I No Longer Use Business Cards. You’ll Remember Me Anyway

How Business Cards Work

Sometimes when I’m out shooting or at a networking event, I get asked by an interested person if I have some sort of business card with me. I don’t. I used to carry business cards all the time, but now I don’t.

I’m not some jaded millennial who doesn’t understand how business cards work. I know all the business card tricks, such as acknowledging and reading the card in front of the person who hands it to you. It’s a good way to remember that person. But I’m betting you’ll remember who I am anyway.

I will only use a business card for 2 reasons: I’m working full-time for a company where I’m required to use them, and/or to get a free lunch or extra hotel points or something by dropping it in a fishbowl. So, why don’t I use business cards anymore?

#1: It’s Killing a Tree and I Hate Waste

I’m a sucker for design. And I appreciate well-designed cards. However, I never ran out of business cards.

Ok. I did once. For the full-time company I worked for that required me to use them. But I never ran out of my other business cards. Not even when I went to a networking event every week. Not even when I lived in Los Angeles during my 20s, and all I was doing was going to Hollywood networking events.

The cards sat in my closet collecting dust. Then I had to recycle them. And buy more with updated information. Also, I know you throw them away. That’s what I do. I enter the information in my contacts on my computer, where it updates to all my devices, then I throw the card away. That’s a lot of dead trees. And money.

#2: I Still Get Found

I’m not Shonda Rhimes or anything (Seriously, I’m NOT Shonda Rhimes. Our names are similar, and we are both black women who attended the same school, but that’s it. She’s awesome, though). However, if someone wants to find me, they will.

I’m not Shonda Rhimes or anything (Seriously, I’m NOT Shonda Rhimes. Our names are similar, and we are both black women who attended the same school, but that’s it. She’s awesome, though). However, if someone wants to find me, they will.

This year, a film producer called my grandparents’ house. I receive calls and emails for availability fairly often, from people I didn’t previously know. If you are in demand, you will be found.

#3: You Can Google Me

Although my name combination is fairly common, most of the Sharonda Harrises on Google are me. To separate myself even further, I hyphenate my name, even if I am referred to as “Sharonda Harris” in about 85% of my professional life. What’s even weirder, there is another woman who shares most of my name on IMDb, but she also hyphenates. Which IMDb page is me? Well, she’s an actress with a headshot. I’m not an actress. So, good work, detective.

#4: Cards Need Updating

Always. In contrast, I can update information within two minutes online, without waiting a week for my information to be confirmed and ready for public consumption. That’s the world we live in.

#5: If You Ask for My Information, I’ll Ask You to Follow Me on Social Media

I’m a millennial. Social media is the best way to reach me. Depending on what type of contact you are, I may ask you to follow my Instagram or my Facebook. Usually Facebook for colleagues and Instagram for potential clients.

You want examples of my work anyway, and a card isn’t going to show you.