WITR vs business card swapping
Business cards aren't dead. They're just a bad primary networking strategy.
Business cards are a nice signal at the end of a good conversation. They're a poor way to find a good conversation in the first place. And they're an even worse way to remember one a week later.
WITR handles the finding and the remembering. Cards can still do what they do best - end a conversation on a warm note.
WITR handles the finding and the remembering. Cards can still do what they do best - end a conversation on a warm note.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | WITR | Business card swapping |
|---|---|---|
| Finding relevant people | Smart Connections + attendee list | Walk around and hope |
| Remembering who you met | Live list stays available briefly after | Depends on notes on the back |
| Follow-up | Direct within the list | Manual - email or LinkedIn later |
| Cost | Free for attendees, per-event for organisers | Print costs, always with you |
| Environmental | No paper | Paper |
Pick WITR when…
- You want to actually meet the right people
- You want post-event follow-up to be easier
- You want organiser-level analytics
Pick Business card swapping when…
- You genuinely like handing out a card
- You want a physical takeaway from a conversation
The honest take
Cards are fine. Use them to close a conversation. Just don't rely on them to start one - that's what a live attendee list is for.