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It's been a while since I've been here. I've been working on some business projects, and needed some input from a big internet community. A friend of mine came up with this idea.
A professional who has to hand out a lot of business cards might either run out of cards, or find it cumbersome to carry them all around. Here's an idea on Quirky to solve that issue.
https://www.quirky.com/invent/1011837/action/vote/query/sort=trending&categories=wildcard
What do you think?
Is the QR code scanning easy enough to do this?
Can this ever replace the old physical business card model?
Is there any case in which this virtual business card beats a paper business card?
Or what should happen if someone doesn't have a fancy smartphone?
Note: If you upvote (thumbs up) that post in the link, then there's a high chance this actually gets made!
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I don't think that's a good idea. Even though I have a smartphone, I'd rather just have a paper copy of the card.
- Person doesn't have a smart phone
- Person does and doesn't know how to use their scanner/QR codes
- Person does have one, and knows how to use it, but the code is wiped on their phone, they lose their phone, phone is upgraded, etc.
Their QR code card can get lost/misplaced just as easily as a paper copy.
I just think 9 out of 10 people you come across would rather have a paper copy of the card. Maybe have one anyways and offer it as an alternative if they prefer it? But I wouldn't stop carrying/ordering paper cards. If your business is really that important to them they'll usually make sure to put it somewhere safe and keep hold of it.
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It'd absolutely work (and I'm sure has been done) if you're just making business cards that have a QR code on them, as well as other pertinent info. Relying solely on the QR code and essentially just flashing prospective clients your QR code misses out on too many of the valuable aspects of physical business cards to be seriously considered. Having your card in clients' homes and offices where they can possibly be seen by other prospective clients is much more valuable than just having your details in their phone, where they are less visible.
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I agree with Grobyc and Staboteur; stick with the traditional business cards. Make em simple and professional looking; some things are best kept un-teched.
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Is there any niche in which a digital/smartphone business card would be more handy?
I worked as a nightclub photographer once, and I just couldn't carry anything around, except for my phone and camera. I think that might be one instance?
(thanks for the feedback, super appreciated!)
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I disagree with almost every other posted, and say this is a great idea.
What people are missing is that we as a society are evolving constantly, and while the business card idea is the one that works now, what's to stop us from doing something like this? The benefits are outstanding. Sure, you usually hand someone your business card and are able to have a converation or reminder because of that. But who's not to say that this idea could haven't something similar? Perhaps the application would allow you (or automatically) remind you met this person with X business card. Not only that, but also suggested by the website, there is so much more information that could be delivered.
Also, as someone who is in a business that uses customer references to get it's customer base, I guarantee most people didn't hear of us through a business card - it's almost always word of mouth, but that only does so much. No one carries around several business cards for other people, so why not be able to transfer the information you just received from the card and be able to transfer to someone else?
Business cards are a thing of the past and like most technology, are only used because that's what people are used to. I think with the right amount of technology, this could become much bigger than business cards, and provide benefits that normal cards cannot do (such as more information, or the code linking to a website among other things).
EDIT: Something else people should realize is that changing to technologies like this isn't done instantly. This idea will probably take a few years to get off the ground, but I think it could easily replace business card eventually.
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On March 25 2014 09:16 WhatisProtoss wrote:
Is there any niche in which a digital/smartphone business card would be more handy?
I always have my wallet on me (so I can always have a few business cards in there) so I'm not sure. If I don't have my wallet on me, then I probably don't have my phone on my person either (e.g., could be playing sports where my keys and phone and wallet are all away- in the same place).
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On March 25 2014 09:23 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:Show nested quote +On March 25 2014 09:16 WhatisProtoss wrote:
Is there any niche in which a digital/smartphone business card would be more handy?
I always have my wallet on me (so I can always have a few business cards in there) so I'm not sure. If I don't have my wallet on me, then I probably don't have my phone on my person either (e.g., could be playing sports where my keys and phone and wallet are all away- in the same place).
Me too. I have this thing I think to myself or say to myself before I leave anywhere: P.W.K
Phone. Wallet. Keys. One does not go somewhere without the other. I find it hard to believe anyone else using a smart phone or living in a first world country even would not have these things all the time.
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i think it depends what part of the world u live in.
in Canada you'd need a physical business card.
i can conceive of other business cultures really gobbling up this new idea, but not in Canada... a nation of commodity brokers....
canadians wanna see the goods.
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On March 25 2014 09:26 hoby2000 wrote:Show nested quote +On March 25 2014 09:23 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:On March 25 2014 09:16 WhatisProtoss wrote:
Is there any niche in which a digital/smartphone business card would be more handy?
I always have my wallet on me (so I can always have a few business cards in there) so I'm not sure. If I don't have my wallet on me, then I probably don't have my phone on my person either (e.g., could be playing sports where my keys and phone and wallet are all away- in the same place). Me too. I have this thing I think to myself or say to myself before I leave anywhere: P.W.K Phone. Wallet. Keys. One does not go somewhere without the other. I find it hard to believe anyone else using a smart phone or living in a first world country even would not have these things all the time.
I always do the pocket tap: front right = keys, front left = phone, back right = wallet. All checked in two seconds 
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On March 25 2014 09:23 hoby2000 wrote:
I disagree with almost every other posted, and say this is a great idea.
What people are missing is that we as a society are evolving constantly, and while the business card idea is the one that works now, what's to stop us from doing something like this? The benefits are outstanding. Sure, you usually hand someone your business card and are able to have a converation or reminder because of that. But who's not to say that this idea could haven't something similar? Perhaps the application would allow you (or automatically) remind you met this person with X business card. Not only that, but also suggested by the website, there is so much more information that could be delivered.
Also, as someone who is in a business that uses customer references to get it's customer base, I guarantee most people didn't hear of us through a business card - it's almost always word of mouth, but that only does so much. No one carries around several business cards for other people, so why not be able to transfer the information you just received from the card and be able to transfer to someone else?
Business cards are a thing of the past and like most technology, are only used because that's what people are used to. I think with the right amount of technology, this could become much bigger than business cards, and provide benefits that normal cards cannot do (such as more information, or the code linking to a website among other things).
EDIT: Something else people should realize is that changing to technologies like this isn't done instantly. This idea will probably take a few years to get off the ground, but I think it could easily replace business card eventually.
Yeah but that's why I said carry a copy of the QR card but keep the paper business cards as well (until the QR card becomes the norm if ever). Not worth simply discarding the paper copies as well.
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Business cards are always about minimal inconvenience. You hand one off, they pocket it, and find it two weeks later when they're emptying their coat.
The moment you ask them to put effort into getting your contact information, then they'll brush you off.
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On March 25 2014 11:15 WolfintheSheep wrote:
Business cards are always about minimal inconvenience. You hand one off, they pocket it, and find it two weeks later when they're emptying their coat.
The moment you ask them to put effort into getting your contact information, then they'll brush you off.
This. I wouldn't bother downloading the qr scanner app on my phone just to read someone's business card. You want less hassle, not more.
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How is this a good idea? In a meeting / business party / whatever thing with a lot of people mingling and exchanging quick introductions, whipping out smartphones to scan a QR card would be annoying at best - and that's where business cards are used the most. Not to mention that IF someone wanted to share their details with someone else via a digital platform, you don't exactly need fancy QR codes and external apps to forward whatever information you wanted, lol.
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EPT
