At every conference, tradeshow, and company event, business cards are an essential part of the conversation.

No matter how you connect or with whom you are connecting, prospects can quickly collect hundreds of business cards within a matter of hours. Your business card will be thrown out if you don't make a good impression.

You need to be creative and create a business card that is memorable to make prospects remember to follow up.

People started to use swag as an alternative to business cards not too long ago. You could print your name and number on everything, from keychains and pens to plastic cups and beer cozies to plastic cups and keychains.

These alternatives are unfortunately not surprising.

How do you choose the right business card alternative?

Do People Throw Away Business Cards?

How to Design a Business Card People Won’t Throw Away

To stand out from your competitors, think outside of the box. These business card alternatives will make it easier for you to remember the event and increase your chances of getting a response from prospects.

• Business cards that are edible
• Functional business cards
• Business cards for USB
• Puzzle business cards
• Toy business cards
• CRM - An alternative to business cards

1. Edible business cards

Everybody loves food so why not make your business cards edible?

There are many ways to incorporate food in your business card. You can print your contact information on cookies or pieces of chocolate, or even on a piece of meat.

Pasta is another food option. Pasta Boy Peter laser-etched the information on lasagna noodles in order to promote his Italian cooking classes.

The problem with food as a business card option is that it must be eaten. Your opportunity may be lost if your prospect doesn’t take down your name, number and address before they start eating.

If you plan to include food in your business card, make sure it has packaging that they can keep.

Prospects can enjoy the tea and can keep the wrapper for later contact.

Although anyone can include a snack on their business card, professionals in the food and drink industry will find it particularly helpful. Your business card is a sampling of the services you offer.

2. Functional business cards

Your prospect should find a way to use your business card. If they can use your business card, they will be more inclined to call you.

Bottle openers are a useful business card that will grab attention. A bottle opener business card, unlike a keychain with a brand name bottle opener, is a flat piece made of metal prospects can carry around in their wallet. It's a reminder to get in touch.

Functional business cards don't have to be complicated. There are many cool things you could do with functional business cards, such as handing out a card that opens a lock pick or giving away a business card that makes a key chain. But sometimes simplicity is better.

Dressew, for example, added basic sewing supplies such as thread, buttons and safety pins to their business cards.

These small-investment options can be very useful and relevant to the products and/or services Dressew offers. This is an important aspect of creating a functional business card. It's a gimmick otherwise.

Another great example is Yuka Suzuki, a hair and makeup artist who includes hairpins in each business card.

Include a tool or other item that connects to the problem your products or services solve. This will ensure that you are remembered by prospects when they use your functional business cards.

3. USB business cards

You're meeting prospects at trade shows and conventions, where you can make connections with dozens or more vendors. It can be difficult to make your presence felt at trade shows and conventions.

They may not even remember what you said.

It is important that they return home with all the information they require.

Although USB business cards are similar to regular business cards, they come with a USB flash drive that you can preload your data.

The prospect can then use the flash drive to delete and upload any information they require.

A USB business card can be a great way for your prospect to take home the information they need, but you should not assume that they will just plug in. Make your pitch in person strong and offer them an incentive to visit the website when they return.

4. Puzzle business cards

Business cards don't have to be hard work. It's a great way for prospects to be engaged by including word searches and other puzzle games on your business cards.

A simple word search or maze can be a fun way to add some entertainment to your business card. You can engage your prospects enough to make them familiar with you and your services without asking for a lot of time.

You can see that the contact information remains clear. Include a word search on your business card. Don't make it difficult for prospects to find you.

5. Toy business cards

To make your first impression, hand out toys. You will stand out from your competitors by getting away from the traditional business cards.

This is a great way for you to be noticed but it can also be a big investment. You may not be able to afford hundreds of dolls if you are constantly attending trade shows and events.

A custom Lego character can be created with your name, contact information and other details. This is what the CEO of the company uses.

You can also create a handheld card to play simple games such as Tetris if you want to really go all out on a toy business card.

When used in the right context, toys business cards can be very appropriate. Although a Lego figurine or a miniature game system may seem appealing, your brand should be consistent.

6. CRM – an alternative to business cards

Sometimes, being creative with your business cards is not enough to make you stand out. You might want to avoid handing out business cards at events where prospects are likely to collect a lot of cards from other vendors.

But that doesn't mean prospects should be abandoned. Instead, use your CRM to gather their contact information and control the conversation.

It is easy to add contact information directly into your CRM. You can add the prospect's name and number to your CRM. Also, you can leave notes later to remind you about the details.

A CRM allows you to store customer information in your email, allowing for easy communication.

A CRM allows your team to share information about prospects and to see if they are talking to the same person. You can gather sales notes and send targeted follow-ups if you are able to do so in real time.

The best thing about having all the prospect information is the freedom to reach out and take control. You don't have to worry about prospects choosing to contact you, unlike exchanging business cards. To set up the next conversation, add them to your CRM.

The traditional business card is not dead, but it's still very much alive.

You will still need a formal business card with your contact information, but you should also have a creative alternative. You can make your business stand out against the crowd by having a creative alternative to your traditional business card.

Take a look at what products and services you offer to determine the best business card option for your company or personal brand. Are there ways you could offer your prospects a mini-version?

You can think outside the box. Offers of free samples, supplemental products, or tools in your business card not only can help prospects solve an immediate problem but can also increase trust and familiarity with your brand and name.

You don't have to be afraid of mixing up the business cards you give out. Give it a try if you have an idea. Your prospects and you will have more fun if you are more creative.

It's not surprising that business cards are thrown away, even if they weren't asked for. It is believed that 63% of those who receive business cards toss them because they don’t need them right now.

There are some things you can do to increase the chances that prospects save your cards rather than throwing them out.

Reasons People Throw Away Business Cards

First, you need to understand that not all business cards will be thrown away. It is obvious that no one would ever keep business cards if they were lost.

There are a few distinguishing characteristics of business cards that increase the likelihood that prospects will throw away their cards rather than give them a thorough read. Here are six top reasons people discard business cards.

1. The Design is Unprofessional

The most common reason people toss business cards is that the design appears unprofessional. You can save money by making a generic or basic business card. You need to make sure your business card is professional and represents your company. Your card will not stand out from the rest of the companies in your industry if it has a generic and unprofessional design. A memorable business card that is visually appealing and well-designed will not be forgotten.

2. It Doesn’t Stand Out

Your business card will not stand out if it is printed in black-and-white in a classic serif font with centralized text. It will be the same as every other business card that your client or peer has seen and won't grab their attention.

They are more likely to throw it out, or put it in a drawer that's not used again. There are many eye-catching full-color templates.

3. Bad Printing

You should not print business cards for your company on any printer in the office. You can end up creating a lot of problems that could have a negative effect on your reputation. Take this example:

• It is printed on thin (low-gsm) cardstock to give it a light feeling
• Images with grainy or low resolution
• Textual or border inconsistencies
• Variations in ink quality or color
• Card edges can have sharp or uneven edges

These issues can make people feel unprofessional and less likely to want to work for you.

4. Lack of Added Value

Your business cards should demonstrate your value to prospects. Prospects will throw your business card away if yours does not. Many businesses neglect to take advantage of the opportunity to build relationships with prospects.

They don't use the back of their card for any reason. You can offer prospects discounts for checking out your company or other attractive offers through the backs of the cards. This will make sure prospects keep their card safe.

5. It Has Incorrect Information or Typos

Prospects who try to contact you using the contact information on the card will be denied entry because of incorrect information. An incorrect card is useless. Typographical and spelling errors are also immediately off-putting. It makes you appear incompetent, unprofessional.

It is important that your cards contain accurate information. You should also ensure that your business cards include updated contact information. Before ordering business cards, double- and even triple-check the proof.

6. Poor Presentation of the Cards

How can your prospects care if you don't take care of your business cards? Your business cards should be stored where you can find them.

Do you keep them in a safe place so that you can access them when needed? People will not be impressed by business cards that have been folded, creased or wrinkled. They won't be able to remember your card if it isn't folded, dirty, or wrinkled.

This section explains that your business cards should reflect who you are as an individual. You need to be careful when designing your business cards. You want your prospects to like your business cards, which will make them more likely to keep them.

These are the top tips to create professional and eye-catching business cards that your contacts will love to keep.

Be Creative

You don't have to design a business card that is generic. Memorable cards are easy to find on the bulletin board or fridge. Boring cards end up in the trash. It is important to make a lasting impression and be memorable.

It is important to spend time thinking about a creative idea for your business card that will appeal to your prospects and make them smile. Try bright, bold colors that stand out from the rest.

Vary the Shape

Most people have only seen rectangular business cards. You can make your cards look more interesting and create a greater impact by changing the shape of them. While rectangles are the most common option, they may not be the best. If you are creative, your card can become part of your brand's identity.

You could opt for a rectangular shape with rounded corners to make it feel different in your hand. You could also choose a vertical business cards so the recipient has to hold it in a different way to see it. This will grab their attention better than a horizontal card.

Add Pictures

Business cards can be enhanced with photos and images. They give people something to look at, which is a great way to add value. These images could include professional headshots of yourself or products or styled images that relate to your profession. It is less likely that a card with more visual appeal will be thrown out.

If you decide to go this route, it is important to invest the time and money in high-quality images. It's better to use a professional service than printing images on your home printer.

Add Interesting Texture or Feeling

You can also make your business card stand out by adding textural elements. Your business card can stand out by adding interesting textures or feelings.

You have a variety of options, such as adding embossed elements to your business card or choosing a thicker cardstock which will feel better in the recipient's hands. Your business card can look more attractive and make people notice it.

Add an Incentive for Keeping the Card

You can also offer an incentive to keep your business card. This will ensure that contacts will continue to use it. This is especially true if you sell physical products or if your establishment includes a café or hair salon. Here are some suggestions:

• Add a section to the card that allows customers to collect loyalty stamps
• You can add a coupon code to get 10% off your next visit. They'll need the card to bring it with them.

Triple-Check for Mistakes

The mistakes on business cards are a major reason people toss out business cards. It could be typos or errors in your address or contact information.

To ensure that your contact information is correct and up-to-date, double- and triple-check all of your cards. You should also ensure that your cards aren't missing any details. This could negatively impact your business. It is a good idea to have someone else look at your order before you place it.