Are Business Cards Dead? 5 Reasons Why It’s Time to Go Digital
Digital business cards are the electronic version of your stereotypical paper business card. There are a few digital business card apps out there that allow you to create and customize your own cards, and often are free to use. Digital business cards are more easily accessible and shareable than traditional paper cards, and will soon become the go-to when it comes to exchanging contact information.
This article is reposted with permission from HiHello. The original blog post can be found here.
As paper card usage declines, digital business cards will emerge as the leader in global contact exchange.
Business cards have been around for centuries, but paper cards won’t have a place in a post-COVID19 world. Receiving a potentially germ-ridden object from a complete stranger, well, that’s probably a thing of the past.
While face-to-face networking has slowed due to social distancing regulations, networking online has become more and more common. This is a good thing—life is made up of our interactions with others, and being able to meet and connect with new people is how we grow our personal and professional relationships, even if it is over FaceTime or a Zoom call. Instead of halting everything we previously did in-person, we’re digitizing our social experiences. We’re adjusting to a new normal, and that’s what it’s going to take to successfully navigate life after coronavirus.
As we enter this era of virtually-driven social meetings, paper business cards will become more and more obsolete. However, they’ve paved the way for something new: digital business cards.
What are digital business cards?
Example of HiHello business card.
Digital business cards are the electronic version of your stereotypical paper business card. There are a few digital business card apps out there that allow you to create and customize your own cards, and often are free to use. Digital business cards are more easily accessible and shareable than traditional paper cards, and will soon become the go-to when it comes to exchanging contact information.
Here are five reasons why digital cards will soon replace paper business cards.
1) Digital business cards are germ-free
Most of us are embracing our inner-germaphobe these days. When we meet someone for the first time, we don’t know where they—or their hands—have been. Digital cards are completely touch-free—there’s no physical exchange required. Exchanging digital business cards with someone diminishes any possibility of germ exposure. (Even better, you don’t need to be physically near someone to send them an electronic card!)
2) You can share digital cards with anyone, anywhere
Until now, exchanging business cards meant you had to be physically present to share and receive cards. HiHello—a digital business card and contact management app—provides a seamless way to share contact information with anyone from a safe distance. With HiHello you can create and send your digital card to anyone for free, even if they don’t have the app. (You can even share your business card over a Zoom call!)
Sharing HiHello digital business card.
3) Digital business cards are always up-to-date
Every time you switch jobs, get a promotion, or change your email address, chances are you need to order new business cards.
Save the money.
Oftentimes digital business cards are free, and by going digital you can update your card on the go. You can also add richer information to your digital card than you could a paper one. Add a video, your social media profiles, birthdays, anniversaries, and more—your cards are completely customizable, and can be edited at any time.
4) Digital cards are better for the planet
Did you know that over seven million trees are cut down each year for paper business cards? And with 90% of paper business cards thrown away immediately, that’s a lot of wasted paper. Digital cards produce no waste and reduce your carbon footprint.
Seven million trees would be saved every year if everyone switched to digital business cards.
5) You can use your digital business card app to scan paper cards
In the off-chance that someone does try to hand you a paper card, you don’t necessarily need to turn it down. A few business card apps have built-in business card scanners, so politely ask the person to hold up their card and then use your phone to scan it.
While AI is great, it’s not foolproof. If you need a business card scanner with 100% accuracy, check out HiHello. Unlike other scanner apps, HiHello has a team of human-verifiers to make sure the information is transcribed correctly, before it's added to your contacts.