Tuesday Tips - Why I Still Carry Business Cards

Yes, even in a World of QR Codes

I was chatting with someone recently about networking — proper, in‑person networking — and we ended up laughing about how often technology seems to pick the exact wrong moment to let us down. You know the situation. You’re having a great conversation, you both decide to swap details, you reach for your phones… and suddenly you’re waving your device around like you’re trying to find a satellite signal in the middle of a field.

To wifi or not!

No reception. No battery. No Wi‑Fi. Or it just feels a bit clumsy to break the flow and start tapping around on screens.

And every time it happens, I’m reminded why I still carry business cards.

Not because I’m stuck in the past. Not because I don’t appreciate tech. But because business cards solve a very real, very human problem: sometimes the simplest tools are the ones that actually work when you need them.

The human side of something you can hold

There’s something about handing someone a card that feels natural. It doesn’t interrupt the moment. It doesn’t demand attention. It doesn’t need charging or updating. It just fits into the rhythm of the conversation.

And people keep them.

They end up tucked into wallets, slipped into notebooks, pinned to boards, or rediscovered weeks later at exactly the right moment. There’s actually research showing that physical objects create stronger memory anchors than digital ones — our brains treat them differently. A business card becomes a tiny physical reminder of a conversation, not just another contact buried somewhere in an app.

QR codes and phones are brilliant — until they’re not

I’m a fan of QR codes. They’re tidy, efficient, and they make it easy for someone to get straight to your website or booking page. But they rely on the environment being perfect: good lighting, good signal, good battery, good timing.

And business doesn’t always happen in perfect conditions.

QR codes are great, sometimes

Sometimes you’re in a basement café. Sometimes you’re at an event where the Wi‑Fi is overloaded. Sometimes you’re in a conversation where pulling out your phone just isn’t appropriate.

A business card steps in quietly, without fuss, and keeps the connection moving.

A small tool with a surprisingly big impact

Here’s a fun one: several networking studies show that people are more likely to remember you — and follow up — when they’ve been given something physical. It’s not about the card itself. It’s about the moment of exchange. The pause. The intention. The fact that you gave them something they can return to later.

In a world where everything is digital, something tangible stands out more than ever.

If you want to make business cards work harder for you, here are a few simple actions:

• Keep the design clean and readable. Clarity always wins.

• Add a QR code anyway. Best of both worlds — digital convenience, physical reliability.

• Choose a card that feels good to hold. Texture creates memory.

• Carry them somewhere accessible. If you have to dig for them, you won’t use them.

• Refresh the design occasionally. Not constantly — just enough to keep it aligned with who you are now.

  
  

A gentle nudge

If you’ve been relying solely on your phone or QR codes, it might be worth bringing business cards back into your toolkit. Not because it’s old‑school, but because it’s practical. And in business, practical usually wins.

Love those bright colours

And.....

If you’re thinking about how you show up, how you connect, or how you tell your story — whether that’s through cards, conversations, or something bigger — I’m always happy to have a chat about your business and where you want to take it.

Disclaimer

Whilst every precaution has been taken to ensure this information is accurate, I, Stuart Ashley take no responsibility for any errors contained within. Please conduct your own research before making business or financial decisions.