Written by Utkarsh Anand, a Personal Branding and Marketing Expert: Learn more
Business cards have been used by individuals and businesses for centuries.
The main purpose of business cards has almost always been to share contact information. However, digital business cards have allowed users to do much more than just share contact details.
Digital business cards have gained a ton of popularity over the past few years and have seen more and more innovation.
Many players have entered the market with their rendition of business cards offering tons of different features.
So, let’s dive in and find out what exactly digital business cards are and how they can be useful to you!
What is a Digital Business Card?
A Digital Business Card is like your traditional paper card, but it lives in the digital realm.
It contains your contact details, such as your name, picture, job title, company, email, phone number, and even links to your social media profiles or website.
Basically, a digital business card is an alternative to paper cards and has the ability to do the same thing and much more. And do so without the exchange of a physical object.
It’s easily shareable via email, text messages, QR codes, or NFC-enabled devices.
How Digital Business Cards Are Different from Paper Business Cards
According to Statistic Brain Research Institute, 72% of professionals found digital business cards to be more effective.
The biggest difference between the two is in the interactivity.
Digital Business Cards often include clickable links, which can guide recipients to your website, portfolio, or social media profiles.
They’re not limited by space, so you can provide more information about your services and expertise. And you don’t need to carry a ton of cards with you.
Easy sharability can boost your networking efforts.
Why Do You Need A Digital Business Card?
Digital Business Cards bring efficiency to your networking game.
No more printing costs, no more running out of cards when you need them most.
Sharing a digital business card is extremely easy and you can share a lot more information using digital cards.
Plus, they make a great first impression – sleek, modern, and eco-friendly. You’ll always have your cards on hand, ready to impress potential clients or collaborators.
Digital Business Card: Pros and Cons
It is easy to be impressed with digital cards and all they have to offer these days. But like anything, they also have their positives and negatives.
However, we should remember that these pros and cons really come down to individual preferences.
Digital Business Card: Pros
- Convenience: You can easily share your contact information with a few taps on your phone.
- Instant Updates: You can update your information without the need for reprinting.
- Eco-Friendly: Reduce paper waste and contribute to sustainability.
- Multimedia Integration: Include links to websites, videos, and social media for enhanced networking.
- Analytics and Insights: Track interactions and get insight into card views and link clicks.
- Expanded Reach: Share your card globally through email and text messages.
Digital Business Card: Cons
- Tech-Savvy Barrier: Not everyone is comfortable with digital technology.
- Limited Accessibility: Some people may not have smartphones or other devices.
- Connectivity Dependency: Sharing and receiving digital cards require network connectivity.
- Screen Fatigue: People look at screens all day and recipients might overlook digital cards among other notifications.
- Loss of Personal Touch: Physical interactions may be perceived as more personal than digital exchanges.
Who Should Use Digital Business Cards
People and businesses across all sorts of industries can benefit from a business card. However, if you are in a position where you can benefit from networking, it is extremely valuable.
Job Seekers
If you’re a job seeker, you can use digital business cards to stand out in a crowded job market. You can share it at networking events to instantly connect with recruiters and share your contact details and portfolio with them.
You can also add the QR code for your digital business card to your resume to make your resume more unique.
Sales Persons
Salespeople can greatly benefit from digital business cards as a large part of their job includes getting leads.
If you’re a real estate agent, in software sales, ad sales, etc. networking is a big component of your job.
Digital business cards make creating new connections and acquiring new contacts much easier.
Businesses
Businesses can use NFC business cards in a ton of different ways. They can be used to create consistency with the way your employees represent your brand while providing your employees with the perks we discussed above.
They can also use these cards for verifying employee credentials when needed.
Digital Cards offer a wide range of possibilities for the way you can utilize them. As we mentioned before people in all industries can benefit from the features. This is becoming more and more true as there is more innovation in the field.
What are the Best Digital Business Cards
The best business card for you depends on your objectives and budget. Some key factors you should keep in mind when picking the right digital business card for you:
- User interface
- Ability to Customize
- Security
- Analytics
- API integrations
- Usability
- Pricing
There are business cards like Popl that allow you to integrate with CRMs, capture leads, and much more. But something like this will cost you a monthly subscription fee.
Whereas cards like dot offer a simpler solution and allow you to share your information with just a tap.
There are obviously many other players in the market that offer different features. It is important to recognize what your needs are to find the best solution for you.
Check out our review of the following digital business cards:
- Mobilo Digital Business Card
- OVOU Digital Business Card
- Linq Digital Business Card
- Popl vs Dot Comparison
Wrapping it Up
With the advancements in technology, the way we interact with each other has changed drastically over the last two decades.
To succeed in any industry, you need a strong network. And the way we have been networking, especially in a professional setting is also changing.
Digital business cards offer an efficient alternative to using paper business cards. They are much easier to share and have a much small carbon footprint.
It only makes sense that as a professional you at least consider adding them to your arsenal of tools.
