Is having business cards necessary?

Question

Hi all. As someone who is extremely new to real estate investing, one of my Immedient goals is to get my name out there. Whether it's attending local meetups or real estate clubs, I want to be there.

Is it important for aspiring investors like me to have business cards for these kinds of events? Or is this something to worry about in the future?

Thank you in advance!

Terrell Garren · Answer

I bought 500 business cards and a registered a web domain when I started 15 years ago.  I have maybe 494 business cards and no web site today.

Jimmy Lieu · Answer

Hey Codey, as an investor, no it's not worth it to get business cards. If you were a realtor or were a service provider or professional here in the real estate industry, 100% I would recommend.

If you want to connect with someone, I'd recommend just exchanging phone #s or social media handles, which is pretty normal to do nowadays. As an investor and agent here, let me know if you have any questions or would like to connect!

Jeff S. · Answer

We meet 99% of our borrowers at local real estate clubs, @Codey Wendel, and also attend conferences on occasion. Every serious investor has a business card. Some will present a QR code that brings up their contact information on my phone when I scan it.

When I get home, I scan only the relevant cards, including any notes I might have taken, and then throw all of them away.  Afterward, I respond by text or email to those whose cards I scanned. Most of the QR code digital contacts get lost in my phone, only to be discovered a year later, leaving me wondering who they were. No one will convince me that these are as effective as a paper card.

Networking is an art, and it's hard for me to take anyone seriously who provides no means of contact. Moreover, it wastes everyone's time and will not achieve your stated goal of getting your name out.  It's essential for you to make it easy. One hundred cards from Vista Print cost $18 and they don't have to be fancy. Name, mailing address, email address, and a cell phone number for texts are the bare minimum. Avoid using black or glossy cards, as they should be writable. While you're at it, despite my dislike for them, you should cover all bases and create a digital business card using only the free version on one of these sites. I have little hope anyone actually responds to these, but you never know.

When you receive a business card, make a note of where you received it, possibly the date, and any action expected from your conversation. Then, promptly follow up with either what you promised or a simple message expressing your enjoyment of the conversation about _______ and your hope to meet again. The idea is to jog the person's memory of you and maintain the relationship. That's why you met them in the first place.

Eric Gerakos · Answer

No.

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

I am going to be contrarian on this subject.. I use Bizz cards  I dont use linkden  contacts in my phone need to be for those I remember.. folks you just meet I would not remember who they are .. I have a stack of cards on my desk and go through them monthly to cull them out.

Also I give my card out at events so they have my website and e mail handy.  I dont text much and dont like text unless its with critical stuff Like sub contractors or my direct clients.. .. other wise  U get bombarded with text and waste a ton of time reading them all.

Jim Rivell · Answer

I’d echo the sentiment above. I bought a bunch of business cards first starting out assuming I would be dishing them out like Candy at meetups etc, but reality is when you make a good connection the contact gets saved directly into your phone bypassing the need for a biz card. I have a handful of cards I’ve gotten from others at meetups and they’re collecting dust on my desk.

Eric James · Answer

The cost of business cards is very low, in relation to looking unprofessional when someone asks for a card and you don't have them.

Doug Smith · Answer

I would get them. VistaPrint or something like that is so very cheap you might as well drop $20 on them. Don't get fancy. Get something cheap. I remember a friend that had cards that said "Joe" (not his real name...he would kill me if he heard me relaying this story) and his phone number in the middle of a white card in a basic black font. It fell out of his wallet while we were all out eating. Of course, he had them only to give to girls and, after 20 years, we still give him grief over it. I honestly rarely use them, but I would have them for your next Bigger Pockets Meet Up in your area. I know we have one coming up in Tampa and I will hand out 10-15 and I'll collect a few. I'm actually meeting on Friday with someone I met at a BP meet up...and we exchanged business cards.

Eliott Elias · Answer

Business cards are outdated. Give someone your phone number and make sure they save it in their phone. Business cards are thrown away 90% of the time.

Jonathan Feliciano · Answer

@Codey Wendel

Hi Codey. Personally, I don’t believe it’s worth getting business cards. I think they’re a waste of money and paper. In the past, they were helpful when few people had cell phones—let alone the ability to save contacts. But now in this digital age, they’re obsolete.

In the past, I’ve gone to many networking events where I’ve given and received business cards. And every time, those business cards end up in a drawer or in the trash.

If you go to a networking event, and you find someone you connected well with, then simply ask to for their phone number. They will most likely give it to you, especially if the conversation went well.

I hope this helps in your decision.

Is having business cards necessary?

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