In the “wired” age, it’s easy to think that a smart phone can take care of everything. Almost any document can be created, edited and viewed online, from expense reports to calendars; it’s easy to think that “hard” copies are a thing of the past. Is that really true, though? What’s more, is it professionally acceptable? Technology has opened many doors, and it’s certainly nice to think that everything we need can be accessed at the touch of a button. So are hard copies and pocket folders really a thing of the past?

The problem is that smart phones are far from professional. Squinting at a tiny screen as you try to convey your information is unimpressive; and while the Internet is a fantastic thing, relying on your smart phone to access your documents can fall prey to everything from a dead battery to a lack of good reception. Many people don’t process information as well when they get it from a screen. You’re also not giving them anything tangible when you present like that. Are you sure they’ll remember to check files and information online when they get back to the office? You’ll get better results if you give them a hard copy in a presentation folder that they can reference back to later.

Keeping your information in a professional, a custom folder doesn’t just look more professional. It ensures that you’ll have what you need when you need it and it helps clients absorb what you’re telling them. There’s immediacy to hard copies that can’t be replicated by information from a phone or a laptop screen. While it might be tempting to replace all of your documents with a mobile device, you definitely lose the impact that a printed presentation has. Rest assured they’re not staring at your presentation on their phone when they leave your office. It’s gone as soon as they are.

Mobile devices and smart phones are certainly a convenient way to access information on the go. When you’re making presentations or conveying information to clients, however, hard copy documents in a custom folder bearing your business’s logo is a more sophisticated, professional option that leaves a great impression. Hard copy documents are more secure against loss, breakage, and coverage malfunction and when you need to make sure you can access your information no matter what, “old school” is the way to go.