Whether you want to stand out in the crowd, save the environment, or just try something new, the market is full of non-traditional alternatives to the business card. Choosing something useful that potential customers and clients would use in their everyday lives is the best way to go – study after study confirms that familiarity and brand recognition is one the most important factors in brand loyalty. From restaurants to law firms, there’s something on this list for everyone.
1. Food & Drink
Drink-related marketing is surprisingly varied. Drink coasters provide a nice visible space for your brand. Bottle opener-cards are a practical way to reinforce the association of your brand with the ritual of drinking. Even printing your information on matchboxes is also a good bet for food and beverage businesses. Depending on the nature of your business, custom spice sachets or fortune cookies would be another way to stand out in the crowd.
2. Real-estate, Auto, and Insurance
Keychains are probably the most relevant alternative option to the traditional business card for these types of companies. Luckily, even within this subtype, there are a variety of different options. While just a simple strap with your information printed on it can be valuable, turning your business card into a keychain with another function will only be more valuable: bottle openers, flash drives, and tape measures will keep your contact information in mind every time they are used.
3. Nonprofits, Charities, & Agriculture
One way to offset your business card’s carbon footprint is it include some plantable seeds with it! Companies like Botanical Paperworks make plantable business cards with seeds mixed right into the paper. Or, if you want the recipient to have the option of keeping a physical copy of your information, you can print your information on mini envelopes and fill them with your own customized selection of seeds.
4. Tech
TouchBase Technologies has developed a special ink that conducts electricity. This means that when the card is placed directly over a smartphone, the ink will automatically transmit the information to the phone. Otherwise, there are a handful of digital business cards apps to facilitate the transaction.