Exhibitions and events pack more new conversations into a few hours than most weeks of normal work. You stand for hours, talk to visitor after visitor, and hear "can I get your number?" again and again. By evening, half of it is gone: paper cards you can't match to faces and numbers scribbled in a hurry.
An NFC business card won't fix all of that on its own, but it makes sharing details faster and cleaner if you use it with a plan. This guide walks through the three stages: before the event, on the day, and after.
Before the event: get your page ready before your booth
Your card opens a page on the visitor's phone, and that page is what stays with them after they walk away. So start there:
- Check the essentials: name, photo, title and organisation. Make sure everything is current. On Lamsa you edit it from your account, with no reprinting.
- Decide what you want visitors to do next: save your contact? Message you on WhatsApp? Ask for a proposal? Put that action near the top of the page.
- Add what fits this particular event: if you're showing products or projects, use the "Achievements & work" section to link to samples of your work or certificates (for example, files on Google Drive). If you're looking for job opportunities, add your CV as a PDF or build one right on the page.
- Turn on the "Share your contact" button: it lets visitors leave you their name and number themselves, with a clear consent checkbox, and it lands in your account. At exhibitions this is one of the most useful buttons, because it turns a one-way exchange into a two-way one.
- Proofread both languages: your page shows in Arabic and English, and events usually draw a mixed crowd. Make sure your bio and title read well in both.
Test the card yourself on more than one phone before the big day. If you have questions about compatibility, read our guide on whether NFC cards work with iPhone and Android.
Brief your team if there's more than one of you
If several people are staffing the company booth, coordination matters. With Lamsa's business plan you can:
- Apply one brand look to every card in a single step, so the whole team looks consistent.
- Collect everyone who shares their details through "Share your contact" into one customer list, tagged with the name of the team member they met.
- See team performance over the last 7 or 30 days, download the list as an Excel file, or connect it to the CRM you already use.
Agree before the event on how you'll offer the card, and on who follows up with which visitors afterwards, so nobody gets two calls and nobody gets none.
On the day: how to offer the card naturally
The part that feels awkward at first is the moment itself: how do I ask someone to tap my card? It's simpler than it sounds:
- Finish the conversation first. Don't lead with the card. When there's real interest, say something like, "Let me give you my details."
- Hold the card near the top of the back of their phone. On most phones that's where the NFC reader sits, and the page opens within a moment.
- If it doesn't open, use the QR code. Some phones have NFC switched off, or a thick case gets in the way. That's why the QR code on your card matters as a backup: any phone camera can scan it.
- Ask them to save your contact. Point to the save button yourself. An open page can be closed and forgotten; a saved contact stays in their phone.
- Offer the option to share their details. If they're interested, mention the "Share your contact" button. Don't push. The choice has to be theirs.
Small habits that make a difference
- Keep the card somewhere easy to reach, not buried in a crowded wallet.
- When the booth gets busy, put a printed QR code on the table that opens the same page, so visitors can grab your details without waiting for you.
- Jot a quick note on your phone after each important conversation: what the visitor needs and what you discussed. Memory doesn't survive a full day of meetings.
After the event: where it's won or lost
Plenty of people prepare well for an exhibition and then let everything slide afterwards. Follow-up is what turns a conversation into a relationship or a deal.
- Open your account and review who shared their details. These people showed clear interest and agreed to be contacted, so start with them.
- Reach out soon, while the conversation is still fresh for both of you. A short message mentioning where you met and what you talked about beats a long, generic one.
- Don't message people who didn't opt in. Respecting consent is part of your reputation, and unwanted messages do more harm than good.
- Check your stats. Your account shows how many times your card was opened, how often your contact was saved, and which buttons were tapped. Compare event days with normal days to see what worked, and print the weekly report to review it with your team.
- Update your page after the event. If you added something specific to the show, such as a featured product, switch it back or change it. And if you use a smart link, you can change where it points whenever you like without touching the card itself.
Frequently asked questions
Do visitors need an app to open my card?
No. The card opens a page straight in the browser, with no app required. If NFC doesn't work on their phone, they can simply scan the QR code with the camera.
Do I need a big stack of cards for the event?
No, because you don't hand the card over. You keep it, and the visitor takes your details on their phone. That's one of the clear differences compared with a paper business card.
Will I know who opened my card?
You'll see the number of opens, saves and taps in your stats. Names and numbers only reach you if people choose to share them through the "Share your contact" button, with consent.
Can I edit my page during the event?
Yes. Any change you make in your account shows straight away for everyone who opens the card afterwards, with no reprinting.
The bottom line
At an exhibition, an NFC card is more than a neat way to swap numbers. It works across three stages: a page that's ready before the event, a quick and natural exchange on the day with a QR code as backup, and organised follow-up afterwards based on people who opted in and on real numbers from your stats.
See what a real page looks like on this live demo card. If you have an exhibition or event coming up, design your card and see a live preview, or request a quote for yourself or your team.