What do you guys do with business cards? I have a whole boat load of them that I have collected throughout the years. The cards would take up several Rolodexes if I filed them all away.
Ideas please.
Pile them on my desk with rubber bands. I need ideas too!
If they are blank on one side I use them for annotated book marks. I also cut them down and use the blank side for index and file tab inserts. You can also try selling them to collectors and telemarketers on ebay.
I think I solved my problem. I went out and purchased CardScan. I feed the card into the scanner and it uses an OCR to read the information and place it into a database that can be synchronized with MS Outlook. The software saves an image of the card (including the back if necessary).
After I scan the cards I toss them.
mine are also in a box, semi-organized. The latest ones are just sitting in a basket on my desk.
When I really need something to do, (hasn’t been lately) I had some boxes where I kept them by the 16 div and a few other identifiers I found handy. Occasionally I’d have a weeding party when the box got too tight, but it did come in handy on more than one occasion when I needed that REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Good luck
A few years ago we purchase a sheet feeder scanner "Scan Snap"by Toshiba to convert hardcopies to pdf files. It came with software called “Cardminder”. You feed the card in and it is copied and information is converted to Outlook.
Using Colin’s tabs, I have about half of mine in a binder; the other half are in stacks on my desk, hiding under the monitor. There’s got to be a better way…I like the scanning idea. Wonder if I can get the company to purchase something? What’s the price range of CardScan and Scan Snap?
What ever you do, do Not start Collecting them! When I started writing specs I saw that I was going to be inundated with business cards. What a neat thing to collect I thought. After several years I had a thousand or so, and yes, organized alphabetically (not completely, just As together, Bs together, etc.). Now after a whole bunch of years, I havent been able to throw a single business card away. Of course theyre no longer organized in any manner whatsoever. Ive got stacks in rubber bands, stacks in drawers, boxes full of em. Ive got thousands. What a collection of out-dated, un-useable, useless information!!
Enter the pertinent data from your cards into Outlook or some other information management software, or scan them like Ron suggests, and Throw The Cards Away before they take over your life !!!
CardScan provides two models: CardScan “Personal” and “Executive.” I have the “Personal.” The image saved is black and white. The “Executive” saves it in color and can synchronize with several other contact management software programs.
The “Personal” is about $160 and the “Executive” is about $260. You can check them out at the company’s website: http://www.cardscan.com/index.asp?code=GG
I have two three ring binders with business card sleeves. One for architects, engineers, code officials, developers, etc. The other is arranged in the old fashioned 16 divisions. I toss cards when I know they are invalid. They stack up in a dish beside my desk for about two years between updates. The really useful cards are from helpful subcontractors who will tell me how they would build, or bid things.
Doug, I think you need a weeding party on those stacks!
Having been a specifier for over 20 years, I’ve recieved a lot of business cards. I’ve managed pretty well to keep Outlook Contacts updated and then toss the card. I carry my Contacts (synchronized with my laptop) in my PDA.
My dream is that more folks that also have PDA’s (and most product reps do) would be ready to infra-red beam their info to me and save me a lot of time. It just takes a second and the new entry appears in Outlook Contacts.
My closly related dream is that Product Representatives would also include the MasterFormat 2004 number and title that is relevant to their product(s). This would also help data entry time and get them consistently located.
I figured out a few years ago that I only use information on business cards when I am at my desk; so I started entering all the information onto a database in Excel and then tossing the cards. The card information is organized by CSI number and is on the office network so that anybody can access it. I created hyperlinks to listed websites and e-mail addresses and listed all the major products and manufacturers they represent. Now, when I need to find a manufacturers rep, I just do a search for whatever name, product or manufacturer I can remember and I pop right to the contact information I need. I can then click right to their e-mail or website or call the number or cell phone by their name. I can also scroll down to their adjacent competitors fairly easily. The only drawback is that I get too busy and always have a few dozen cards waiting to be added to the database.
Ronald and Bill,
Once they are scanned and in Outlook, how do you identify and file them? Do you use Outlook Categories?
Yes.
I have categories for each division; and, if they’re design professionals, I categorize them by discipline (i.e. civil, structural, architect, etc.).
Colin:
Why does every specifier across the country have to spend hours keeping an updated card filing system when 4Specs is available to all?
Can the manufacturer’s listed on 4Specs be enticed into posting and regularly updating the equivalent of business card directly on their websites.
Just a thought.
I have two 500-card desktop files, with all cards in alphabetical order by last name, if I know the person well, or by company name or industry type if not (eg. “hardware”, “testing agency”, etc.) For the last 20 years, I’ve been writing on the back of the card the month & year and the context I met the person (CSI mtg, a project, the office, etc.) This is really helpful a few years later when I’m trying to remember why I have a particular card. I keep the file up to date. When filing new cards, if I come across a contact that clearly is useless due to age–or if I have no clue who they are or why I have the card–I toss it. This system has worked really well for me. I also try to make sure every manufacturer’s catalog has the rep’s card in it.
Business cards suit my work method well, as antiquated as they may seem to those who live by their portable electronic devices.
I tell product representatives that a business card can be more important than product catalogues, because they are more portable and encourage collaboration.
I have about fifty cards that represent my most important human resources in the design/product/construction world.
People may agonize over the design of their cards. To me, as long as they contain complete contact information and perhaps a brief list of their lines or services, they are as good as gold.
I urge all to search “Business Card Etiquette” on their web browsers. There are some interesting essays and ideas flying around out there that may alter your perspective on them. For example, read the bit on this website: http://hodu.com/card.shtml
I have boxes of my own outdated business cards going back decades. I use them to jot things down when I am reading to Google later.
With my firm’s upcoming relocation has come a change in business card policy. Specifically, only one credential is permitted! They say that credentials add clutter and take away from the company logo. Now, I’m left wondering which one, if any, I should use.
As a specifier it would make sense to use CCS, however I’m also a registered architect.
I’m considering not using any, and simply hand writing my credentials - what a pain.
As anyone ever encountered such a policy? I’m open to suggestions.