Digital Business Card Glossary: 12 Terms Explained
A digital business card glossary with plain definitions of name card, visiting card, contact card, NFC, QR code, vCard, wallet pass, lead capture and CRM.
This digital business card glossary explains the terms you will meet when choosing or using a card, in plain English. Where a term is a Lets Connect feature, we say so, and where two words mean the same thing, we say that too.
The digital business card glossary
Digital business card
An online profile with your name, role, company, contact details and links, shared by link, QR code, wallet pass or NFC tap. The other person saves you to their phone in one tap. What is a digital business card? covers it in full.
Digital name card
The term most people use in Singapore for the same thing. See our page on the digital name card in Singapore.
Digital visiting card
The usual term in India. Same card, different name. See the digital business card India page.
Digital contact card
Another name for a digital business card, often used when the focus is on saving someone to your phone's contacts.
Virtual business card
A digital business card by another name. It sometimes means a simple image or file rather than a live profile, so check what you are getting.
Electronic business card
An older term, often meaning a contact file sent by email. A modern digital business card is a web page that also offers that file as a download.
NFC
Near field communication. A short-range wireless standard that lets a phone read a small chip from a few centimetres away. An NFC business card uses it to open your profile with a tap. See NFC digital business card for more.
QR code
A square barcode that a phone camera reads to open a web address. Every Lets Connect card has one, and it works on any phone with a camera.
vCard
A standard file format for contact details, usually ending in .vcf. When someone taps save contact on your card, their phone receives a vCard and adds you to their contacts.
Wallet pass
A card stored in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. A Lets Connect wallet pass shows your QR code, so you can share your card in one swipe.
Lead capture
A form on your card that collects a visitor's details, such as name, email and phone. On Lets Connect it is part of Business Add-ons, and the details go into the CRM.
CRM
Customer relationship management. A place to keep contacts and track where each one is in your sales process. Lets Connect Business Add-ons includes a CRM with a 7-stage pipeline and data export.
Which term should you use?
Use whatever your customers say. A page aimed at Singapore might say name card, one for India visiting card, and one for the UK business card. Lets Connect works the same whichever you choose. If you want the technical side, how do digital business cards work? goes further.
Frequently asked questions
Is a virtual business card the same as a digital business card?
Usually, yes. Both describe contact details shared electronically rather than on paper.
What is the difference between a vCard and a digital business card?
A vCard is a contact file. A digital business card is a web page that can also hand over a vCard when someone taps save contact.
Do I need NFC to have a digital business card?
No. A link and QR code are enough. NFC is an optional extra for tap sharing in person.
What does CRM stand for?
Customer relationship management. It is where you keep contacts and track follow-ups.
Put the Terms Into Practice
Whatever you call it, a Lets Connect card is free to start, and paid plans for an individual card are one-time payments.
- The free Lets Connect plan: a published card with contact details, social links, a save-contact button, your own link and a QR code, free forever.
- Full Brand Presence, £49 one-time: templates, gallery, products, testimonials, documents, password protection, analytics, and Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes.
- Business Add-ons, £99 one-time: adds a CRM with a 7-stage pipeline, the AI business card scanner, a reviews tool, appointment booking, lead capture, newsletter subscribers, custom forms, data export and location tracking.
- Optional NFC cards: PVC £20, wooden £50 or metal £100, each with a printed QR code. Paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
More explainers are on the Lets Connect blog. When you are ready, create your free digital business card or compare every plan on the pricing page.
Why Lets Connect is the best digital business card
- Free to start: a digital card with your own link and QR code, no card details needed.
- Pay once: lifetime plans, no card subscription.
- The follow-up is built in: lead capture, a CRM, a card scanner, bookings, forms and review links in one dashboard.
- No app on either side: it opens in the browser on iPhone and Android.
- 5.0on Google from 17 reviews
- 5.0on Trustpilot from 9 reviews
- 99.4% positiveon eBay from 239 ratings
