Time is Money: Why Entrepreneurs Are Switching to Digital Networking Solutions

Time is one of the most limited yet essential resources you need to thrive in today’s fast-paced and interconnected world. Thanks to technological advancements, entrepreneurs have access to solutions that enhance their productivity and efficiency. 

A decade ago, we relied on traditional networking methods, which included meeting in person and sending mails, which could take weeks to reach recipients. Today, entrepreneurs are gravitating toward digital networking solutions like the NFC digital business card, which have proven effective in facilitating instant exchange of contacts and streamlining follow-up with new leads.

This strategic move is influenced by technology’s ability to revolutionize how we connect, collaborate, and grow businesses. 

Let’s dive in and look at five ways entrepreneurs are switching to digital networking solutions.

Affordable

To succeed as an entrepreneur, you must master working with limited resources to achieve the set goals. A recent study shows that brands spend 7%—10% of their revenue on marketing. Most of the money is spent on physical marketing materials and ads.

Digital networking lowers the cost significantly by providing a seamless, convenient, and easy way to connect with the target customers. For example, platforms like Zoom, Slack, and Microsoft Teams are low-cost networking and communication platforms you can use to interact with customers.

You will save even more money by embracing a modern digital business card backed by a smart contact management system as your primary networking tool. When you share your digital business card with a potential lead, their contacts will be instantly captured and saved in your contact list. You can send follow-up emails from the system and even schedule meetings, thus helping you connect with customers on a deeper level.

Accessibility and Efficiency

Gone are the days when you had to carry stacks of paper business cards to conferences and meetings. In-person events are also becoming inconvenient and expensive for most entrepreneurs due to busy schedules and geographic constraints.

Digital networking solutions, like electronic digital business cards, break these barriers by allowing entrepreneurs to connect with customers and business associates remotely. 

All you have to do is create a custom digital business card with your brand colors, logo, contact details, featured video, and images. With a digital business card with QR code, you can share the QR code with new leads to share your contact and business details. You can also share your digital business card via a link, email, Google, or Apple wallet. Use the scheduling feature in the smart contact management system to arrange a meeting with the new lead. You can also share the QR code during the video call.

Such digital networking solutions streamline follow-ups and eliminate the need to design and print paper business cards. You also don’t have to worry about losing contacts; all new contacts are instantly saved in a secure database for future reference. 

In addition, you can use professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, which has over 930 million users globally, to build connections and explore opportunities without ever leaving your desk. You can post your digital business card link on such platforms to share your contacts and sync it with Google or Outlook Calendar to schedule meetings.

Access to Accurate Data Insights

According to a survey by Gartner, 53% of marketing decisions are based on analytics. Unfortunately, traditional networking strategies are difficult to monitor and often rely on guesswork. 

That’s no longer the case. Digital networking platforms are designed to capture users’ actions and use advanced analytics to generate engagement metrics graphs and other data presentations. These insights help entrepreneurs gauge the performance of their networking strategies and tweak them accordingly. 

The best digital business card platform provides a weekly email summarizing the number of leads you have generated. The smart digital business card contact system captures all interactions related to each contact, like calls, emails, meetings, past notes, and reminder sets. This information will help you determine whether your networking and lead-generation strategies are working or need improvement. 

Eco-Friendly

Sustainability is no longer an option but a business principle that brands must embrace to stay relevant and profitable. Customers and investors gravitate towards brands whose processes are planet-friendly. 

Entrepreneurs and customers alike are aware of their environmental footprint. Traditional networking is ineffective in lead generation and harmful to the environment. For example, it’s estimated that 7 million trees are cut annually to support printing paper business cards. The production process consumes lots of energy and results in tons of waste. 

By opting for digital networking alternatives, like virtual business cards, entrepreneurs reduce paper usage and demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices, which resonates with environmentally conscious consumers.

Unlimited Global Reach

According to a recent study by Stastica, 67.15 percent of the global population uses the Internet as a primary source of information and networking. Entrepreneurs are finding new ways to scale up their businesses by using the Internet to connect with customers and business associates.

Geographical barriers are a thing of the past now. The rise of digital platforms like Meetup and Clubhouse makes it easy to join professional networks worldwide. 

The vast online presence provides entrepreneurs with unparalleled and unlimited opportunities to connect with customers from anywhere in the world without breaking the bank. Affordable networking and lead generation solutions like the digital business card facilitate remote networking and are environmentally friendly. 

Suitable for Hybrid Work Environment

The apocalyptic Covid-19 period changed how businesses and professionals network. With restrictions imposed globally during that period, entrepreneurs had to devise new ways of networking and staying in touch with customers. 

In 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees worked from home, and 28.2% worked for companies with a hybrid workplace model. More people are expected to embrace remote work in 2025 and beyond. Entrepreneurs who embrace digital networking are better positioned to thrive in this new normal.

Staying Ahead of the Curve With Digital Tools

Every day, new advanced solutions are introduced into the market. It’s difficult to keep up with the changing times, but you must do so if you want to future-proof your business. The list of innovations is endless, from digital marketing software to website analysis tools that help monitor target audiences’ interaction with marketing materials to digital networking solutions that facilitate remote networking.

Today, digital networking tools are designed to be synchronized with other technologies, such as artificial intelligence, automation, and modern CRM (Customer relationship management) systems. This integration helps entrepreneurs streamline their processes and workflows.

A study conducted by Salesforce found that 66% of customers expect businesses to understand their needs and expectations clearly. Digital networking tools like the digital business card allow entrepreneurs to meet this expectation by fostering personalized interactions, better relationships, and follow-up management.

Which is the Best Digital Networking Solution Today?

Switching to digital networking solutions is not just about keeping up with trends but also changing how you network and communicate with customers and business associates. These tools have been proven effective in reducing cost, saving time, and opening doors to global opportunities.

Despite their advanced features and capabilities, most of these tools cost less than $10 per month. You could also earn money and freebies by referring other entrepreneurs to join using your referral link.

That said, for entrepreneurs looking for the best and most futuristic digital networking solution, the Leapon digital business card stands out as the best choice. Its user-friendly interface, seamless integration with other tools like Google and Outlook Calendar, and smart contact management system make networking efficient and impactful. 

Leapon simplifies how you share contact information and helps you track and nurture connections effortlessly. Upgrade to a Leapon digital business card today to take your networking, lead capture, and generation strategies to the next level.