Take your business card to the next level with NFTs
I have been attending quite a few networking events lately. As I wander around the room and strike up a conversation with someone new, sooner or later, I am asked, "Do you have a card?" By this point, the person I am talking to has heard my elevator pitch and knows I am a futuristic techie. "No, but you can scan my QR code," I say as I show it on my phone. "Of course," the person responds with a smile and nods.
With paper business cards, you can't order an amount less than 500 to make it reasonably priced. You then have a massive stack of cards on your desk and maybe your car, but when the time comes to hand it out at a networking event, you don't have one on you.
Then there is the matter of other people's cards piling up on your desk and cluttering drawers. You have already entered the information in your contacts, but you can't seem to toss the card because they are a souvenir of your meeting.
While my digital version of the business card works well, something is missing from that experience.
I wonder, can this process be improved?
Improved with a bit of Web3, of course.
Make it digital
The first improvement is to reduce the amount of paper.
A business card NFT solves that problem perfectly.
You won't run out of them, and as long as you have your phone or another digital device, you will always have one available.
More information to share
Business cards cram a lot onto a tiny bit of paper. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to read 9 point font size with faint lettering on a card. Then there is the matter of outdated information, and the solution ends in physically crossing it out and writing over the top.
With an NFT, you can add not only contact information and links, but video, your resume, a brochure or flyer, or anything digital you would like to share. Be creative with the image of the NFT - your logo, photo, artwork or unique design.
Marketing power
We all know where your contact information goes when you Enter to Win! by dropping your card into the fish bowl. Someone, though, has to take out all those cards and manually enter the information into their system. Sure enough, you get an email that starts a series of marketing messages. Then you wonder, "Maybe I didn't win that free sandwich after all."
With NFTs, all this information is efficiently collected, processed, and viewed.
Trace the transactions of the NFT. You can see who won that sandwich by reviewing the details on the blockchain.
Instead of communicating through email to deliver a 20% off coupon, send a new 20% off NFT directly to the crypto wallet that holds the NFT business card.
Treat your business card as a membership pass. Those with it can access any service, event, experience, discount, product, etc. The NFT business card is a key to access anything you can lock.
Encourage sharing
After meeting someone for the first time and sharing your NFT business card, you can set up a referral or affiliate program to encourage that person to share your information with others.
You could airdrop (send for free) a few extra NFTs to the person's wallet and encourage them to share them with others. You can trace the referral NFTs on the blockchain, and when they settle into a new wallet, you can add them to your list of leads and reward the person that transferred the NFT.
This sharing is efficient and traced effortlessly.
Decentralized data
You may argue that someone could do this without creating an NFT and using blockchain.
Sure. LinkTree and similar platforms can give you analytics and can direct people to anywhere you want them to go.
The big difference is ownership.
Where is all that data stored, and who is using it?
Your data is yours by creating your own NFT and storing it in your personal crypto wallet. Not a company that can close up shop at any time or has a data breach. You have control over your information and how it is shared.
Go one step further and create your website on a Web3 domain. BTC, ENS or Unstoppable Domains can get you started with your decentralized site that you have ultimate control over.
Summary
Using NFTs to create digital business cards, you can store more information, reduce paper waste, and provide efficient data collection and sharing.
NFTs also encourage sharing and provide decentralized ownership of data. An NFT business card offers a more convenient and efficient solution than traditional paper cards.
