In this newsletter:
📝 Post: Is a Link the New Business Card?
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Tech Headlines
😎 Pick of the Week: Views Worth Sharing
📦 Featured Product: Cooling Car Seat Cover
📝 Is a Link the New Business Card?
Last week I talked about creating a digital CV/portfolio, but maybe you visited GarrettWheat.com and wanted something similar? This is another version of the typical “Bio Link” site that just about all creators and influencers have popularized. Except nowadays, anyone that has an online presence has one - including businesses. Rather than having to tell people to “Follow me on [insert platform(s)],” they can be sent to one site that list all other sites.
We used to just hand out a business card with our information on it, but people are sharing a link or a QR code that sends people to a bio link or “digital business card” page. Linktree is probably the best-known and most popular example, but there are thousands of others. I cannot list them all, but some of the more popular ones you may have seen include:
The basic idea is simple: instead of giving someone five different places to find you online or trying to email each other, you give them one permanent link that points to everything else.
These services range in price, look, and features. Most of them provide free versions and charge for extra features or to remove branding. Since they are similar,my suggestion is to find the one you like the look of or that functions the way you prefer.
What types of links should you include? Well, the sky’s the limit essentially. You can include all of your social media accounts, a link to your website, LinkedIn Profile, a newsletter, product for sale, schedule a meeting, and any other contact information you’d like to share. For example, my page includes a link to this newsletter, my recently launched app, my book, my social networks, and more. Don’t forget a link to your resume page! As things change, you can just update one link page, and the main link would stay the same.
This link can also live all over your online and physical presence: your email signature, listed in the “About” pages of all of your social media sites, in your biography, and even on your business card. If you really wanted, you could replace your Instagram handle on your car’s back glass with your link. Kidding, of course…
Essentially, you may not know what someone is interested in about you if you just met. Your bio link page gives them an overview and insight to who you are. This can be as professional or as personal as you’d like. The common discussion in business for years has been to keep your private life private (which is still generally good advice), but many companies like to show the human side of their employees, too.
As mentioned above, companies like Dot. actually try to blend the physical and digital world by providing business cards, bands, and other NFC-style devices allowing someone to scan your card and have access to your profile (and/or site). There are also ways to setup your own NFC devices or a QR Code to forward to your link, save your contact info, and much more.
While business cards may still have a place, they are slowly being augmented with the digital version across the business landscape. Do you have a bio link page? What else are you including on yours?
🗞️ ICYMI: Tech Headlines
Watch the Apple Event where the New Apple CEO unveils latest iPhone lineup, including a foldable model called Duo.
Apple Watch’s new feature listens to your chats and recaps them but [they] still protect your privacy. Meanwhile, Meta Disabled Cameras on Thousands of Ray-Ban AI Glasses.
California governor signs laws aimed at protecting kids from risks of social media, AI chatbots while the UK to force Apple and Google to block explicit images on children’s smartphones.
OpenAI Says It Has Cracked One of Math’s ‘Millennium Problems’ and also Introduced ChatGPT Images 2.5.
😎 POTW: Views Worth Sharing
This week’s picks are all about things worth seeing. From breathtaking photography in sky and space to natural wonders, creative logos, and beautiful architecture. Consider this your reminder that there’s still plenty of incredible stuff to look at.
📦 Featured Product
If you have an older vehicle, there’s a chance it doesn’t have air conditioned seats. Oh, you didn’t know that was a thing? No worries, I got you covered! Check out the Coverado Cooling Car Seat Cover. It simply connects to power through the 12v port in your car, and has 3 speed levels. I’ll be honest, the material takes a bit of getting use to, but it’s not - not - comfortable. The air blows from two fans, and is actually cool air. One hiccup (that I think all versions of this will have) is as you sit on the cushion, you essentially block part of the airflow to your back. However, it does still work well, and I would suggest it!
