When you meet a potential client or business contact, it’s common to exchange business cards. Traditional business card contains basic contact information, like name, phone number, email address and company logo. The good news is that this process has expanded to the digital world with a digital business card and has helped many people connect on LinkedIn. It can be considered an online extension of your business card. When used effectively, LinkedIn can boost your credibility and create opportunities to grow your business. In this article you will understand how to get your business card contacts onto LinkedIn and make the best use of it.
How to get your business card contacts onto LinkedIn?
LinkedIn released a feature for mobile devices where people can connect instantly on the platform by scanning the traditional business cards. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1 – Login to your LinkedIn account
Step 2 – Click on the ‘My Network’ icon at the bottom of the mobile screen
Step 3 – Click on ‘Connect’ with a ‘+’ blue icon on the bottom right corner
Step 4 – Tap on ‘Scan QR code’ and scan the physical business card
Step 5 – Once you scan an individual’s business card, you are immediately directed to their LinkedIn profile and can connect right away
What is a digital business card?
A digital business card is an online business card under an account you own. It has all your contact information, title, company name, and everything you’d expect in a business card. Many platforms are hosting digital business cards, and you can add a few more goodies to make it more engaging and interactive for recipients, like adding additional info, a portfolio, and more. LinkedIn acts as one of the digital business cards for professionals looking for ways to keep in touch.
How do digital business cards work?
A digital business card can take a few different varieties, but essentially a piece of content that is not public but is sharable. You might find your digital business card on your phone, social media platform, on app or desktop. The cards can then be shared with others through a link, QR code or other options that an app offers.
Some extra functionality can be the ability to scan physical cards to save them. This means you can share your business card digitally to contacts on webinars, through group chats, or in person, should they hand you a physical card.
What are the benefits of using digital business cards?
Share contact information instantly
While handing out a physical card is a quick process, there are chances of misplacing it. Furthermore, your card will end up in a stack of other business cards and be forgotten. Therefore, sharing a digital business card will automatically add you as an entry in their address book. This guarantees that your contact will always have your details with them.
Have all information in one place
A digital business card allows you to add links to your social media platforms, keeping all details in one place. There’s no limit to the information you can add to your digital business card. For example, if you own a restaurant and want to direct clients to it, you can add a Google Maps link to your digital business card. That way, your contacts can look at your card and tap the link to lead them to the dining area.
Instantly edit and update your details
If you want to make any changes to your digital business card, you can do so from your phone or app. By doing so, your details will be updated for all your contacts who have a copy of your card. For instance, if you lose your phone and have to get a new number, you will want your contacts to reach you on your latest number. By simply updating the details on your business card, you can ensure that you receive calls on the correct number.
Cost-effective
Every time you hand your physical business card to a contact, you’re paying for it as you pay for the card and the printer. Even worse, you cannot make any changes to the card once shared with your contacts. But if you have a digital business card, you can do a few edits and are good to go. You don’t have to get it printed and hence save the cost.
How to create your digital business card?
Many digital business card apps come with simple directions, templates, and unique designs to use on your digital card. Here are the best apps you can download from the app store to start designing digital business cards that will help you grow your professional network:
KADO
The Kado app provides easy customization for your digital business card with the ability to share contact info through a QR code or link. The tool also allows you to scan paper cards, capture leads through online forms, sync your contacts with external parties like Outlook, take notes and record events on the go.
Switchit
The Switchit app gives you the tools to create a virtual business card, manage your contacts, and follow up with potential clients. It allows you to automatically capture contacts, add and edit contacts, and view historical data.
HiHello
The HiHello app allows you to design and personalize a free digital business card. You can share your HiHello card with any contact, even if they are not using the app. It allows you to seamlessly manage your contacts and convert paper cards into digital cards in your online address book.
Why use digital business cards?
A digital business card never needs to be replenished and can be exchanged both in person and online. It has an added advantage since anyone who isn’t fond of digital business cards can still share their physical card, which can be scanned into your database of choice. Further digital business cards are dynamic and can be edited any time you change your work, title, or contact info.
Key Takeaways
Digital technology has evolved, and almost everyone has an online presence; therefore, it makes sense to have a digital business card. LinkedIn has a mobile feature to scan these cards without having to miss them with other stacks of business cards. Also, there are apps that help you create your own version of such cards, which we have discussed in this article. Hence take advantage of all these features and apps to make the best out of it.
