Online Personal Brands are the New Business Card
Ditch the traditional investment in ineffective business cards and build relationships through your personal brand online instead.
In his book, Keep Going, Austin Kleon says:
“Job titles aren’t really for you, they’re for others. Let other people worry about them. Burn your business cards if you have to.”
Turns out you may not even need to burn your business cards, because it’s likely others are binning them sooner than you might think.
It’s estimated that 10 billion business cards are printed annually worldwide. Yet, studies also show that 88% of business cards are thrown away within a week. That’s 8.8 billion business cards in the bin within 7 days of them being enthusiastically exchanged.
While the printing of business cards remains a tradition for many, their effectiveness is on the decline. Online platforms for your personal brand have taken over when fostering key relationships. So, how are you building the digital business card of your personal brand?
Here are some of the ways you can create a digital ‘business card’ that connects you to your people:
1. YouTube and Podcasting
YouTube is the new TV. In 2024, it made history by becoming the first streaming platform to break the 10% barrier of total TV viewership, and its popularity continues to increase.
Globally, the podcast audiences are also rapidly rising. In 2025, an estimated 504.9 million people worldwide are said to listen to podcasts, increasing from 464.7 million in 2023.
Both podcasting and YouTube have been around for decades, but their influence is now undeniable, as many creators of diverse industries have found their stride - and community - on the platform. Politicians platform their policy ideas and personalities. Founders provide customers with a behind-the-scenes look at the people behind the corporate brand. Mid-level professionals project their leadership potential. Podcasts are also gaining popularity with creators and listeners alike.
2. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the number one social media platform for professionals. So, if you’ve been avoiding it, you’re missing out on a world of possibilities it could present for your professional personal brand and relationships.
It's estimated that 80% of B2B leads originate from LinkedIn, positioning it as the leading platform for lead generation.
60% of recruiters are also said to check social media platforms during the recruitment process.
We often also search people on Google or LinkedIn prior to meeting with them. So, it’s likely your LinkedIn ‘business card’ precedes many of your face-to-face interactions.
While business cards share contact details, a logo, title and tag line at best, your LinkedIn profile can pack a bigger punch for your personal’s brand’s first impression. Your About Me allows for storytelling. It showcases your work experience and key achievements. And if you’re leveraging your LinkedIn wisely for your personal brand, it likely includes articles you’ve written or videos you’ve published. It shows your professional value and personality.
3. Books
Your book is your business card. Whether it’s an ebook or hard copy, being a published author complements your online personal brand perfectly. It’s the ‘business card’ you can hold up in your YouTube video, position with you or have as a call to action to buy. It monetises the community you have created around your professional personal brand’s expertise or ideas. While your Mr Beasts of the world might directly monetise their mass audience with chocolate, others capture their thought leadership (and commercial potential) in books. Books bring together the best of offline nostalgia and digital media.
While sponsors and partnerships can pay some creators well, books cut out the middleman in commercial opportunities. It provides a clear call to action that doesn’t distract with the sometimes seemingly intrusive third-party advertising.
Most importantly for your book as your business card, it provides credibility. It shows you were passionate or knowledgeable enough about your ideas to articulate them concisely, professionally and with clarity of thought.
So, ditch your business cards before your contacts quickly do it for you. Instead of handing out business cards that most don’t want, build your personal brand online. Give away free information and ideas. Attract people to you in a way your traditional business card can’t.
