Business cards are not just for exchanging contact information anymore. With the advent of digital business cards, they can now be used to share additional details about yourself and your business, including social media links, job titles, and even your company logo.
If you’re looking to take your networking game to the next level, here’s everything you need to know about digital business cards.
What Is A Digital Business Card?
A digital business card is a contactless, electronic version of a traditional paper business card.
It can be sent through email, text, or social media and stored on a smartphone or other mobile device.
They are typically sent via email or text message
Since traditional paper business cards can be easy to lose and difficult to keep track of.
Related: Paper Vs Business Cards
A digital business card is a solution to this problem.
Digital business cards are stored on your computer, phone, or tablet, and they can be easily shared with others via several mediums like email, text, signature, NFC, or social media.
They also allow you to include more information than a traditional business card, such as links to your website or online portfolios.
As a result, digital business cards are an increasingly popular choice for busy professionals who want to make a great impression.
How Do Digital Business Cards Work?
For the most part, digital business cards work the same way as their physical counterparts.
The main difference is that they’re sent electronically instead of being handed out in person. When you receive a digital business card, you can save it to your phone or PC for future reference.
Most digital business cards are stored as PDFs on a smartphone or tablet.
They can also be shared via email, text, or social media, and can be easily updated with new information over time.
Additionally, many digital business card services offer features such as QR codes, NFC, and GPS tracking, which can make it easier for people to connect with you and find your business.
Related: How To Make NFC Business Cards Step By Step?
How Do I Make A Digital Business Card?
There are a few different ways that you can go about creating a digital business card.
If you’re looking for a free digital business card, you can create these with the help of basic HTML and CSS.
However, you will need to have a substantial amount of knowledge in coding in order to do this. Another option is to take the help of Microsoft Outlook to create digital business cards. Although this may not be as easy as it sounds, it is still a viable option.
Ultimately, the best and the easiest option to go about making a virtual business card is to take the help of a few digital business card providers.
With such providers and services, you’ll for sure be able to create and make your digital business card stand out from the rest in no time.
What Should I Include On A Electronic Business Card?
In this day and age, many people are choosing to use electronic business cards instead.
So what should you include on yours?
Here are a few suggestions:
- Your Name, Obviously!
- Job Title
- Tagline
- Company Name And Logo
- Basic Contact Information
- Link To Your Website Or Blog
- Links To Your Social Media Profiles
- Picture, Live Photo, Or Video
- Your Location
- Scannable QR Code For More Information
- Badges, Achievements, And Awards
- PDFs
This is just a basic list – feel free to get creative with your electronic business card and make it unique to you and your brand!
What Does A Virtual Business Card Look Like?
Since a digital business card has no physical form, it can take on any look you want it to.
You’re not limited by space or design constraints like you are with a traditional business card.
This means you can include far more information on your digital card, and make it look however you want.
Some ideas for what your virtual business card could look like:
- A traditional business card layout: Name, title, company, contact information, website, etc.
- A minimalistic design: Just your name and contact information.
- An interactive card: Include links to social media profiles, or a map that shows your location.
- A multimedia card: Include a video or audio clip along with your contact information
The possibilities are endless when it comes to designing your virtual business card.
You can get creative and provide the best representation for yourself and your business.
How Do You Share Electronic Business Cards?
Sharing electronic business cards is easier than you might think.
There are a number of ways to do it, and the best way for you will depend on your needs and preferences.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways to share e-cards.
1. QR Code
QR codes offer a convenient solution for sharing electronic business cards.
When scanned with a smartphone, the QR code will automatically open the contact information in the phone’s address book.
This makes it easy to save and share digital cards without having to type in the information manually.
In addition, QR codes can be used to share more than just contact information.
They can also be used to link to websites, social media profiles, and online portfolios.
2. Text or Email
Another easy way to share electronic business cards is to simply send the contact info via text or email.
This is a great option if you only need to share your contact details with one person or if you’re not sure if the person you’re sharing with has a QR code reader on their smartphone.
3. Social Media
Social media platforms like LinkedIn offer a convenient way to share digital business cards.
You can add a link to your virtual business card in the contact section and whenever someone will click it, they will be able to view and download your card.
Similarly, you can also share these virtual cards on platforms like Twitter and Facebook too.
4. File Sharing Apps
There are also a number of file-sharing apps that can be used to share virtual business cards. Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud all offer the ability to share files with others.
This can be a convenient option if you need to share your virtual business card with multiple people or if you want to keep a digital backup of your cards.
5. Email Signature
Another great way to share your electronic business card is to add it to your email signature.
This way, every time you send an email, your contact details will be included automatically.
This is a great option for people who want a simple and efficient way to share their business cards.
6. Share via NFC
If your phone has NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities, you can share your NFC business cards by simply tapping your phone against another NFC-enabled device.
This is a great option for people who want to quickly and easily share their digital cards with others.
To do that, you need an NFC-enabled digital business card.
7. Business Card Scanner
There are a number of business card apps available that can be used to scan and save electronic business cards.
These apps are convenient for people who want to save digital copies of their cards or for people who need to share their cards with others.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Them Over Paper Business Cards?
1. Cost-effective
Digital business cards can be produced and distributed for a fraction of the cost of paper business cards.
And because they can be easily updated with new contact details or branding, you’ll never have to print new ones again!
2. Environmentally friendly
Digital business cards are the eco-friendly choice – no trees need to be harmed in the production process!
You can even choose to have your digital card sent directly to the recipient’s email inbox instead of printing it out.
3. More engaging
With digital business cards, you can include interactive elements like videos, social media links, and GPS directions that paper cards simply can’t match.
This makes them more engaging and memorable for recipients.
4. Easier to track
It’s easy to see who has viewed or shared your digital business card, so you can track its effectiveness and ROI.
This is valuable information that can help you fine-tune your marketing strategy.
5. Quick and easy to create
There are many online tools that allow you to create beautiful, professional digital business cards in just minutes – no design experience is required!
And because they’re digital, you can make as many changes as you want until you’re 100% happy with the final product.
3. Easier to store and manage
Digital business cards can be stored in a central location (like your CRM system or a virtual contact file) and easily accessed by team members, so everyone is always up-to-date on the latest contact information.
They’re also easy to keep track of – no more lost or forgotten paper cards! Unlike a physical business card, they’re also damage-proof from things like spills and tears.
6. More versatile
Virtual business cards are not only for sharing contact information – you can also use them to promote discounts, coupon codes, or other special offers.
You can even embed a QR code that takes recipients to your website or online portfolio.
The possibilities are endless!
7. Always up-to-date
Because they’re digital, you can update your digital business cards instantly with any changes to your contact information or branding.
This ensures that everyone who has your virtual card always has the most up-to-date version.
8. More professional appearance
Digital business cards can be designed to match your brand and give a more polished, professional appearance than paper cards. This is especially important if you’re representing your company at events or meetings where first impressions are critical.
9. Accessible from anywhere
Unlike physical business cards, as long as you have an internet connection, you can access and share your digital business card
Digital business cards are the future of networking. If you’re not already using them, now is the time to start!
What Are the Drawbacks of a Digital Business Card?
A few drawbacks include:
Can’t Hand Someone A Digital Business Card Like Physical Cards
There is no personal touch to these cards.
The handshakes and the greetings during the exchange of cards are absent when you use a digital business card.
Also, some believe that it is harder to make a good first impression when you use a digital business card.
Not Everyone Has A Smartphone Or Knows How To Use Qr Codes
QR codes are one of the most popular ways to share digital business cards.
However, not everyone has a smartphone that can read QR codes or knows how to use them.
This means that you could lose out on potential customers or connections if you rely on QR codes to share your digital business card.
Can’t Access Digital Business Cards Without Internet
If you’re in an area with no cell service or Wi-Fi, you won’t be able to access your digital business card.
This can be frustrating, especially if you’re trying to connect with someone who doesn’t have a physical business card on hand.
Risk Of Losing Digital Business Cards If You Don’t Have A Backup
Just like anything else that’s stored digitally, there’s always a risk of losing your digital business card if you don’t have a backup.
If you accidentally delete your digital business card or your phone crashes and you don’t have a backup, you could be out of luck.
How To Use A Digital Business Card?
Using a digital business card is no rocket science.
You just need to sign up with a digital business card provider, create your card and start sharing it with others.
You can share your digital business card via email, social media or even in person by scanning a QR code.
When you meet someone new, instead of fumbling around for a pen and paper to exchange information, simply pull out your phone and have them scan your digital business card.
All of your contact information will be stored on their phone and they can easily add you to their contacts list.
No more lost business cards or forgotten names!
Digital business cards are also great for keeping track of who you’ve met and when.
When you scan someone’s card, you can add notes about them so you’ll remember details about your conversation.
You can also set reminders to follow up with people after you’ve met them.
If you’re looking to make a good impression and stand out from the crowd, start using a digital business card today!
Conclusion
If you’re looking to take your networking game to the next level, digital business cards are a great way to do it.
Not only are they more professional than exchanging contact information on a piece of paper, but they also provide an additional opportunity for you to showcase your brand and what you have to offer.
If you’re still unsure whether digital business cards are the best option for you, check out our selection of the top alternatives below. We’ve gathered a list of multiple digital business cards so you can make an educated decision about which one’s right for you.