Digital business cards are transforming the way we network and follow up after meetings and presentations. Unlike traditional paper cards, digital business cards simplify contact sharing, provide immediate access to key information, and ensure smoother follow-ups. They enhance your professional image, improve efficiency, and make it easier to connect with others in an organized and impactful way. This modern solution helps you leave lasting impressions and build stronger professional relationships effortlessly.

How you provide and promote your contact information in your presentation can have a measurable impact on your follow-ups.  Think about it, whether you are briefing the World Economic Forum on a framework for driving global growth and stability, presenting a systems architecture for AI-enabled Command and Control systems, or sitting down face to face with prospective investors, you as the messenger are equally as important as the message you are delivering.  An audience that appreciates what you are saying (or seeks to rebuff it) needs to know who you are and how to contact you.  Whether 1 to 1 or 1 to many, the problem is the same, how to share contact information and facilitate a conversation.  

Enter the Digital Business Card.  These tools provide an easy-to-configure professional contact card that includes the details you want to share such as email, phone number, website, LinkedIn profile, Instagram, and more.  The contact card is your own personal web page and therefore has a unique web address and a dedicated QR code. 

Your own QR code and signature point to your online digital business card
Your own QR code and signature point to your online digital business card

Getting started with your own QR code is as simple as installing an app. Shameless plug to use our app, The Last Business Card, but there are other options out there.  If you want to use our solution, download The Last Business Card from the app store (Apple, Android).  No need to pay anything since the free version is all you need to get going.  The app will walk you through the initial steps to set up your digital business card.

A few important items you need to complete:

1.   Add your photo, logo, and background.  To do this from the Card tab, tap the pencil in the upper right corner of the screen.  Follow the prompts.

2.  Add links for your important professional and personal information.  To do this, tap the Add Links button and choose Add for the professional, social, and other tools you use to promote yourself.  PRO TIP: Choose the Highlight toggle to display the button with the title and caption so that your business card looks more professional.

3.  Choose the Share tab and select Email Signature to send the QR code and your Digital Business Card URL to yourself.

4.  Open your email and use the signature as is, or just pull out the parts you care about to use in your presentation.  Below I simply copied and pasted the entire signature block onto the slide.

‍

Adding your QR Code to a Presentation

Now, whether you are giving your presentation to a group in person, sharing it over a Zoom call, or printing and leaving it behind, anyone can use and interact with your digital business card to contact you, connect with you, or schedule a meeting with you!  Tools like The Last Business Card can be used individually, by your team, or even by the entire enterprise, ensuring a consistent brand appearance and accurate contact information.

In my next article, I will share my approach to networking with both digital and traditional paper business cards.  Fluid and easy networking require no speedbumps, so when someone only has a paper card, take it.  Then, when you get some downtime, use The Last Business Card to scan it. It will automatically recognize the important fields to create a new connection, and let the automated lead gen workflow share your contact information back to them, building a two-way connection for you to nurture.