From early to higher education, business cards have become a necessity in and out of the classroom. How those business cards look and are used may not fit the traditional narrative of a classic business person’s business card, which is why we created this guide for creating business cards as an educator and included feedback from real educators.
Why educators need business cards
When thinking of business cards and networking, the first thought is often sales, realty, or C-suite level professionals, but according to Jim Wasserman, a retired teacher, “people outside of education don’t realize what a connection-based profession it is.”
And with that need for connections comes a need to share contact information. Aldi Agaj, CEO and Founder of Alter Learning says the value of business cards “in networking and professional branding can't be overlooked” for educators.
From professional networking (something everyone should do) to teacher conferences and outreach with students and parents, having business cards handy is the key to unlocking opportunities and facilitating communication within the academic community and beyond.
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Why educators are switching to digital business cards
Digital business cards, also known as virtual business cards, are quickly becoming more popular among professionals in all industries, including education. With more storage than traditional paper business cards, contact management, and multiple ways to share, it is no surprise educators are going virtual.
1. Cost savings
It’s no secret that many educators are working on a shoestring budget, and a stack of business cards often doesn’t make it into the budget. With digital business cards, individuals can make up to four cards for free (with HiHello), and with plans for teams, schools, and businesses can save up to 50% on business card costs.
2. Sustainability
Making more sustainable choices is at the forefront of many educators' minds, and digital business cards offer a simple solution to reduce the use of paper that, when added up over time, can help teachers reduce their environmental footprint.
3. Cards for every situation
In education, you’re interacting with a variety of different people, and giving them the right information is essential, but that information isn’t always going to be the same. From other educators to parents, students, and connections outside of the education system, you want to ensure that you’re sharing the right information for every interaction.
With digital business cards, you can make multiple cards, so you can ensure parents have school contact details, while students can find classroom resources, and networking connections have your LinkedIn and email address.
4. Never run out
Keeping a current stack of business cards in stock can be costly, time-consuming, and sometimes impossible with typos, misprints, and shipping times. With digital business cards, you’ll never have to worry about having enough business cards.
Casey Chung, Program Manager for Digital Media at Polk State College, ran into this exact problem with paper cards at an Open House intended to reach out to potential students, “It's handy to have something to give, but I underestimated how many were taken, I managed to run out.”
5. Consistent branding for schools
From school values to shared contact information and marketing collateral, how your school is represented by everyone associated with it is incredibly important. With digital business cards, maintaining consistent branding is simple for organizations of all sizes.
Templates allow for the creation of consistent cards for everyone at your school, with custom content controls and the ability to send bulk updates. With built-in analytics, a contact manager, and so much more, digital business cards are a powerful tool in higher education.
6. To support students
Digital business cards aren’t only powerful tools for educators—they’re also an excellent resource for students. Along with online tools like LinkedIn and Handshake, more and more colleges and universities are recommending students take advantage of digital business cards as tools for networking and kickstarting their careers.
Christ McGuire, founder of Real Estate Exam Ninja, said, “Encouraging students to create and use business cards, whether physical or digital, helps instill a sense of preparedness for their future careers. It teaches them the importance of presenting themselves professionally and making meaningful connections in their academic and professional journeys.”
How to use business cards in education
Educators are excellent at finding creative ways to use things, and business cards are no exception, from networking, to sharing class information, or using old cards for recycling products. To learn more about how educators use business cards, we asked them, and here’s what they had to say.
1. At conferences
Erin Eng, Founder and CEO of Admissions Sight, has found value in business cards as a college admission expert. Eng says, “In professional networking events, business cards convey a sense of credibility and commitment, underscoring my dedication to my role as a college admission expert.”
For Eng, using business cards is more than the exchange of contact information. “It’s about making a lasting, professional impression,” he says.
2. Course attendees
Marty Zankich, Directory and Owner of Chamberlin Real Estate School, shares business cards with attendees of their courses. Zankich says, “While some may not use the information immediately, the subsequent spike in website traffic indicated that these cards serve as a valuable resource for those seeking my education services.”
3. To foster collaboration
Networking in academia isn’t just about accelerating your career. For Agaj, business cards are also about “fostering collaborations and showcasing our commitment to education innovation.”
While networking is always about sharing ideas and learning from others, that is only compounded when networking in academia. Educators are lifelong learners who seek to gain knowledge from everywhere, and networking is a key source of knowledge.
Ready to learn more about digital business cards and get started? See our guide to digital business cards, and visit our pricing page to learn more and get started!
