the needs of the other person, your business card becomes a positive memory trigger about you.

Here are two other great reasons that you still need business cards in 2013:

People expect them. Have you ever been asked for one of your cards and you were out? A business person with no business cards? Really? Now that is embarrassing!
If you are starting a new business, you just have to have one. Many new business owners want to have their business cards as soon as possible because they do not feel that they are “really” in business without a business card. Just as you want to feel you are in business, so do your independent representatives!

I suggest that you get yourself a well-designed business card and always have several with you always because there are business opportunities everywhere. Don’t leave home or the office without them! Be sure to convey this business tip to your representatives as well.

A Fun History Lesson

For hundreds of years, generations of humankind have given and received business cards.

Did you know that business cards date back all the way to the 15th century? Back then they were called “visiting cards.” They were big in China and Japan. Visiting cards announced your intention of meeting with another person. If you’re a history buff or just curious, read “6 Things You Didn’t Know About Japanese Business Card Etiquette.”

Jay Leisner, the President of Sylvina Consulting, is a top compensation plan and direct selling expert, a trusted adviser to new and established network marketing and party plan companies. For more than 30 years, Jay has enjoyed assessing and improving network marketing, party plan and referral marketing companies across the globe.

Jay Leisner and Victoria Dohr authored the top-rated book for new and young network marketing, referral marketing, and party plan companies, "Start Here: The Guide to Building and Growing Your Direct Selling Company".

Available in English and Spanish. This startup guide contains 250 pages of wisdom that will guide you through the right steps to start and continue on your journey to build a successful direct selling company.

You will save thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of your time using the information you will read in our book.

In 1986, Jay began his career in direct selling by working for a major direct selling software provider. First as a software developer and later as a project leader and a business analyst, Jay worked closely with new and established network marketing and party direct selling companies to provide them with software solutions to meet their unique requirements.

Jay contributed in many ways to the success of large implementation projects for many companies. Jay also worked with dozens of smaller companies to assist each of them in various capacities to provide them with the systems they needed to help their businesses to grow faster.

Along the way while working with them, he learned the secrets of successful direct selling companies and the challenges faced by them. In true entrepreneurial spirit, Jay’s decision in 1999 to start Sylvina Consulting as a direct selling consulting company was driven by what he saw was a need for answers, advice, and solutions.

In 2004, 2006, 2009, 2014, and 2018, Jay gave presentations on compensation plans, recognition, and field leadership development at conferences held by the US Direct Selling Association.

He traveled to South Africa in 2015, 2016, and 2017 to conduct workshops on compensation plan design and recognition programs for member companies of the South African Direct Selling Association.

In 2017, Jay spoke at the Canadian Direct Sellers Association Meeting on the importance of recognition.

More than just a compensation plan expert, Jay is exceptionally skilled at advising new and established companies on business strategies. Before offering advice or solutions, he asks important questions to understand each client’s specific concerns and goals.

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