Nowadays, there is no need to print paper business cards. Paper business cards are still available if you need them. But the world is evolving, and there are better and more advanced ways to share your basic contact details and information. Physical business cards are becoming history.
In this article, we’ll discuss the difference between paper business cards and the new digital business cards. We’ll also cover who benefits from digital business cards, what the digital business card includes, how to create digital business cards and the best digital business card solutions in the market. Let’s first start by explaining what a digital business card is.
What Is a Digital Business Card?
A digital business card, known as a virtual business card, is a modern replacement for traditional printed business cards. A digital business card is a card you share with clients and business prospects to connect with them. Like a traditional business card, a digital business card contains contact details: phone number, business address, etc. A digital business card also includes social media and business website links.
Unlike paper business cards, virtual business cards are easy to modify and share. You can run out of traditional business cards. You can never run out of electronic business cards. No matter the name of those untraditional business cards: e-business cards, virtual business cards, or digital business cards, they are indispensable nowadays. You can look tech-savvy while using this easy and modern solution.
It’s important to note that digital business cards are not printed. They are like a file that is shared across various mediums online. Some companies provide printed NFC cards, but the data is shared online.
Who Can Use Digital Business Cards?
The digital business card solution is perfect for individuals and businesses. It’s a valuable replacement for traditional paper business cards. Let’s see who can benefit from the new e-business cards.
- Freelancers and solopreneurs
- Lawyers, marketers, sales teams, etc.
- Small business owners
- Home businesses
- Medium-sized businesses and enterprises
- Job applicants
- Consultants
- Recruiters and career coaches
- Professional photographers, wedding planners, etc
The list could go on. Anyone who needs to share contact details for business purposes will benefit from the advanced digital business cards. Electronic business cards are a convenient way of sharing information with prospective customers or clients. Digital business cards are for anyone who wants to grow their business and connect with more prospective customers or clients.
What Is Included When You Send an Electronic Business Card?
Electronic business cards have information like what is on a traditional business card. But they also have more information. Here’s what you can find on a digital business card.
- Contact details: name, image, job title, phone number, company name, company logo, etc.
- Links: social media links, portfolio, company website, videos, etc.
- A link to your customized landing page where you can include any campaign details.
- Google Maps Location
- Call and email buttons
What is on a digital business card depends on the digital business card service provider. Engaging with digital business cards through links and other technologies differentiates this card. It’s what makes the traditional business card outdated.
How to Create Digital Business Cards
Of course, the steps for creating digital business cards depend on the digital business card makers. But these are general guidelines on creating digital business cards with just a few clicks.
Step 1: Pick a Digital Business Card Maker
Pick a digital business card maker and check if you need NFC accessories or cards or just a digital business card. Below, we list some of the best digital business card makers, and some points to consider are the features provided, sharing options, your budget, etc.
Step 2: Create and Design Your Digital Business Card
Decide what goes on your digital business card. You may want to include social media links, phone numbers, company logos, etc.
Blinq has quite a user-friendly interface where you can create your card for free immediately by filling out your information in the fields provided.
Some digital business card makers offer tools to help you design your card with colors suitable for your brand.
Step 3: Share Your Card
Now, it’s time to share your digital card. That depends on the service provider and what you need. To share your digital card, you may need to create a link or a QR code, share it through your Apple Wallet, or buy an NFC card. Decide on how you want to share your card.
Why You Should Use Digital Business Cards?
Convenient
Simply put, digital business cards are easy to make, modify, and share. There is no need for endless printing when you misspell your name or write the wrong phone number. Also, you will never run out of cards at a business event. Besides, printed business cards are so easy to misplace and lose. By sharing a digital business card, your clients can easily keep and access your contact details.
Also, digital business cards are easy to make. The process can easily take seconds without you going anywhere. You need to pick what to include in your business card, and you’re good to go.
Unlike traditional business cards, you can add social media links, a business website, or even a link to your portfolio if you’re a job seeker. A digital business card is a convenient solution that sets you apart.
Cost-effective
A digital business card is a more cost-effective solution than traditional business cards. Printing paper business cards is costly. You need to print or ship a virtual business card. Whenever you run out of cards, you need to print new cards. Reprinting the card whenever you need to update it or make any changes is costly.
Using a digital business card can save you a lot of money. You reduce paper waste and save on designer fees and printing costs.
Digital business cards are a fantastic solution for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Digital business cards are a perfect solution for those who want to use their money wisely to expand and grow their business. Besides, some services offer free digital business cards with limited features for individuals.
Modern
Nowadays, you don’t want to be the only one giving out a physical business card. Businesses succeed when they can adapt to change. Digital business cards are the modern way to share your basic contact information. Technology has replaced a lot of services. With time, paper business cards will become a thing of the past.
While traditional business cards are still needed, and using them is fine. Digital business cards are a much-needed upgrade. You’ll have to go digital with some business cards to connect with your tech-savvy clients. It’s as simple as that. Having a digital business card will help you communicate with more people.
Besides, you can’t include your business website link on a paper card. You need a virtual business card for your website and social media accounts. Also, you can add any extra links to your digital business card.
Extra Features
Besides storing all your contact details, a digital business card includes a company website and social media links. The ability of digital business cards to store information and transfer this information through NFC technology or the Internet is what most people know about digital business cards.
Did you know a digital business card can do much more for your business? You can integrate your digital business card with your CRM tool. You can also track client engagement and capture leads. Analytics data is another great feature added to digital business cards. Through this feature, you can evaluate your marketing efforts and see what’s working and what’s not.
Best Digital Business Card Solutions
Beaconstac
Beaconstac, a digital business card maker, mainly offers two services: Beaconstac’s digital business cards and QR codes.
Beconstac’s digital business card helps businesses digitize their business cards and get branded QR codes. They can share their cards via Apple or Google Wallet and get card analytics. Beconstac’s digital business card is also GDPR compliant. Salesforce integration, Google Analytics, and Google Ads are additional features available for businesses. The number of users depends on the package you pick.
As for QR codes, Beaconstac offers static and dynamic QR codes, annual scans, and customizable landing pages, with some additional features like Google Analytics for business plans.
Pros
- Suitable for small businesses with digital business card plans starting at $6 per user per month.
- Customizable plans and pricing for businesses
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Expensive QR code service that starts at $15 per month.
URL: https://www.beaconstac.com/digital-business-card/solution
Hihello
The Hihello digital business card solution is perfect for entrepreneurs and freelancers as Hihello offers a free solution. With their free package, you can create up to four unique digital business cards, email signatures, and unlimited card sharing.
The Hihello offers other plans for different numbers of users (1 user, 5+ users, and 300+ users). Integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot CRM for businesses are available.
Hihello offers solutions for individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, and enterprises. Hihello offers digital business cards, NFC cards, and email signatures. Paid plans start at $6 per month for one user and $5 per user per month for 5+ users).
Pros
- Availability of a free package
- Affordable price for paid plans
- Salesforce integration for businesses
- You can share your card through Apple Watch.
Cons
- Phone technical support for some plans.
Mobilo
The Mobilo digital business card is an easy-to-use solution. You have a metallic printed card (NFC) with digital features. You can tap the card into your clients’ phones when you meet them, and they can easily access your contact details and know more about your business. Mobilo also provides an NFC key fob, so you never worry about forgetting your metallic card. Mobilo also offers an NFC button, which you stick to your mobile phone.
With Mobilo, there is a one-time cost for the card and design. For teams, there is an annual subscription fee per employee. You pay extra fees (one-time or subscription) for additional services. For CRM integration and Automation, individuals pay $20 per year, and teams pay $10 per year.
Pros
- Services like lead generation, unlimited taps, digital QR codes, and personal landing pages are free in the basic plan.
Cons
- Service is costly and can add up.
- Printing and designing the NFC card is a bit expensive.
URL: https://www.mobilocard.com
Blinq
Blinq is one of the best free digital business cards. With this free digital business card, you can create up to 2 cards, have a personal QR code, 24/7 support, custom email signatures, unlimited fields, and unlimited card shares. You also get to add the card to your Apple Wallet.
Blinq’s premium plan is affordable, too. It costs $2.99 monthly with completed branding control and a branded QR code to match your brand’s visual identity.
Blinq also offers NFC cards and free Apple watch integration. You can add the Blinq digital business card to the Apple and Google wallet. Blinq also offers widgets and email signatures.
Pros
- Free package with lots of options (perfect for individuals)
- Affordable plans
- Numerous ways to share your digital business card
- Easy-to-use interface
- Bulk creation feature for enterprises
Cons
- Lack of color customization
URL: https://blinq.me
Popl
Popl has a variety of plans to suit most business needs. The free plan from Popl gives users a mobile app, a digital business card, virtual backgrounds, customizable profiles and QR codes, and custom email signatures. Popl paid plans also offer 500+ CRM integrations and a business card scanner. The paid plans start at $6.49 monthly and include a free trial, so you can decide if the service is perfect for you.
Pros
- Free plan with basic features
- 24/7 customer support
- Apple Wallet QR code for free
- Numerous ways to share your digital business card: Popl App QR Code, iPhone widgets, tapping iPhones, email signatures, virtual backgrounds, and Popl accessories (if you wish to pay for them)
Cons
- Expensive accessories
- CRM integration and lead generation with subscription
- No bulk creation feature
URL: https://popl.co/
Haystack
Haystack provides tools to help you design your card, curate links, add email signatures, and view analytics. Plus, Haystack offers integrations with several tools: MailChimp, Salesforce, Gmail, etc. Haystack offers three plans. The free plan offers unlimited cards, shares, contacts, and unlimited use of a business card scanner. Also, you can add social links and images to your card.
As for the paid plans, you get CRM integration, analytics, and customized templates. A paid plan costs $4.95 per month. Enterprises can get tailored plans to suit their business.
Pros
- Option to integrate with many tools
- Unlimited cards, shares, and contacts with the free plan.
Cons
- The free plan offers no analytics and no CRM integrations
- No NFC products
URL: https://thehaystackapp.com/
Linq
Linq offers several NFC cards and accessories suitable for everyone. It also offers two accounts. The free account allows users to add social profiles, photos, custom links, display contact info, and get basic analytics.
The paid account costs $5 monthly and gives extra features like video embeds, advanced analytics, a custom logo in profile, and custom forms. Linq for Teams offers branding, lead collection, integrations with 300+ CRM tools, and analytics.
Pros
- With Linq for Teams, users can scan paper business cards
- Dedicated support rep for Teams
- Free plan for individuals
- Affordable pricing for individuals
- Video embeds
Cons
- No customer support for individuals (free and Pro)
Wave
Wave offers both digital business cards and NFC cards. The free Wave plan allows users to include their bio and contact information on the digital business card, plus the cover image. Wave offers lead capture CSV exports for contacts and gives users profile-sharing options through QR, NFC, and URL. Wave is available on iOS, Android, and Web.
The paid account offers 4000+ Zapier integrations and CRM integrations. In addition, it offers analytics. Wave Pro costs $6.99 monthly. Wave Teams offers more advanced features and has tailored services and pricing according to business needs.
Pros
- Great value for money. Many useful features in the free plan and Pro
- Reasonably priced
- 4000+ Zapier integrations and CRM integrations
- NFC business cards
Cons
- No NFC tags
- No basic analytics for free plan
URL: https://wavecnct.com
Kado Networks
Kado Networks free account gives access to up to 3 users and allows you to customize your card. Features include a paper card scanner, QR code card sharing, and syncing Gmail and Outlook contacts.
For $4.95 per user per month for the Teams plan, you can add video content to your card and manage teams and permissions. For the $14.95 per user per month for the business plan, you get extra features like a designated customer success team and email and calendar integration with Gmail and Outlook.
Pros
- Great options allowed for free: digital card customization and paper card scanner
- Designated customer success team for the business
- Sync Gmail and Outlook contacts
- Adding video content to digital business cards
- Free trial available for the Teams plan
Cons
- There are no customized privacy settings in the free plan.
- Costly for small businesses with many users
URL: https://www.kadonetworks.com/digitaL-business-cards
How Do You Send and Receive a Digital Business Card?
Most digital business card providers offer many ways to share digital business cards. Here, we’ll discuss how you can share your digital business card.
QR Code
The QR code is the perfect method to share your business card. You can download your QR code and add it to your email or resume. Or print the QR code and put it on your keychain or booth stands. You can also add the QR code to your Apple Watch, and clients can scan it from the watch.
Web URL
You can create and share a URL with prospective clients on all platforms. The URL can link directly to your digital business card.
Apple or Google Wallet
After creating your digital business card, you can add it to your Apple or Google wallet through a QR code, a URL, or an email. Once you have the digital business card in the wallet, you can share it.
NFC Products (Cards, Tags, or Accessories)
Near-field communication, also known as NFCs, is a technology that enables you to share electronic business cards with a single tap. You can get a printed NFC card to tap into your prospects’ phones or an NFC tag on accessories like keychains, buttons, etc, and share the card information.
How to Choose the Best Digital Business Card
Choosing the best digital business card is easy once you know what to look for. Let’s see why those digital business card makers made it to our list of the best digital business cards.
Features
Digital business card makers provide many features. In this article, we’ve chosen business card makers that offer relevant features for businesses.
For example, Mobilo, Popl, Haystack, and Wave Connect offer CRM integration and lead generation to help businesses integrate with their favorite tools and use data to optimize their networking efforts.
Popl and Mobilo are best for those who need NFC products (cards or accessories). Mobilo, for example, has NFC solutions like a card, a key fob, and a smart button for those who prefer to meet in person and share their contact details digitally. Popl also offers NFC accessories.
As for businesses that care about customization and branding, Blinq and Linq offer branding control for those who want beautiful digital business cards that match their brand’s unique design.
As for the best tools for QR codes, Beaconstac and Popl make good options with Beaconstac’s static and dynamic QR codes and Popl App QR code.
Value for Money
Most services in this list offer a free package, perfect for individuals and small businesses that need digital business cards and have a limited budget. Hihello, Blinq, and Wave Connect also provide affordable prices for paid plans. Linq offers basic analytics for free. Wave offers many sharing options, and Hihello is affordable with Salesforce and Hubspot CRM integrations.
Customer Service
Blinq and Popl offer 24/7 customer support in the free package, which is suitable for those on a budget. Another service provider you should consider is Kado Networks, which offers dedicated customer support for businesses. Linq also offers dedicated support reps for teams. Phone technical support is available for limited plans for Hihello.
Usability
Let’s see how easy digital business card creation is with some service providers. We chose Blinq because of its user-friendly interface in the free plan. Beaconstac and Popl are rated high on the ease of use on review sites.
Customer Satisfaction
As for customer satisfaction, Beaconstac, Mobilo, and Popl make this list because of their excellent reviews on popular review sites. On G2, Beaconstac is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 366 reviews. On Trustpilot, Mobilo is rated 4.4 out of 5 from 226 reviews. As for Popl, it is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 967 reviews.
FAQs
Are digital business cards a good idea?
Yes, digital business cards are fantastic. They are easy to make, modify, and share.
Can you make a digital business card free?
Yes, several digital business card solutions offer their services for free. Hihello and Blinq are among the free solutions.
How much does it cost to make a digital business card?
It depends on the features you need and the number of users. Some digital business cards are completely free. Others offer plans that start at $6 per user per month.
What does a virtual business card look like?
A virtual business card is not a printed card. It’s shared digitally through various means. It looks similar to a printed card, but these cards give users more options to connect with card owners. You can access social media profiles or call, for example, directly from a digital business card.
What is an electronic business card?
An electronic business card, a business card, is a digital business card. Those cards are also called virtual business cards.
They are cards that digitally store your contact information and any relevant details about your business that you can share through your mobile device or any other contactless manner.
How do I create a digital business card on my phone?
You use an app to create a digital business card on your phone.
What is an e-business card?
An e-business card is an electronic business card, another name for a digital business card.
How do I choose the best digital business card solution?
You should review the features of different digital business card makers, check reviews online for customer satisfaction, whether customer service is available, and how much it will cost.
Are digital business cards a good idea?
Yes, more and more people are connecting online, and having digital business cards helps you keep your business up to date and connect with more people.
What is an NFC card?
Some service providers can print you an NFC card. You can use this card to instantly tap into clients’ phones to share information on your virtual business card.
In conclusion
Digital business cards are convenient for sharing your contact details and maximizing your networking efforts. Digital business card makers offer many features, sharing options, and pricing. We hope this article has helped you find more information about this technology and the market’s best digital business card solution. So, are you ready to say goodbye to the physical business card?
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