Digital business cards, commonly called vCards for Virtual Cards, are taking away traditional, old, physical, and printed business cards. Studies show that nearly 80% of professionals prefer digital cards due to their convenience and ease of updating information.
As more professionals embrace remote work and digital communication, having a digital business card is no longer just an option; it’s a necessity. Imagine being at a networking event, effortlessly sharing your details with a quick scan or link, while leaving a lasting impression that sets you apart from the crowd.
In this post, we’ll explore how to create your own digital business card, from the essential elements to design tips and the best tools available. Let’s dive in and discover how you can elevate your networking game!
But first…..
What is a digital business card (vCard) ?
vCard, also known as VCF (Virtual Contact File), is a file format standard for electronic business cards. vCards can be attached to e-mail messages, sent via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), on the World Wide Web, instant messaging, NFC or through QR code. They can contain name and address information, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, URLs, logos, photographs, and audio clips.
vCard is used as a data interchange format in smartphone contacts, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal information managers (PIMs) and customer relationship management systems (CRMs). To accomplish these data interchange applications, other “vCard variants” have been used and proposed as “variant standards”, each for its specific niche: XML representation, JSON representation, or web pages. Source: Wikipedia.
Simply put, a vCard is a virtual or digital or electronic format of your business card made for the digital age (internet). It stores your contact information such as emails, phone numbers, social media profiles, and much more. Some vcards, like the ones from Webtily, even allow you to display your services/products to clients.
Who is a digital business card for?
Digital business cards, or vcards, are versatile tools that cater to a wide range of professionals across various industries. Here’s a look at who can benefit most from using a vcard:
1. Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
For those running their own businesses, a vcard is an excellent way to showcase your brand, services, and contact information. It allows you to make a strong impression while promoting your business at networking events and meetings.
2. Freelancers and Consultants
If you work independently, having a vcard can help you stand out to potential clients. It’s an easy way to share your skills, portfolio, and contact details, making it simpler for clients to reach out.
3. Sales and Marketing Professionals
Networking is crucial in sales and marketing. Vcards allow you to share your information quickly and effectively, helping you build and maintain connections that can lead to new opportunities.
4. Corporate Professionals
Employees in corporate settings can use digital business cards to enhance their networking efforts, whether at industry conferences or within their own organization. A digital card is a modern approach to sharing your professional identity with colleagues and clients.
5. Event Attendees and Speakers
If you frequently attend conferences, workshops, or seminars, a vcard can streamline the process of exchanging contact information. As a speaker, having a vcard allows you to easily share your insights and connect with audience members.
6. Job Seekers
For those in the job market, a vcard can serve as a dynamic resume, allowing you to share your professional background, skills, and contact details with potential employers in a visually appealing format.
7. Networkers and Connectors
Anyone who enjoys meeting new people and building connections can benefit from a vcard. It simplifies the process of exchanging contact information, making networking less daunting.
In essence, a digital business card is for anyone looking to elevate their professional presence and make meaningful connections in a fast-paced, digital world. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, freelancer, corporate professional, or job seeker, embracing the vcard can enhance your networking strategy and help you stand out.
Why do I need a vcard (The Benefits)?
vCards are the best way to share your contact information with your network. It helps people add you to their address book with a scan or a click. You can attach it to your emails, upload it to your website, or even send it over social media. vCards can be read by many programs and email clients such as Microsoft Outlook.
Digital business cards, often referred to as vcards, offer a multitude of advantages that make them an essential tool for today’s professionals. Here are some key benefits:
1. Convenience and Accessibility
Vcards can be stored directly on smartphones or shared via email and messaging apps, making them incredibly easy to access and distribute. No more fumbling through your wallet for a paper card—your contact information is just a click away.
2. Eco-Friendly Option
In an age where sustainability is crucial, vCards eliminate the need for paper, reducing waste and your environmental footprint. By going digital, you contribute to a greener planet.
3. Instant Updates
One of the standout features of vCards is the ability to update your information instantly. If you change jobs, phone numbers, or addresses, you can simply revise your digital card and share the updated version—no need to reprint and redistribute.
4. Enhanced Features
Digital business cards can include interactive elements such as hyperlinks to your website, social media profiles, or even a video introduction. This adds a dynamic touch that paper cards simply can’t offer.
5. Improved Networking Opportunities
With the ability to share your vcard through various digital channels, you can reach a broader audience and connect with potential clients or collaborators more easily. Plus, vcards can be integrated with CRM systems to streamline contact management.
6. Professional Look
A well-designed digital business card can convey a sense of professionalism and modernity, helping you make a positive impression. Your digital business card reflects your personal brand, and a polished design can set you apart from the competition.
Incorporating a virtual business card into your networking strategy not only simplifies the process of sharing your contact information but also enhances your professional image. As we continue to navigate a digital landscape, embracing vCards is a savvy move for anyone looking to make meaningful connections.
vCard vs. Website: When to Use a vCard?
When to share a digital business card ?
Sharing a vCard can be incredibly effective in various situations. Here are some specific scenarios where using a vCard is beneficial:
1. Networking Events and Conferences: At industry gatherings, conferences, or trade shows, a vCard is perfect for quickly exchanging contact information with other attendees. It helps you stand out and makes follow-up easy.
2. Business Meetings: During formal or informal meetings, sharing a vCard allows you to present your details professionally. It serves as a quick reference for attendees to remember you and your role.
3. Social Gatherings: If you meet potential clients or collaborators in casual settings, a vCard can facilitate a professional exchange without feeling too formal. It’s an excellent way to create connections in a relaxed environment.
4. Follow-Up Emails: After an initial meeting or event, including a vCard in your follow-up email reinforces the connection. It ensures the recipient has your updated contact information, making it easier for them to reach out.
5. Job Fairs: If you’re looking for new opportunities, a vCard can help you make a lasting impression on recruiters and potential employers. It provides them with your essential information at a glance.
6. Collaborative Projects: When working with new partners or clients, sharing a vCard at the outset of a project helps establish communication lines and provides all parties with easy access to each other’s contact details.
7. Community Events: Whether at local meetups, workshops, or volunteer events, a vCard is a great tool for connecting with like-minded individuals. It can lead to future collaborations or networking opportunities.
8. Online Networking: In virtual settings—like webinars, online conferences, or social media connections—sending a vCard via email or direct messaging can be a quick way to share your details without the hassle of navigating profiles.
9. Personal Referrals: When someone refers you to a potential client or collaborator, following up with a vCard can make it easy for the referral to contact you directly, reinforcing the connection established through the introduction.
10. Speaking Engagements: If you’re speaking at an event, sharing a vCard with attendees afterward can facilitate networking and encourage audience members to reach out with questions or opportunities.
Knowing when to share a vCard can enhance your networking efforts and make professional interactions smoother. It’s a versatile tool that works well in both formal and informal contexts, allowing you to connect effortlessly and build valuable relationships.
Now, let’s discuss how you can create your own, beautiful, and professionally designed digital business cards fast.
How to create a digital business card that stands out?
There are many tools on the web you can use to create virtual business cards. However, in this section we will be using Webtily vCards.
Why webtily vCards?
- Ease of use: It takes only a few clicks to create a professional digital business card.
- Most beautiful vCard designs: Webtily provides not only some of the most beautiful vcrd templates in the market, but also the widest range of designs covering every business and industry.
- All social media links available: Support for every social. You can add all your social media profiles n your vcard.
- Insta Feed display: Allows you showcase your Instagram feed in vcard leaving a great impression to clients.
- Cover video auto-play: Set your business intro video as the cover if needed.
- Free QR code: Share your vcard via QRCode.
- Add custom links if needed: Add any external links to your digital business cards.
- Advanced customization: Endless possibilities in customization.
- Custom QR Code availabl: Build your own QRCode if needed.
- Ecommerce enabled: Sell products directly from your vCards.
- Sell services and collect payments from vCards: Showcase your services and sell them right away, no extra tool needed.
- Cheap price: Webtily offers a free plan to start with, which includes the essentials you need for your vcard with 8 free beautiful vcard designs. If you need more features and designs, subscriptions start at just $1.95/month or $12/Year for BASIC plan. PRO is $2.95/month or $29/Year, and BUSINESS plan is $7.95/moth or $79/Year at the time of writing this post. These prices are promotional offers and may increase in the future.
And much more…..
#3 Steps for creating your digital business card
Here we are. Building Connections Digitally: How to Create a vCard for 2024 and Beyond?
This section is your guide to crafting a customized vCard for digital networking.
#1 Sign up to webtily
To create your vcard, simply go to webtily.com and click vCards.
After landing on Webtily’s vCard page, click the “Start For Free” button.
Enter the required information to sign up and get access to your dashboard.
Once you click “Register” after providing your details, your account will be created and you can access your dashboard.
#2 Create your vcard
Now that you have an account, you can start building your digital business card. For this purpose, head over VCards from your dashboard.
Now click “New VCard” button.
Next, fill in your information and click “Save”.
URL Alias: The url/link that clients follow to see your vcard. I recommend it to be your business name. If the vcard is for your restaurant for example, just put in your restaurant name. it can also be your own name if it is a personal vcard for your services.
VCard Name: Your business or personal name if the vcard is for your freelance services.
Occupation: Your title like Designer, Driver, Freelancer, CEO … you can also leave it blank.
Description: A description of your business or what you do. This will appear right after your name on your digital business card
Profile Image: Your head shot or business logo
Cover Profile: Profile background image. It can also be a short introduction video to your business or services. The shorter it is, the faster your vcard loads.
Congrats! Your vcard has just been created.
#3 Customize & design your vCard
Customization is one of the most important parts of a vcard. A good looking and well-designed vcard can help impress your potential clients. After creating your vcard, it is now time to make it look the way you want.
When you click the “Save” button in the previous step, the Edit panel opens up for customization. The first thing to customize is your details.
vCard Basic Details
Now you need to add your personal and professional details, emails, phone numbers, location, company name if any, job title if needed, and more. You can enable/disable multi-language, inquiry form, Affiliate system, QR Code download, show/hide QR Code, WhatsApp share, and decide QR Code size as well.
Once you are done with the settings, don’t forget to click “Save” button.
vCard Templates
After your details, it’s time to choose your preferred design to make your digital business as good looking as possible.
The number of templates you get depends on your subscription plan. However, even the default free plan offers 8 beautiful vcard designs to choose from. After you select a template, don’t forget to scroll down and click the “Save” button to apply the changes.
Business Hours
This section allows you to set your working days and time frames. This way, clients know exactly when you are available for work.
Click “Save” to apply the changes.
Services
Being able to show your services to clients right in your vcards is very important for boosting sales. In Webtily, you can add your services to your digital business card from Services tab, then “Add Service”.
Next, add details about your service and save it.
Name: The name of the service (web design, car wash, house cleaning….)
Service URL: Leave it blank unless you have a website where the service is listed
Description: The description of the service
Service Icon: Image to illustrate the service
Do not forget to click “Save” button.
Add products to your vcards
Create and manage your product listings on your vCards with ease, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for your customers. Go to Products tab and click “Add Product”
In the pop-up, you need to fill in the form with details of your product and save it.
Name: Product name
Price: The cost of the product
Description: Your product description
Currency: choose the currency you want to sell your product in (USD, Euro, INR, XOF…all the currencies are available)
Product URL: Leave it blank unless your product is external
Product Icon: Your product image
Once you are done, click “Save” to add the product to your vcard.
Add Social links – Website to your vcard
Navigate to Social links – Website tab from your Webtily dashboard, copy-past your social media profile/page links, and click “Save”.
You can add your websites and all your social media profiles to your digital business card from this tab.
- Tiktok
- Twitter (X)
- Snapchat
- Tumblr
- YouTube
If you need to add more, just click the “Add” button in the top right corner and a new field with add at the bottom of the page.
There are many other tabs available for customization depending on your subscription plan:
- InstaEmbed
- Galleries
- Blogs
- Testimonials
- Appointments
- Dynamic vcard
- Iframes
- Custom QR Code
- Custom CSS
- Custom JS
- Banner
- And more….
Wrapping up
Creating a vCard is a powerful step toward modernizing your networking strategy. Whether you’re connecting at in-person events or meeting virtually, a digital business card gives you the flexibility, professionalism, and convenience that traditional paper cards can’t match. With Webtily vCards, you can design a personalized, instantly shareable card that not only conveys your contact information but also showcases your brand, services, and unique style.
Ready to elevate your networking game? Start creating your vCard today and make every connection a lasting one. Embrace the future of business cards, and let your vCard work for you—anytime, anywhere.