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vCard definition + tutorial to create your virtual business card

Rédacteur Antoine
Antoine Payre
September 6, 2024
Illustration de l'article de blog à propos des cartes de visite

In The digital world Today, theExchanging traditional business cards is becoming more and more obsolete.

Paper cards are not practical to transport, are easily lost, and are mostly thrown in the trash in 80% of exchanges. 🤯

However, with the advent of vCards, you can Store and easily share your contact details in a digital form.

What is a vCard?

A vCard, or “Virtual Business Card,” is a digital file format used to store and share contact information.

This file generally contains particulars such as your name, phone number, email address, email address, website, and social media profiles.

The vCard is widely compatible with most devices and software, facilitating Importing information in the directories of your contacts.

It is often in the form of a contact form that is added to the directory of your interlocutor.

Illustration d'un exemple de vCard
vCard example

Tutorial: How to create a vCard

Step 1: Use an online vCard generator

To create a vCard, you can use free online tools like vCard Maker, QR Code Generator, or other similar tools.

These platforms allow you to enter your contact information and generate a.vcf file that you can then use.

Exemple de plateforme de générateur de vCard
QR Code Generator platform

Step 2: Gather your information

Before you get started, prepare all the information that you want to include in your vCard, and insert them into the corresponding fields on the online generator.

The information that can be included is:

😃 your name,

📞 your phone number,

📧 your email address,

🏠 your address and postal code

🌐 your website,

🤳🏻 your social media profiles,

📍 the address of your business,

🗂️ and other relevant details.

Step 3: Personalize your vCard 🎨

Enter your details into the vCard generator. Some tools will allow you to add additional elements like a profile photo or a logo, but the customization options are often limited.

Step 4: Choose a vCard format

When creating your vCard, choose the format.

The most commonly used format is .vcf (Virtual Contact File). This format is supported by the majority of applications and operating systems, including iOS, Android, and email software like Gmail and Outlook.

What are vcf files for?

- The format .vcf Is a cSafe choice for maximum compatibility, allowing your contacts to easily import your information into their directories.

- vCard 2.1 and vCard 3.0, which are older versions but still supported by some devices and platforms. However, these versions are less flexible and offer fewer possibilities in terms of customization and data complexity.

Choix du format de vCard
Choosing the vCard format

Step 5: Share your vCard

Once your vCard is created, you can integrate it into your email signature, share it via QR code, or send it directly to your contacts.

The QR code is a good option for transmitting your vCard. This format is very convenient as it can be scanned by most smartphones, making sharing instant and effortless.



🚨 CAREFUL 🚨 Note that most of vCards are static : once shared, they cannot be updated without returning a new file.
To overcome this problem, you can use a free virtual business card solution like Cardynale.

Signature d'email Cardynale
Email signature with the QR code in Cardynale

How do I generate the best vCard?

While a vCard is a convenient tool for exchanging contact information, it has some drawbacks, especially when it comes to customizing, updating information, and sharing rich content.

With Cardynale, you can create a virtual business card for free, which generates its own vCard, in order to share it and to be able to update your information without limits.

The benefits of Cardynale

🎨 Advanced customization

Unlike traditional vCards, digital business cards created with Cardynale offer advanced personalization.

You can add Logos, choose specific colors, include videos, pamphlets, and even photo galleries.
You are in a position to create a virtual business card completely in line with your brand image, impressive isn't it?

Carte de visite virtuelle personnalisable
Example of a Cardynale profile

🔄 Update in real time

Cardynale digital business cards can be updated at any time.

So when your information changes, your contacts can immediately access the most recent version of your card, and your QR code is updated without the need to regenerate a vCard file.

Dashboard de mise à jour d'informations Cardynale
Cardynale dashboard to update your information

📬 Simplified and compatible sharing

With Cardynale, you can share your digital business card via a link, a QR code, or integrate it directly into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.

This makes sharing not only easier, but also more versatile compared to traditional vCards.

QR code Cardynale en Apple & Google Wallet
Cardynal QR code in Apple & Google Wallet

🛠️ Additional features

Cardynale goes beyond the simple business card.

The platform allows you to manage your contacts, integrate CRMs, track usage statistics, and even Scan paper business cards to add them to your digital directory.

Scanner de carte de visite en papier Cardynale
Paper business card scan with Cardynale

💳 NFC business card

It is even possible to transmit your information and your vCard via a NFC business card, in contactless. The latter can be made of wood, metal, or PVC and will be a hit with your new encounters.

To learn more about creating free digital business cards with Cardynale, check out our full guide here.

Carte de visite NFC PVC Cardynale
Cardynale customizable black PVC card example

Conclusion

Although the vCard is a practical tool to share contact information digitally, it presents significant limitations in terms of customization, management and updating.

Cardynale is positioned as a good alternative, offering advanced customization, real-time updating, and additional features that meet the needs of professional users.

For a more robust and flexible solution, try Cardynale for free by clicking here.

Create your digital business card for free
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