Small Biz Says Business Cards 'Critically Important for Networking'
Business Cards
October 18, 2012 -- According to an independently conducted Ipsos poll commissioned by custom card printer MOO, one-third (34%) of small business owners say that using business cards to network is ‘very impactful,' and 40% strongly agree that their business card ‘is critically important for successfully networking.'
The average American small business owner distributes approximately 40 business cards in a given month, compared to an average of 24 business cards given out monthly by the general businessperson, according to the survey.
Within both groups, those who see business cards as ‘very impactful’ for networking are more likely to distribute approximately 13 more business cards per month compared to those who see business cards as ‘less impactful’.
Additional poll findings:
- An important aspect of networking is making as many contacts as possible at a number of different events. Small business owners tend to distribute them at a wider variety of locations and situations with the top places being social events (58%), community functions (56%) and conferences (55%).
- Three in ten (31%) small business owners ‘always give out their card when they meet someone new in either a business or personal setting,' while less than two in ten (18%) general business persons do the same.
- Business card distribution appears to have increased over the past five years, especially among small business owners. Six in ten (60%) American small business owners ‘currently give out more business cards than they did five years ago,' while more than four in ten (43%) general business persons say do the same.
- More small business owners (40%) strongly agree that their business card ‘is critically important for successfully networking,' compared to only 30% of general business persons.
- Nearly half of small business owners strongly agree that their business card ‘reflects who they are/what they represent (46%), ‘has helped them get more work’ (42%), ‘showcases their personal style/brand (44%), and ‘has helped them get their foot in the door’ (38%).
- More than half of general business persons (55%) and small business owners (52%) use the Internet for networking, primarily via social media (38% general business persons/35% small businesses). The main social media tool for the general businessperson is LinkedIn, while small businesses prefer Facebook.
- American small business owners (31%) are more likely to believe that the effect of their networking ‘has brought a lot of new business to their company' compared to 15% of general business persons. Six in ten of both groups (55% general/59% small businesses) believe the effect of their networking ‘has brought some new business to my company.'
About: These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between July 30th -August 8th, 2012, on behalf of MOO.com. For this survey a sample of 1,007 American respondents, 702 respondents were general business card users and 305 were small business owners who use business cards, were interviewed online. The poll has a credibility interval of +/- 3.5%.
Source: Ipsos, More American Small Business Owners (34%) Than General Americans (24%) Believe Using Business Cards to Network is ‘Very Impactful.’ October 18, 2012.
