Digital business cards explained for people who don't like technology
By Online Business Cards Editorial Team | Published | Updated | Explainers
If you are not keen on technology, digital business cards can sound complicated. They are not. This plain-English guide explains what they are, what you need and what the other person has to do.
If you are not keen on technology, the phrase "digital business card" might sound like one more thing to learn. It is simpler than it sounds. If you can send a text message and take a photo with your phone, you already have the skills you need.
This guide explains it in plain English, without jargon. It is also useful if you are helping a colleague, a parent or a client who is a little wary of anything new.
What it is, in one sentence
A digital business card is a small web page with your details on it, which you share by sending a link or showing a square barcode called a QR code.
That is all. It does the same job as a paper card: it tells people who you are and how to contact you.
What it looks like
When someone opens your card on their phone, they see a page with:
- your name and photo, or your logo
- what you do
- buttons to phone you, email you or find your address on a map
- a button to save your details into their phone's contacts
You can add more, such as photos of your work or a price list, but you do not have to.
What you need
- A smartphone you already use for calls and messages. iPhone or Android, it does not matter.
- An email address, which is how your card details are sent to you.
- Ten or twenty minutes to add your details the first time.
You do not need a computer, although some people find it easier to set up on a bigger screen. You do not need to download a special app to share your card.
What the other person has to do
Very little. There are two common ways:
- You send them a link by text message, WhatsApp or email. They tap it and your card opens.
- You show them your QR code on your phone. They open the camera on their phone, point it at the code, and tap the message that appears.
They do not need an app, an account or a password. Our guide to what happens on the other person's phone explains this step by step.
What a QR code is
A QR code is a square pattern of black and white dots. Phone cameras can read it, a bit like a supermarket scanner reads a barcode. The code on your card just contains the web address of your page. Pointing a camera at it is a quicker way of opening the page than typing the address.
How it helps you
- No running out. You never find yourself without a card.
- Easy to change. If your number or job changes, you change it once and everyone who opens your card sees the new details.
- People can save you properly. One button puts your details into their phone, spelled correctly, instead of them typing your name and number while you wait.
What it does not do
It helps to be clear about the limits:
- It does not change contacts people have already saved. If someone saved your old number, their phone still has the old number. Tell your regular contacts when something important changes.
- It needs a phone signal or Wi-Fi to open the page. If you often meet people where there is no signal, keep your phone number printed somewhere too.
- Some people prefer paper. That is fine. You can keep a few simple paper cards with your QR code on them.
What you can put on one
A paper card is limited by its size. A digital card is limited mainly by how much you want people to read. Typical sections include:
- Contact details with one-tap call, email and save to contacts
- Social and web links, such as LinkedIn, Instagram or your website
- A gallery of projects, products or your premises
- Products and services, so people can see what you offer
- Documents, such as a brochure, price list or CV
- Testimonials from clients who have agreed to be quoted
Business-focused profiles can go further: a booking calendar, an enquiry form, a way to collect the details of people who want to hear from you, and somewhere to keep those leads. If you plan to collect other people's details, read our plain-English guide to collecting leads and UK GDPR first.
For a field-by-field list of what to include and what to leave off, see what to put on a digital business card. To see which features suit your line of work, read our guide by trade.
Digital and paper cards side by side
Paper card | Digital business card
Updating a detail | Reprint the whole batch | Edit once; the same link updates
Running out | Happens at the worst moment | Cannot run out
What it can hold | Name, role, number, email | Contact details plus links, work, documents and bookings
Saving the details | The other person types them in | One tap to save to contacts
Sharing remotely | Not possible | Paste the link anywhere
Paper still has a place. Some people like something to hold, and some industries expect it. But a paper card is a snapshot: it is correct on the day it is printed and drifts out of date from then on.
Online, digital, virtual, QR code, contactless: are they different things?
Mostly, these are different names for the same idea, used by people searching for slightly different moments. On this site they are the same profile at the same price, described for the way you will share it most:
- An online business card is the general term: one link for every introduction.
- A digital business card puts the emphasis on a branded, fully digital profile with nothing printed.
- A QR code business card leads with the code, for events, stands and anything you already print.
- A virtual business card suits people who meet clients on video calls and over email.
- A contactless business card means nothing changes hands: people scan your screen or open your link.
Whichever name you use, nothing is printed or posted: you receive a digital profile you share by link and QR code.
Is it safe?
Your card shows only what you choose to put on it. Most people use a work phone number and email and leave off their home address. Only you can change what it says, from your own account.
When someone scans your code, it opens your card page. It does not take anything from their phone. Our guide to digital business card privacy explains what to share and what to leave off.
Getting help
When you order from us, our platform partner sets up your card and sends you an email with your details. If you get stuck adding your details, it is perfectly sensible to ask a friend or colleague to sit with you for ten minutes. Our step-by-step guide to creating a digital business card walks through each stage, and you can contact us if you have a question about your order.
A simple way to start
- Add only the essentials: your name, what you do, your phone number and email.
- Open your card on your own phone and check everything is right.
- Send the link to a friend and ask them to save you as a contact.
- Next time you meet someone, show them your QR code.
You can add more later, once you are comfortable.
Which plan you need
Most people starting out only need Brand Presence (£45, one-off). It covers your details, photo, social links, a gallery, documents and analytics, and you pay once. The Business Plan (£90, one-off) adds tools for businesses, such as bookings and enquiry forms, which you can ignore if you do not need them. Compare them on our plans, or see the online business card.
Read next: Are paper business cards obsolete? An honest answer and a practical changeover plan and Digital business card ROI for professionals. You can also browse all our guides.
If you are curious where the idea came from, our short history of the business card tells the story in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be good with technology to use a digital business card?
No. If you can send a text message and take a photo with your phone, you can share a digital business card.
Does the other person need an app?
No. They open your card with their phone's camera or by tapping a link. It opens like any web page.
What if someone does not have a smartphone?
Give them your phone number in the usual way, or keep a few simple paper cards. A digital card is an extra option, not the only one.
Is there a monthly fee?
Not with our plans. Brand Presence and the Business Plan are both one-off payments.
What happens if I change my phone number?
You edit the number on your profile. Your link and QR code stay the same, so everyone who already has your card sees the new number the next time they open it.
Can people save my details to their phone?
Yes. A save to contacts button adds your name, number and email to their address book in one step.
Is a digital business card the same as a website?
It is a type of web page, but a focused one. A website explains a whole business; a digital business card is about you and the quickest ways to get in touch. Many people link from their card to their website.