Business cards are, of course, the traditional stationary that conveys your business information to contacts. They have shortcomings: they get lost, you cannot click links on them, and paper demands trees.
DropCard is a free web service that lets you send your full contact information, which you customize, via text message from your mobile phone to someone’s email account. DropCards have another advantage: you can link your social networks on them as well, greatly enhancing networking opportunities.
Envision yourself at a coffee shop Saturday morning in your comfort clothes, waiting for your coffee order, chatting with a new acquaintance also waiting for his coffee. He mentions his company is soon beginning an initiative that is in your field. You fumble in your pocket, but probably have no business card with you. However, you almost certainly have your mobile phone with you. You would simply text “drop and their email” to 41411:
* Example: “drop johndoe@email.com”
Your new business contact will receive all of your contact information in his email. Additionally, he will see your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or whichever social network you provide, which business cards do not convey via click. This lends immediate credibility, and a single-click opportunity to connect further.
A vcard is also attached, for easy import into your contact’s address book. Furthermore, you can set up both business and personal DropCards, or multiple business cards if you hold multiple positions.
I have been testing this for a few weeks, and it has been hugely helpful. This past Sunday was a beautiful crisp fall day, so I went for a walk with my dog at noontime. I had my dog, a leash and my cell phone with me, and nothing else. I ran into a woman at the park who looked familiar to me, and we realized we had both attended the same conference a few weeks ago. I texted her my contact info with DropCard, and now we’re connected on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Business people should still carry good-quality business cards at business functions, but DropCard is a very handy tool for managing and sharing your contact information and saving resources. I’ve begun using DropCard far more than my paper cards. This morning, I sent my contact info to a new client through DropCard, and he signed up for the service right away. So, I believe DropCard will be helpful to you, as well, and highly recommend it.
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I just stopped by your blog and thought I would say hello. I like your site design. Looking forward to reading more down the road.
Just wanted to let everyone know there is a green company out there that makes great digital business cards. They use your existing business card and make you a mobile business card with touch-to-dial phone numbers and live email, web links and social networks. You can send your digital card to anyone in the world in an instant right from your smartphone or computer to any smartphone or computer. Their mobile cards are quite dazzling on mobile. I use mine a network meetings all the time. http://www.yourcardonmobile.com
Thanks for letting me know about your company, Chris. I’ve posted the link to share so readers can compare.