2024 is set to be an interesting year for startups. Investors are showing signs of being increasingly conservative about seed investments. But this is not bad news. In fact, it’s a positive for startups that take time to build a great product with a true customer base. We’ve taken time to look at the anticipated trends for startups to share how to leverage this data when it comes to selecting the best business card for startups.
Startups face a ton of challenges. Funding, brand awareness—it can feel like a never-ending to-do list. One often-overlooked detail? Your business card. A digital business card isn't just a techy swap for paper; it's a secret weapon for networking and lead generation. This post breaks down how a digital business card can seriously boost your startup's success.
- In 2023, startup investment was $285 billion
- Healthcare startups raised $6.1 billion in the first half of 2023
- Sustainable startups appear to garner more funding than their less eco-friendly competition
- Covid-19 caused significant negative effects on 21.6% of small businesses and has pushed more businesses online. e-Commerce and online marketplace startups are positioned advantageously when it comes to getting funding
2024 Business Startup Trends Prediction: Funders Less Interested in AI
According to Crunchbase, funders are, and will continue, moving away from investing in AI is likely to trend.
This is not a statement on the technology, it's not going anywhere.
Part of their reticence is that Big Tech is already spending billions on AI, making it unlikely a startup will disrupt the market for artificial intelligence tools.
Another interesting factor is funders can see the writing on the wall and that writing consists of two words: litigation and legislation. We've already seen significant ethical and privacy questions raised around AI. It's only natural that these questions will be addressed through legal channels.
Finally, funders are seeking more authenticity. They want people who can use AI, but as a tool to do the work. They love using a digital shortcut, but not one that lessens the value of the final product.
Key Takeaways
- Digital business cards resonate with investors: Showcasing your startup's modern approach through digital business cards reflects adaptability and awareness of key trends like sustainability and health.
- Maximize your networking with dynamic digital cards: Go beyond static information sharing with interactive profiles, integrated links, and real-time updates, creating a richer connection with potential clients and partners.
- Popl empowers startups with team-focused features: Leverage Popl's team analytics and virtual background integration to streamline lead generation, track performance, and gain a competitive edge in networking.
Pulling out a Digital Business Card is a Great Way to Leverage the Trend
Knowing this trend gives startups the advantage of showing their flexibility and comfort with tech. A digital business card shows who you are using tech. It's far improved over its paper counterpart. Digital business cards allow more efficient meeting and deeper connection. It leaves a lasting impression that you've fully integrated technology but also value face-to-face contact.
Green and Eco-Friendly is Still in for 2024
The naysayers will point to a drop in funding for startups and draw the hasty conclusion that the sky is falling.
In 2023, startup investment was $285 billion. This was down from 2022, where startup investment was $462 billion. While this is a 38% decline, there is still significant capital being invested. Funding may be down, overall, but certain sectors are seeing increased funding.
Startups focused on climate have seen tremendous funding growth. Investors are increasingly concerned about climate.
A solid belief is that one of the year's business startup trends will include a lean into green.
This doesn't mean everyone should shift their startup to climate tech. It means that startups should be mindful that climate is an important issue to investors.
Digital Business Cards are the Sustainable Choice
Using a digital business card at a startup shows that time and consideration was given to a greener option for connecting.
Paper cards offer a finite space and have to be scrapped and re-printed when changes occur. These changes include everything from a person changing title or phone number to a logo refresh. Sadly, though, most of them end up in landfills, no matter how up-to-date.
Digital business cards allow you to share much more information in a robust form.
The Focus on Health and Wellness Extends Through 2024
Health and wellness should continue to remain front and center in 2024. This only makes sense in a post-Covid world. Since 2020, everyone has become more aware of how illness spreads, the effects of long-term isolation and simple steps they can take to avoid sharing and catching germs.
Healthcare startups continue to capture significant funding. During the first half of 2023, they raised $6.1 billion.
Digital Business Cards are the Best for Startups: Touchless Networking
Enter the digital business card. When meeting in-person, avoid taking a much-touched paper card by sharing information digitally. Many people will appreciate this small attention to detail that reduces contact. Of course, with Popl, you've also got the best digital business card for startups because you can set your virtual background for simple contact sharing when networking virtually.
Strong Online Presence Helps Attract Funding
Covid forced companies to pivot quickly and compete in the digital space. Companies that did this quickly, saw no losses and many thrived during shutdowns. They’ve shown they could also operate in a new way. In fact, many traditional businesses started building an online marketplace to stay afloat and reach customers remotely.
eCommerce and online marketplace startups continue to gain attention from funders. These agile, always reachable businesses are positioned for funding.
How to Leverage the Trend
The key to leveraging this trend is making sure your business has a robust online presence. Whether or not you’re selling products, having a solid online presence including video meeting capabilities and online support is crucial to showing funders you can survive obstacles like another lockdown.
What Kinds of Startups Should Consider Digital Business Cards?
Whether your startup is in finance or the arts, medicine or entertainment, or even a freelancer or creative, the best business cards for startups are digital ones.
Digital business cards are agile and flexible, like your business. They allow you to quickly and easily curate and communicate the information you need to about your business. They communicate, without a word, that you're thinking about more than just your startup.
Your digital business card tells people that you've thought about sustainability and public health. Further, they make for authentic connection. They're quick, easy, impossible to lose and not going to get thrown away like the majority of paper cards.
What is a Digital Business Card?
A digital business card is a modern, electronic version of a traditional paper business card. It contains essential contact information, but with added functionalities and benefits. Think of it as a dynamic, interactive profile you can instantly share with anyone, anywhere.
Key Features and Benefits
Unlimited Information
Unlike paper cards with limited space, digital business cards allow you to share more information. Include links to your website, social media profiles, online portfolio, product demos, special offers, and more, giving potential clients and partners a comprehensive overview of your work.
Interactive Two-Way Communication
Digital business cards facilitate interactive communication. Clients can easily contact you directly through the card, and you can collect their information without exchanging paper. This streamlines connection and fosters immediate engagement.
Lead Generation and CRM Integration
Capturing client contact information is seamless with digital business cards. Many providers, like Uniqode, integrate with popular CRM systems like Salesforce and Zapier. This automation helps manage leads and nurture relationships without manual data entry.
Performance Tracking and Analytics
With digital business cards, you gain valuable insights into how people interact with your card. Monitor card scans, saves, link clicks, and other engagement metrics to measure the effectiveness of your networking. This data-driven approach helps refine your strategy and maximize your reach.
Streamlined Procurement and Distribution
Say goodbye to printing and distributing physical cards. Digital business cards eliminate these costs, saving you money. Plus, you’ll never run out of cards or have outdated information circulating.
Quick and Contactless Sharing
Share your digital business card quickly and easily via email signatures, QR codes, Apple/Google Wallet, social media platforms, text, and more. This flexibility ensures you can connect with anyone, regardless of their tech preferences.
Real-Time Updates
Need to update your title, phone number, or company logo? Update your digital business card information and design in real-time without reprinting. This ensures your contacts always have the most current information.
Maximized ROI
Digital business cards contribute to maximized ROI through faster follow-up, shorter sales cycles, and data-driven marketing optimization. The streamlined connection process and detailed analytics empower you to make informed decisions and achieve better business outcomes.
Different Ways to Share Your Digital Business Card
Apple Devices
Apple users can share digital business cards through Apple Wallet, Siri, and AirDrop.
Android Devices
Android users can share digital business cards using Google Wallet and QR code scanning.
Messaging Apps
Share the URL or QR code of your digital business card through messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, LinkedIn, iMessage, Telegram, and Slack.
Virtual Meeting Platforms
Enhance your presence on virtual meeting platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams by using a virtual background with a QR code, adding the link to your bio, or sharing the URL in the chat.
Marketing Materials
Display QR codes for your digital business card on keychains, badges, booth displays, and signage.
URL Sharing
Share the URL of your digital business card via email, SMS, or messaging apps.
Email Signatures
Embed your digital business card link or QR code in your email signature.
Social Media
Include the URL of your digital business card in your social media bios and share it through posts, stories, and comments.
Websites and Blogs
Add your digital business card link or QR code to your website's contact page, call-to-action buttons, blog posts, and email signup confirmations.
Choosing the Right Digital Business Card Provider
Key Factors to Consider
Switching from paper to digital business cards improves networking efficiency and reduces costs. When choosing a provider, consider design customization, CRM integrations, analytics capabilities, pricing, and additional features like NFC-enabled physical cards. For a seamless blend of physical and digital, explore options like Popl, which offers NFC-enabled cards alongside its digital platform.
Top Providers in the Market
Blinq
Blinq is a popular digital business card app with a high user rating, offering a user-friendly interface and customization options.
Mobilo
Mobilo specializes in digital business cards for teams and businesses, providing solutions for collaborative networking and centralized management.
Uniqode
Uniqode offers advanced features, including automation, analytics, and CRM integration, catering to data-driven businesses.
Popl
Popl provides a comprehensive digital business card and lead capture platform, leveraging technology to streamline networking. They offer a unique blend of physical and digital tools, including NFC-enabled business cards for instant information sharing.
How Startups Make the Most of Their Digital Business Cards
Startups that get the most from the digital business cards use them to their full potential.
They Include Up-To-Date Contact Info, Including Links
Taking time to check everything twice means you're never sharing outdated information when you pop your information to someone else. Be sure your startup members' cards include the correct:
- name
- phone number
- url
- live social media and other links (for example, to job postings)
They Have Multiple Cards at the Ready
Startups are often lean and mean, with people playing multiple roles. Sometimes, you're representing yourself as a part of your startup. Other times, though, you're representing your startup. Be sure to leverage the power of having more than one card, a personal one and one for your business.
They Create a Virtual Background
Don't DM during Zoom and other video calls that you'll be in touch or, worse, cut and paste unformatted contact info. Set your virtual background using Popl so that anyone can scan your QR code for instant access to your digital business card.
This is a clean, simple way to make yourself accessible. When introducing yourself on a call, point out your code and encourage other attendees to scan. You're likely to capture more contacts this way.
The Best Digital Business Card for Startups Understands Teams
Popl digital business cards have added benefits like our teams functionality, which brings analytics to the next level.
By coordinating that everyone on your sales team, for example, uses Popl digital business cards you'll have access to comprehensive leads data and powerful analytics. Leverage this to learn what's working and what's not. Modify cards to improve lead generation.
Using Digital Business Cards for Getting the Word out About Your Startup
Remember the specific digital business card we mentioned above for your business? Make sure everyone at your startup has that card. Use this QR code at trade shows, conferences, in-person and online networking and when giving interviews or sending out press releases.
A QR code to your website or social media is fine. However, the best digital business card for startups is one that offers a robust, at-a-glance view of your startup.
Highlight your pitch deck, share accolades and do more in a neat, compact format that people love.
How do Popl Digital Business Cards Work?
Popl digital business cards for startups create a place for your most important information and links. It's great for collecting and sharing contact info, social media links and links to important things like press and awards.
The card is shared by transferring from phone to phone. Another option is scanning a QR code. The QR code can also appear on video call backgrounds so that it's always where you are.
How to Choose a Digital Business Card for Your Startup
When it comes to choosing a digital business card, keep in mind functionality.
Ideally, you want a card that works in person and online. Popl digital business cards check these boxes for startups by allowing for physical transfer between phones and a QR code and link that can be posted in places like LinkedIn or a virtual video call background.
You don't want to have to change cards, but rather have a card people at your startup know how to use and can scale. So make the decisions right out of the gate with Popl. Be sure to consider Popl Teams to streamline analytics and get more insight.
Digital Business Cards Could Boost Startups Chances in 2024
Let us be the first to say it: all startups should move to a digital business card in 2024. New startups formed shouldn't spend a penny on paper cards.
That sounds like a pretty bold statement, but as you can see, we've got lots of proof to support why digital business cards, like Popl, are the best choice in business cards for startups. Learn more about Popl for Teams and start designing yours now.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why should my startup ditch paper business cards? In a world increasingly focused on sustainability and digital solutions, paper business cards are becoming obsolete. They contribute to waste, offer limited space for information, and quickly become outdated. Digital business cards offer a dynamic, eco-friendly alternative that allows for real-time updates, expanded information sharing, and seamless integration with other digital tools. They also signal to investors and clients that your startup is forward-thinking and adaptable.
How can a digital business card improve my networking efforts? Digital business cards make networking more efficient and memorable. They allow you to share a wealth of information beyond basic contact details, including links to your website, social media, portfolio, and even special offers. The interactive nature of digital cards encourages immediate engagement and makes follow-up easier, leading to stronger connections and potential leads. Plus, the contactless sharing option is a thoughtful touch in a health-conscious world.
What are the key features to look for in a digital business card provider? When choosing a digital business card provider, consider factors like design customization to reflect your brand, CRM integrations to streamline lead management, robust analytics to track engagement, and flexible pricing plans to suit your budget. Some providers also offer NFC-enabled physical cards that complement the digital experience, providing a tangible element for those who prefer it.
How can I leverage digital business cards to get funding for my startup? A digital business card can subtly communicate key values to potential investors. It demonstrates your startup's commitment to sustainability, tech-savviness, and efficient resource management. Use your digital card to showcase your pitch deck, highlight awards and press mentions, and provide easy access to all essential information about your startup. This streamlined approach can make a positive impression and contribute to a more compelling presentation.
Beyond networking, how else can I use digital business cards for my startup? Digital business cards are versatile tools that can be used for various marketing and communication purposes. Include them in email signatures, social media profiles, website contact pages, and even virtual meeting backgrounds. Create a dedicated business card for your startup itself, showcasing its mission, values, and key offerings. This consistent branding reinforces your message and makes it easy for anyone to connect with and learn more about your company.
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