|
The use of
business cards to make a memorable impression on a potential client
is not new. Professionals in a variety of fields have been using
them for years. Giving a person a business card affords the
individual possessing it the opportunity and information needed to
accept your product or service.
What is new, however, is the ability you have to guide the person
that receives your card. By utilizing available technology, you can
transmit your thoughts and feelings to the viewer in a manner he or
she chooses. This article explains why digital business cards can be
the perfect tool for such communication.
The Concept
Digital business cards are presentations on miniature discs that
receive input from the viewer and respond to that input in a
specific way. These cards are not complex. They simply blend two
widely used learning processes (media and interaction) together.
This combination provides a dynamic arrangement that is very
effective and appealing. This article will consider three questions:
Why use digital business cards? What advantages are there? And why
are they more effective than paper cards?
Why Use Digital Business Cards?
When an individual looks at your business card, he or she must make
a quick decision based on minimal information. Sure, many people
having additional questions will utilize the contact information on
the card to get in touch with you to obtain answers. However, not
all people respond in the same manner.
A number of potential clients are not comfortable speaking to
someone they do not know, about something they are unfamiliar with.
Using a digital business card, allows access to these potential
clients while at the same time maintaining a more traditional means
for those that prefer a more conventional method.
Features of Digital Business Cards
 |
Text |
 |
Images |
 |
Sound |
 |
Video |
 |
Receive
Input |
 |
Links
to Your Website |
 |
Database
Access Capabilities |
Benefits of Using Digital Business Cards
 |
Separate
Yourself From Your Peers |
 |
Make
a Deeper Impression |
 |
More
Information Available |
 |
Drive
Traffic to Your Website |
 |
Promote
Related Products and Services |
 |
Free
Up Valuable Time Used to Answer Common Questions |
Digital vs. Paper Business Cards
When a person looks at a paper business card, they immediately form
an opinion about the business represented by the card. Your ability
to influence the viewer lies entirely upon first impression. Even in
a perfect scenario, the first impression is the end of the road with
a paper business card. You cannot guide thinking or move the viewer
to action no matter how good that first impression may be. You must
do a majority of the work after the initial contact. What, though,
about digital business cards?
Digital business cards are a different story because you can
guide thinking in an effective way and move the viewer to action if
you so choose. Even if the first impression is less than perfect,
many contacts will be moved to view the contents out of shear
curiosity! Simply stated, the first impression is not as vital with
a digital business card and the selling power is stronger. What
makes it so effective?
Transferring of Imagination
To understand the differences between paper business cards and
digital business cards, one only needs to consider a couple of
examples:
 |
When
a book is made into a movie, does the movie generally make
more or less than the book? |
 |
Do
you skip watching the news on T.V. because you read the paper,
or is it the other way around? |
These examples illustrate that printed messages inform. However,
when it comes to moving the viewer to action, motion, sound, and
images are much more powerful. The author is able to assist the
viewer by influencing his or her imagination. In essence, the viewer
virtually experiences the event rather than knowing or learning it.
Going one step further though, the viewer can get involved by
clicking links and buttons or entering text and filling out forms.
Ultimately, the person using the tool experiences the process in a
unique way.
By utilizing modern technology and injecting some creativity into
the presentation, your business card can be more than just a tool
for making contacts. It can bridge the gap between the initial
encounter, and closing the deal. In essence, it can make the viewer
your best sales person.
© Copyright 2005 Quality Business Services, LLC
Check out http://www.qbs-online.com
to learn more about digital
business cards and interactive media |