For the past couple hundred years, business cards have been used for advertising, sales, and marketing. These paper rectangles have been crucial for building relationships and securing deals. However, technology has evolved, and people no longer want to carry stacks of business cards – we have phones to act as contact books now – hence, the birth of digital business cards.
How Does A Digital Business Card Work?
More often than not, digital business cards use QR codes, RFID, or NFC technology to automatically show and store your contact details on someone else’s phone. A simple tap, wave, or scan replaces the handing over of a business card and hoping your contact details make it into their phone.
This way, your information goes directly onto their device, ready for them to contact you without having to scramble around for a paper business card at the bottom of a desk drawer.
Essentially, a digital business card allows you to carry no card or just one business card with you. When it comes time to exchange details with someone you’re networking with, they simply scan the QR code or put their card near your phone, and your contact details will appear on their device.
What Does A Digital Business Card Look Like?
As with traditional business cards, digital marketing business cards are completely customizable. In fact, you can add as much or as little information as you like because you’re not restricted to the size of a physical business card.
This created endless possibilities for the design of your digital business cards, allowing you to add more detailed information about your brand, products, and services. You could even use it as a personalized landing page for sales reps.
What Information Should I Include On A Digital Business Card?
As mentioned, the opportunity is endless. However, you still want to be concise and clear, making it enjoyable for others to look at. Too much information will put off any prospective clients.
Name
First and foremost, a business card should be personalized. People buy from people, don’t create a single digital marketing business card for your company and expect it to perform well. You wouldn’t do that for a paper business card, don’t do it with digital.
Branding
Make sure your company name and logo are prominent. Be sure to use high-resolution image files, so there’s pixelation and loss in image quality. A crisp and clearly visible logo is crucial to making your digital business card look professional.
Contact Information
It goes without saying that contact information is one of the most important elements of any business card – digital or printed. Don’t overdo it, though. Decide which contact method works best for you and your clients. Nowadays, WhatsApp contact, email address, and phone number are usually sufficient.
Job Title & Department
Let people know they’re in discussions with the correct person. Including your job title and department
Certifications & Awards
If you work in a highly regulated industry or have received awards for successes recently, a digital business card is a perfect place to showcase them. This tells potential clients you’ve got the skills, qualifications, and proven ability to complete the work they need.
Picture or Video
Video and images are incredibly engaging forms of content. When you add them to a business card, it gives an added personal touch to an otherwise universal sales and marketing tool. Networking events and trade shows are busy places, with business cards exchanging hands regularly. A video or picture is the perfect reminder and puts a face to a name again.
Website Links
Everyone wants to drive more traffic to their website, and a digital business card is an ideal platform to do exactly that. What makes this even more productive is that people can click directly on the link and open your website, unlike traditional business cards, when they would type the URL or Google your business name.
Downloadable Documents
This is the ideal opportunity to tell people more about your brand, products, and services without overloading your business card with information. Attaching a downloadable brochure, flyer, or other document is a great way to start the sales cycle.
How Much Do Digital Business Cards Cost?
As there are many different types of digital business cards, it’s difficult to put an exact cost on them. However, the one thing you can guarantee is they’re more cost-effective than printed business cards.
If you opt for a QR code digital business card that doesn’t need a physical card, then you can find these for free. However, if you want to take your networking game up a notch with an RFID or NFC business card, you’ll make a one-off payment for a metal, plastic, or bamboo business card.
Why Use Digital Business Cards?
A digital business card makes you stand out in a room of people trying to sell similar products and services to you. It ensures your interactions are memorable, and you’re able to provide people you meet with all the important information they need to kickstart a fulfilling business relationship.
Should you want to explore the possibilities of NFC business cards, take a look at our different cards and membership levels today.