Apartment Therapy Unplugged | The "Google Me" Business Card

The "Google Me" Business Card

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like business cards don't need to get that much play anymore. I think we only keep using them because we have so many sitting in our desks and no reason to use them, other than those forced, "let me give you my card" moments. We all carry around cell phones—most of the business world carries do-everything smartphones—to take down numbers and carry them everywhere (try doing that with your Roladex). And if you've emailed somebody once, then you have all the info you need in their email signature. But sometimes, you gotta have one—for that one guy who insists on taking yours and adding it to his collection.

We think this business card, designed by Ji Lee, is a really tongue-in-cheek way of saying "look at my Web site!"

The only actual information about you that is displayed is your name, along with an implicit suggestion to type it into Google to get your phone number, job title, work history, portfolio or whatever it is you want your business contacts to see.

Brilliant, but we would only try this on those who deem themselves a part of the Web 2.0 generation. The 58-year-old C-level executive? You'd probably better have a traditional business card ready to give to him.

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Comments (8)

i love this!

posted by kdkaboom on February 26th 2009 at 9:07am
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I don't think it would be a good idea if your name is a popular one, like John Smith, etc.!

posted by Marie-Eve on February 26th 2009 at 11:28am
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good idea until someone else has better search engine optimization and they become number 1.

None the less for those of us out there that design business cards, this is unbelievably ugly. Yes it has a funny moment, but it's not visually appealing at all... After the initial laugh, it has nothing.

posted by jmorey on February 26th 2009 at 12:41pm
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While the information on a business card may be easily transmitted in other ways, the ritual of giving someone a business card can never be replaced.

In Chinese culture, the presentation of your business card is a gesture of respect, much like bowing. You even have to give over the card using both hands.

posted by Michelle of Montreal on February 26th 2009 at 3:50pm
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This would be a great card for someone who offers SEO services.

posted by ObliterateWasteNow on February 26th 2009 at 8:34pm
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People who use cards like this also wear La Coste and polish the Apple logo on their laptop while sipping a Venti...

Being a billboard for anyone...especially Google...is uncool.

posted by RJHD3 on February 28th 2009 at 3:39am
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Oh yes, and Michelle is spot on...no self-respecting business person in Asia would be caught dead without a business card and a high quality card case. And the smartphone penetration their blows the US market out of the water.

posted by RJHD3 on February 28th 2009 at 3:43am
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I loved Ji Lee's idea so much, that it inspired me to partner with my fathers printing business and create CrackCard.com. CrackCards first months card is a very similar Google Me Card. http://crackcard.com/google-me-card.html - also I setup a coupon for the unplggd readers - if you use CORE12 you can get 100 of the cards for 19 (including shipping).

posted by brandoncorbin on September 5th 2009 at 2:41pm
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