Is there a standard size for business cards?

Well here's a trick I haven't seen in a while, lifting a post off another forum and passing it off as your own. That's a bit 2009 

Luckily our system can spot Chinese members using USA Proxies 

The member is banned and other posts deleted, but this post, although lifted from a 2008 post, raised an interesting question I'd never thought of. Is there a standard size of business cards, or does anything go?

Looking at the cork board in the office which is adorned with business cards from networking meetings gone by, they all seem to vary in size, but hover roughly around the credit card size so it logically fits in your wallet.

My last 2 biz cards are different sizes, so do printers ignore any set down standard, which wikipedia reputes to be:

(US)

Bleed size: 95.25 × 57.15 mm (3.75 × 2.25 in) (1⁄8 in bleeds)Standard cut size: 89 × 51 mm (3.5 × 2 in)

(UK)

Bleed size: 91 × 61 mm (3.58 × 2.40 in)Standard cut size: 85 × 55 mm (3.35 × 2.17 in)

Or a bigger question, has the day of the business card gone?

David Amerland in a Google+ Post stated when asked for a business card, he replies "Google me"

That may work for the likes of Clive, but this bloke appeared when googling my name

Good feedback. I'm a fan of the business card, as you say it's good for face to face interaction, can act as an icebreaker, and is a useful tool to quickly give someone contact details. But then to counter my own argument, it's very rare these days I manually create a new outlook contact from a business card. I may amend details, but 9 times out of 10 I create a new contact from their email address.

Plus I'd say the majority of business meetings I've attended over the last 12 months, the key people there either didn't have a business card, or claimed to be waiting to get new ones done. Versus a breakfast networking meeting where every member thrusts cards at you, and they end up on the cork board 

I'll keep on carrying mine, but I suspect their use (outside of networking clubs) is on the decline.

Anyone else still business card fans?

Steve will always need to carry his as he can never remember his telephone numbers 

I think they still have a place to be used. I pass one on every now and then, i suppose i have the upper hand and say Google Grumpy Clive but thats not always a great sales image i want to give out lol. You could say Google my name etc but what happens if you forget that persons name when you come to Google it the next day?

Think its a great idea to have a few business cards stashed at the back of your wallet to give out on.

Would you believe - less than an hour after i posted the above i went to visit an Osteopath.

Never one to be shy about promoting MLS i reached for my wallet to give him a card so he could look us up and maybe join the forum - no business cards !!! 

Yes, the business card is still a useful tool - will make sure i have one for next weeks visit.

Originally Posted by ColonWhisperer25

“I am guessing you couldn't bring yourself up to saying: Google me!Ha!”

Didnt want to scare the chap - was my first visit after all ! 

I think they still have their day but can be used a bit more e.g offers on the back, company message etc. size wise I think originally this was dictated by being able to fit them in a wallet so they were credit card sized for this's reason.

Of course business cards are still very much in use. Obviously if your business is mostly online and or you don't go out meeting people face to face then you don't need them, but it's not very professional to go networking or client meetings without them, minus the occasional printing delay mishap as can happen.

For the sake of a few quid to say "Google me" is a lazy and skinflint cop-out used by folk not willing to invest in their brand/business, or worse, do not even understand what branding even is, and who have zero comprehension of customer service and client or other professional person liaison.

People who say "Google me" instead of handing our cards are clearly swimming in a stagnant pond and not an ocean.