Digital Business Cards | What Are They & Why They're The Future

Digital business cards are the future of networking. 

Gone are the days of relying on traditional business cards to share information with leads and clients. Now, there’s a new way of doing things that takes the benefits of a business card and multiplies them. It’s the perfect tool to have in the current digital era. 

But, what exactly are digital business cards and why will they be so important moving forward? We’ve created this guide to help you learn everything you need to know about digital cards and how they work. 

What is a digital business card?

To begin, let’s list a few synonyms that you may come across: 

• Electronic business cards
• Virtual business cards
• NFC business cards

All three of these things are interchangeable with digital business cards as they all relate to the same product. 

Simply put, an electronic business card is a digital version of your paper business card. It still contains all of the same information, but people view it via a digital medium. This can be on their mobile device, computer, tablet, etc. 

You can think of it as something similar to a business profile on Google or LinkedIn. You are still sharing all the vital contact information with leads, only through a different method. Contrary to what many people believe, you do also still have a physical business card. It’s just that the card itself is more of a gateway to your digital business card. We’ll explain this in more detail in the next section!

How do virtual business cards work?

How do these new types of business cards work? 

As mentioned above, you will have a physical business card that you can carry with you. The big difference between it and a traditional card is that it doesn’t contain your information on it. Instead, you’re likely to display your brand logo, and then have some means of providing people with your business details. 

There are typically two options: 

• QR Codes
• NFC technology

Electronic business cards with QR codes can be scanned by anyone’s smartphone device. As a result, your information is brought up in your digital profile for them to see. It’s extremely simple, very tech-friendly, and it makes you look incredibly professional and trendy. 

What is an NFC business card? In simple terms, an NFC business card uses near-field communication technology to instantly share and display your profile. This is the same technology that’s used in Apple Pay; you hover your phone near the business card and it automatically brings up your profile. It is slightly more convenient than a QR code because on apps need to be opened to scan anything - it’s all instantly done for you. 

This ‘profile’ that we’re talking about is created when you purchase a digital business card. The provider will give you a link to a page where you can construct your profile and customize it as much as possible. As with all of your business profiles, the key is to get your main information out there, while also differentiating yourself from the rest of the pack. 

Then, it’s an easy case of getting people to tap your business card so they access your profile. It is even possible to share your electronic business card profile via links on a computer or other device when you don’t meet people face-to-face. 

What are the benefits of digital business cards?

There’s no doubt in our minds that digital business cards are the future of networking. These cards offer many benefits that can often be completely different from one another. As such, there are clearly lots of reasons to consider getting a virtual business card today. 

1. Digital cards are eco-friendly

A key feature of a virtual business card is that it’s way more eco-friendly than a traditional one. Old business cards are made from materials that put a strain on the environment. Not only that, but they can also be a waste of paper. You might print out hundreds - possibly even thousands - of business cards in your lifetime. But, are you ever sure of how effective each one is? 

These cards could be thrown away or not looked at, proving to be a waste of money and paper. Digital business cards are different in that you’re likely only going to create a small handful. Plus, they’re made from metal, so there’s no paper waste. It’s way better for the environment, which is why more and more businesses are switching to them. 

1. Far more cost-effective

Traditional business cards are more expensive than you think. Again, you might spend hundreds of dollars on these cards every single year. 

With electronic business cards, you tend to only pay for them once. In theory, you could spend as little as $15 on a digital card that lasts a lifetime. Right away, you’ve reduced some of your overhead marketing costs. 

1. Exceptionally convenient

We’ve touched upon the convenience of electronic business cards already, but you need to know HOW convenient they really are. 

You see, with old cards, you have many things to worry about. What if you switch jobs or change your contact details? You might’ve printed out a thousand business cards with your old details on, and there are still a few hundred left. Now, these cards are absolutely worthless because they provide incorrect info for leads. 

Instead, you’d need to put in a new order for hundreds of new cards with the new information on them. The same can be said for any rebranding you do; the business cards need to be updated to match your new brand image. All of this is a lot of hassle, and it’s also very costly. 

Digital business cards offer more convenience as you can change things on the fly. Your digital profile is always open for customization. If you get a new phone number or email address, simply make the change on your profile. Whenever someone scans your business card, they see the updated information. You don’t have to worry about ordering new cards, wasting old cards, and so on. 

1. Designed for the digital age

We’ve been living in the digital age for a long time, but it’s getting more and more digitized. Nowadays, people are inconvenienced by pieces of paper with writing on them. Okay, you’ve handed business cards out - now what?

You might get some phone calls, but if your business depends on website traffic, then a normal business card is pointless. People can’t be bothered to type a web address into Google and then visit your site. That’s why these cards are losing their effectiveness. 

In fact, 88% of business cards handed out get thrown away in less than a week!

This is where digital business cards come into play. Here, you have a networking tool that works in the digital age. It is useful now - and it will continue to be useful in the future. 

In many ways, this blends into the point about convenience. Not only are virtual cards convenient for you, they are also convenient for your leads/clients. Everything is simpler for them; they just scan your card and get all your information in the palm of their hands. From here, they’re one click away from calling you, visiting your website, following you on social media, etc. 

People don’t want to carry business cards in their pockets anymore. They either throw them out or forget about them anyway. But, being able to scan a cool card and have someone’s business information on your phone is a massive plus. 

Hang on, there’s more!

We talk about digital business cards being made for the digital age, and this next point perfectly showcases that. We’re living in a world where video calls and conferences are more common than ever before. So, a traditional business card is even less relevant and effective. How can you share this if you’re attending a virtual event or a virtual conference? 

You can’t, but you can share a digital business card. All you have to do is hold it up to your camera, and people can scan the QR code to get all of your business details. Or, as we mentioned before, you can generate a link to your business card profile and share it on social media, online forums, emails, or these virtual conferences/video calls. 

1. A greater chance of follow-ups

Essentially, this is a culmination of the previous two things we’ve spoken about. Because digital business cards are convenient and made for the digital age, you are likely to see more follow-ups. 

Why? 

Well, to begin, you make life easier for the people you interact with. Before you’ve left, they’re already on your profile and can check out your website, socials, and so on. You’re bringing yourself to them, rather than handing out a card and asking them to come to you. So, you’re highly likely to see more people follow-up and make inquiries or follow you on your social channels. 

Secondly, you’re conveying a very impressive image to potential leads and clients. Instead of a flimsy business card, you can show off a metallic one with awesome technology built into it. If you get an NFC business card, this really makes you stand out. People will be super impressed when your digital profile pops up on their screen just by moving their phone close to your card. You’re standing out, which could encourage more people to follow up as they enjoy your innovation. 

1. Easier for you to analyze

Digital business cards are also easier for businesses to analyze. Traditional ones don’t give you much data to look at. Sure, someone might look at your card and visit your website. However, you web analytics will just show that they came via search engines. 

With a virtual card, you can see when people arrive on your site or social media pages from the profile link. It gives you hardcore data that tells you a lot about the effectiveness of your digital business card. 

All of this data can be used to revise and fine tune your marketing strategy. You can also notice if your digital cards aren’t doing great. As such, you can make changes to your profile and then analyze the data to see improvements. Perhaps you needed to customize your profile better and make certain elements stand out more. With a digital card, you can see what’s going right and what’s going wrong. 

What should you put on a digital business card?

As you can see, digital business cards are highly beneficial and should be a big part of your marketing strategy. 

There’s one more question to ask: what should you put on your digital card profile? 

• Your name, obviously
• Your work title, including where you work
• Basic contact details - email, phone, website, socials…
• Where you’re located/based
• A professional picture
• Your logo
• Any badges/credentials for social proof - this builds trust between you and consumers

Of course, all of this goes online, while you buy your virtual business card to carry around in your pocket. From here, you can attend events and use your digital card as often as you like. Everyone will have a phone, meaning everyone has the ability to scan your card and see this amazing profile. 

Looking for digital business cards? Order from Social Master today!

If you don’t get a digital business card soon, you will fall behind the rest of your competition. Get ahead of the trend before they truly become mainstream. 

Naturally, you need to find digital business cards that ooze professionalism and impress everyone. Thankfully, you’re in the right place. At Social Master, we have a wide range of virtual and NFC business cards that you can choose from. They’re made from impressive materials - and you can even get a 24K gold plated card! 

Browse Social Master's full collection here and place an order today to get started.