BUSINESS NETWORKING IN 2018
Are Business Cards Still
Running a business is hard, but you know what’s even harder? Running a fake business. Front companies have been around since the early 1900s and have been steadily increasing in recent years. A front company is a business that presents itself as one entity but operates as another. They are usually set up by an organization with the intent of disguising an ulterior motive. In some cases, this is for a good reason. The CIA sets up front companies to give their agents legitimate backstories. In other cases, front companies are created to protect criminal organizations. Here are some of the latter. CASINOS Most businesses never get off the ground because they can’t find startup capital. You need these funds to pay employees, purchase operating space, and provide your service. In the case of the early days of Las Vegas, limited oversight and regulation allowed businesses to operate like the Wild West. Mafias could build casinos without too many questions arising about where the money came from or how much went through their operation. Racketeers could take funds obtained from criminal ventures, send them to Vegas, and claim them as house winnings. BARS Building a strong customer base is one of the toughest parts of any successful business. Well, when you can create customers out of thin air, you eliminate that variable. Before bars began to be regulated, this is precisely what made them ideal front companies. Bar owners could create invoices for patrons who never existed and use the cash from their hidden illegitimate practice to make these patrons appear real. SHELL CORPORATIONS The constant upkeep of a brick-and-mortar location can be a huge expense for any owner. But if your business only exists on paper, you don’t have to deal with any of those complications. This is one reason shell corporations make great front companies. Shell companies aren’t illegal by any means, but they can be used in illegal ways. Many criminal organizations use them to hide money from investigators or make illegal profits seem legal. Operating a front company is hard because there is no shortcut to success. Truly successful companies achieve their missions through vision and values, not fronts. Integrity makes people resonate with a brand, and that’s one thing you can’t fake.
Relevant?
Business cards don’t have the same presence they once did. These little pieces of card stock were once a vital part of professional networking, but they’ve become more of a niche item these days. So, should we consider the business card dead? Not so fast! There was a time when it seemed that the business card was legitimately on its way out and social media was poised to take over as the business-connection solution. While some websites, such as LinkedIn and Facebook, have become popular networking tools, they certainly haven’t rendered the business card obsolete. The business card provides a snapshot of your business to someone you may want to work with in the future. It’s an easy way to instantly hand someone your contact info — no fumbling around to find your smartphone or a relevant app. And that person will have a physical reminder of your name. But in 2018, your business card can’t be boring if you want to catch someone’s attention. It needs to convey key information in a simple, professional way while also standing out. That’s no easy task. Here are a few things to keep in mind when designing a business card: Have purpose. Before you order cards, decide how you will use them. Don’t invest in cards that are going to sit in a desk drawer for the next five years. Keep the design clean. The idea is to capture the attention of the recipient, not overwhelm them. If the information on your card isn’t clear, the card is useless. Only say what is necessary — name, profession, contact info, and a brief description of the service you provide — and leave it at that. Let your creativity shine. When you hand someone a well-designed business card — one that goes beyond a boring white rectangle — they keep it. Let your card reflect you and your business. Don’t be afraid to step out of the 2-by-3.5-inch box.
Need inspiration? Head over to YouTube and search “Tim’s Novelty Business Cards.” You’ll be inspired in no time!
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