How to Organize Business Cards

Open notebook, business cards, camera, and laptop on a desk

Do you want to organize business cards sitting around your office or home?

Are you looking for a few practical organization ideas to get those cards under control?

Even in today’s digital world, the exchange of business cards continues to be a popular social custom.

As we’re unlikely to see business cards fade from the business landscape anytime soon, it’s a good idea to have a few business card organization methods on hand.

In this post, you’ll find several ways you can organize business cards.

I’ve made sure to include both analog and digital organization suggestions.

Select your favorite storage method, pick up that stack of business cards, and start organizing!

Scan cards using an app.

Business card apps are quite useful and budget-friendly.

All you do is download an app, scan your business cards into the app, and voila! The business card information is instantly transferred and digitized.

Business card apps will vary depending on the type of device you own, so it’s important to do your research regarding the right app for your device.

Be sure to consider: 1) the stability of the app (you don’t want to lose hundreds of business cards in the blink of an eye!), 2) the syncing ability of the app with your preferred cloud technology or existing contacts app, and 3) the transfer ability of the app (does the app transfer all business card information appropriately and adequately for your needs?).

 

Use a business card scanner.

Business card scanners are another convenient technology option.

You feed business cards into the scanner and the scanner transfers the information on the card into digital format.

Some scanners are solely dedicated to scanning business cards, while other scanners can scan business cards and other types of documents.

Be forewarned though, the price of business card scanners can run anywhere from around $200 – $400 USD.

If you’re keen on this option, it’s a good idea to do your research. Strongly consider the stability, syncing, transfer ability of the scanner, along with the scanner’s compatibility with your preferred digital device.

 

Place cards in a rotary card file.

If you’re of a certain age, you’ll have fond memories of people keeping phone numbers and addresses on rotary card files.

For those not in the know, rotary cards are small blank cards that are used to traditionally store contact information.

Cards are organized in sections from A-Z, and are either mounted on a simple rotating device, or placed in a horizontal rotary card file holder.

The good news is that rotary card filing systems are still around.

These file systems are also one of the easiest ways to store and organize business cards.

You simply take a business card, tape or staple the card to a blank rotary card, and file it under the appropriate letter of the alphabet.

Store cards in a business card file box.

This method is akin to storing recipe cards in a recipe box or tin.

You round-up business cards, organize them from A-Z, and then place them directly into a business card file box.

You don’t have to transfer or copy any information, and you can set up a working business card file in a matter of minutes.

You can purchase a business card file box, but any long, narrow box or container with a lid that’s roughly the width of a business card will suffice.

You could repurpose a narrow plastic storage container, or even make use of that cardboard business card box in your office.

 

Drop cards into a business card book.

Business card books are just as they appear: they are specially designed books to store business cards.

The books are made up of several “pages” of clear, plastic sleeves that have individual slots for business cards. You simply slip business cards into the sleeves as you so choose.

You can also group similar cards together on a single page or set of pages.

Business card books can be quite handy if you want to easily reference cards at the turn of a page, and keep your cards protected from dirt and moisture.

 

Slide cards into business card protector sleeves.

Another item that’s similar to a business card book is a business card protector sleeve or binder page.

These single, clear plastic sleeves have individual slots for business cards. Again, you just slide in business cards into the sleeves as you desire. You can then add the sleeves to any standard three-ring binder.

This option allows you to store and arrange business cards into any binder you choose, be it a dedicated business card binder, or a frequently used work or study binder or planner.

 

Manually add business card information to your contacts.

This last (and 100% free) option is a good choice if a) you’re a fast typist, b) you don’t deal with that many business cards on a regular basis, and c) you don’t want to be bothered with physical business cards.

Simply round-up some business cards, open up your favorite contacts application in your smart phone or computer, and enter in business card information manually.

When you’ve finished transferring information, you can shred and recycle the cards.

How about you? How do you organize and store your business cards? Which method(s) do you prefer? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!

5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook Mockup
About the Author

Rashelle

Rashelle Isip is a New York City-based productivity consultant who helps successful entrepreneurs and business owners manage their time and energy so they can reduce stress, work less, and make more money in their businesses. She has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Atlantic. Get her free guide, 5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook, by clicking here.

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