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Electronic Business Cards: A Modern Approach to Professional Networking
Business cards have been around for hundreds of years, but they often get thrown away within a week. So, what’s the deal with business cards? In the era of digital transformation, companies are realizing the benefits of digital business cards, also known as electronic business cards.
The Importance of Business Cards
Before the pandemic, business cards remained a critical component of networking, HR and recruitment, sales, and even brand awareness and perception. Business cards offer potential customers their first tangible impression, and card design contributes to that identity. A unique business card featuring vivid colors or a funky font helps brands make a splash and stand out in a crowded market.
The Rise of B2B Omnichannel Reality
In today’s world, omnichannel has become the preferred method for consumer interaction. B2B omnichannel reality, in which customers buy both in-person and online, is more prominent than ever before. Digital business cards offer an efficient, engaging, and secure approach to creating a unique omnichannel experience.
What Are Electronic Business Cards?
Digital business cards offer a modern, safe way to share professional or personal information. Like traditional business cards, they include contact information, but they also include an online element such as social media handles or a website link. Digital or electronic business cards safely store data in an online format called .vcf (virtual contact file) and can be shared via email, social media, NFC tags, and QR codes.
Benefits of Digital Business Cards
Digital business cards offer a myriad of benefits, including:
- Easy access to information
- Efficient and cost-effective
- Eco-friendly
- Customizable
- Able to break location barriers
- Safe
By scanning a QR code or NFC tag, users can quickly access information. These cards allow users to save contact information without the time-consuming hassle of manually adding contact details into a smartphone or hoping a paper business card doesn’t get lost. Digital business cards eliminate these risks. They are also able to break location barriers and can be shared with people all over the world.
Digital business cards are customizable, and users can easily update their cards to reflect new information. As a result, prospects and customers can continue to reference the digital business card to view the latest details in real-time. Digital business cards also collect first-party data, including the number of scans, unique visitors, devices used to scan, top-performing campaigns, and scans by location and time of the day, providing companies with valuable information to inform ongoing marketing efforts.
Additionally, digital business cards are eco-friendly (and cost-effective!). This technology offers an excellent way to reduce print production costs, save on paper, and establish the business as one recognizing the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies.
Best Practices for Implementing Digital Business Cards
Companies introducing digital business cards should keep the following best practices in mind:
- Customize and personalize digital business cards to fit brand identity.
- Link them to customized landing pages to increase their impact beyond traditional contact information.
- Share them across multiple channels, including email signatures, social media posts, posters, and kiosks.
- Take advantage of their ease of use and flexibility.
Large and small companies—and teams—can take advantage of digital business cards. No matter their specific use, they’re poised to be at the center of professional connectivity well into the future.
By embracing electronic business cards, companies can provide customers with a unique, seamless omnichannel experience while reducing costs, increasing reach, and collecting valuable data.