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In today’s digital era, you might think of business cards as a relic of the past. In reality, they’re just as practical as ever.

Digital business cards are a fresh take on contact information sharing. They allow people to quickly share personal details from one device to another, including name, preferred contact methods, and time zone. Often shared via a QR code or Apple’s NameDrop, these digital business cards make it easier than ever to exchange personal information and have it readily available.

So how do you set up one of these digital business cards? Spokeo walks you through a 20-step checklist that ensures you’re prepared for your next networking event.

Why are digital business cards becoming the norm?

Digital business cards are not exactly new; in fact, they’ve been around since the late 1990s in the form of vCards. Perhaps you remember those unused contact cards in early mobile phones? Today’s version follows the same concept but is modernized to meet the needs of business professionals who do most of their communication through digital devices.

With more than 7.2 billion smartphone users worldwide in 2025, this technology is more relevant than ever. Market Research Future predicts the digital business card industry will grow from $199.63 billion in 2025 to $518.35 billion by 2035.

Today, most people do the bulk of their work-related communication on a digital device, whether it’s sending emails on a smartphone or group conference calls on a laptop. A digital business card makes accessing contact information quick and easy, while also providing more specific personal details like name pronunciation and preferred contact times.

Digital business card checklist: 20 items you won’t want to skip

Setting up a digital contact card communicates professionalism, so it’s important that it’s done right. These cards make it simple for your contacts to get in touch and connect online. You can incorporate social media profiles, the time zone you reside in, and even a link to your calendar to streamline meeting coordination. Here are 20 information fields and steps that you’ll want to take to ensure your contact card looks polished.

Main identification

1. Full name

There are countless tricks for remembering the names of people you meet (here are seven from Boston University). However, nothing is better than having it written down and available at your fingertips. Filling out your full name field is arguably the most important part of setting up your digital business card. Make sure that you’re memorable.

2. Phonetic name spelling

Mispronouncing someone’s name can be excruciatingly awkward. If you’re in doubt, should you ask or just wing it? One of the coolest features of

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Methodology

In late 2025, Insure.com surveyed more than 2,000 insurance consumers through an independent research firm, Dynata. Customers named their insurer and rated it on satisfaction, ease of service, policy options, claims handling, digital experience, discounts, bundling, rate increases, older homes and standard coverages. Survey respondents were also asked whether they planned to renew, would recommend their insurer and trusted their insurer.

Additional information for insurers with at least 25 survey responses was included:

• AM Best financial strength ratings, which measure an insurer’s ability to pay claims.
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index scores, which show how many customer complaints an insurer receives relative to its size.
• Average premium data from Quadrant Information Services, based on a policy with:
• $300,000 in dwelling coverage and liability
• A $1,000 deductible and a 2% hurricane deductible where appropriate

With guidance from Prof. David Marlett, Ph.D., managing director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian State University, researchers applied the following weights to calculate each company’s final rating:

• Customer survey: 40% (10% customer satisfaction, 10% recommended, 10% renewal rate and 10% claims handling)
• AM Best: 25%
• Average premium: 20%
• NAIC complaints: 15%

Each insurer received a rating between 0.5 and 5 stars.

Which homeowners insurance companies are the best for 2026? Rankings and changes from last year

The results of the 2026 best home insurance companies survey are in, and here are the top three homeowners insurance companies for 2026:

1. Amica is the No. 1 home insurance company for the third year in a row on the strength of its low rates and a low complaint volume.
2. Travelers came in second, rising from the bottom of the ranking last year due to low complaint volume, a high customer satisfaction score, and a solid financial standing.
3. Allstate held onto the No. 3 spot, thanks to its low rates and high customer satisfaction.

There were some notable changes in the rankings of national insurance companies for 2026:

• Progressive had the biggest drop from No. 4 to No. 7; a big average rate increase affected its standing.
• Travelers took the biggest jump from No. 7 to No. 2, with low complaint volume and excellent financial standing helping it on its way.
• State Farm dropped two spots to No. 4; it increased rates and a slightly lower financial stability rating affected its ranking.
• Farmers (No. 5) and Nationwide (No. 6) switched spots this year; the two companies rank similarly year after year.

All the top companies on this li

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For many Americans, 2026 feels like a reset button. After years of volatile housing markets, rising costs, and changing priorities, the question isn’t just where can I afford to live? — it’s where can I actually thrive? Some cities are answering that question better than others, offering a mix of stability, opportunity, and day-to-day quality of life that’s increasingly hard to find.

It’s essential to connect with a real estate agent familiar with mortgage contingencies and home listings in your area. The most experienced agents know how to safeguard your earnest money and time. 

To identify the best cities to live in, HomeLight looked at how different places work for real people with real goals. What works for a first-time buyer doesn’t always work for a growing family, a career-driven professional, or someone planning their retirement. Each city on this list stands out for a specific type of homebuyer.

The cities on this list aren’t just popular — they’re performing. Recent housing and economic data show why each one is worth considering in the year ahead.

For first-time homebuyers: Oklahoma City, OK

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Oklahoma City often ranks near the top of lists for first-time homebuyers in 2026, largely because it remains affordable. Median home prices in the Big Friendly are around $220,000, well below the national median of $380,000. Add in a cost of living that’s roughly 18% lower than the U.S. average, and buying a first home feels far more attainable than in many large metros.

Beyond prices, the city offers closing cost and Read more

The post Registration Open for 2026 Lompoc Father Daughter Dance appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.

Por Mauricio Torres, CNN en Español

El Gobierno de Estados Unidos suspenderá indefinidamente los trámites para la emisión de visas para inmigrantes provenientes de 75 países, una medida que entrará en vigor el 21 de enero y que afectará a posibles solicitantes de varias naciones de América Latina y el Caribe.

La suspensión, que no se aplicará para las visas de turista o estudiante, se debe a que EE.UU., según informaron funcionarios, busca evitar que inmigrantes de esas nacionalidades lleguen a su territorio, recurran a ayudas sociales u otros beneficios y se conviertan en una “carga pública”.

El Gobierno de Guatemala, uno de los países afectados, reaccionó a la medida el miércoles. La Cancillería dijo en un comunicado que espera una notificación formal y “reitera su disposición a mantener un diálogo constructivo y permanente con las autoridades estadounidenses, así como a fortalecer los mecanismos de cooperación bilateral en materia migratoria, consular y de verificación, con el objetivo de garantizar procesos ordenados, seguros y regulares”.

CNN también consultó a los gobiernos de Brasil, Colombia, Cuba, Haití, Nicaragua y Uruguay para pedir comentarios y está en espera de respuesta.

Mientras tanto, algunas organizaciones no gubernamentales especializadas en migración y derechos humanos estiman que la suspensión tendrá un gran impacto sobre la inmigración permanente legal a Estados Unidos. Otras incluso señalan que la decisión estigmatiza a los inmigrantes de los países afectados.

Julia Gelatt, directora asociada del Programa de Política Inmigratoria de Estados Unidos del Migration Policy Institute, dijo a CNN este jueves que la medida va en línea con otras restricciones anunciadas por el Gobierno de Donald Trump —quien el martes 20 de enero cumplirá el primer año de su actual presidencia— y tendrá efectos significativos.

“En el año fiscal 2024, el año más reciente para el que tenemos datos, hubo 612.000 visas de inmigrantes emitidas y, si miramos a los 75 países afectados por esta pausa, fueron 280.000 de esas visas de inmigrantes. Esto es 46 %, casi la mitad de esas visas de inmigrantes emitidas en el año fiscal 2024 fueron para esos países. Esta pausa tendrá un impacto enorme en el nivel de inmigración permanente legal a Estados Unidos”, expuso Gelatt.

Angelica Sedgwick Oun, investigadora sénior sobre derechos de inmigrantes en Estados Unidos de la organización Human Rights Watch (HRW), consideró por su parte que la medida carece de sustento en la realidad y estigmatiza a quienes quieren establecerse en ese país.

“La suspensión del procesamiento de visas de inmigración para 75 países es otra decisión cruel e injustificada del Gobierno de Trump para convertir a los inmigrantes en chivos expiatorios. El Gobierno no ha aportado evidencia de que los inmigrantes de estos países utilicen más asistencia pública que los de otros lugares. De hecho, muchos de ellos trabajan y pagan impuestos. Este último ataque a las comunidades de inmigrantes es otro intento del Gobierno actual de demonizar a la gente que busca una vida mejor”, dijo Sedgwick Oun en una declaración enviada a CNN este jueves.

CNN pidió comentarios al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de Estados Unidos (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés) y está en espera de respuesta.

En tanto, Ray Mancera, vicepresidente nacional de la organización League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), consideró que la decisión es “triste” porque implica que Estados Unidos cierre sus puertas a ciudadanos de los países implicados. Sin embargo, también estimó que los gobiernos de esas naciones deben reflexionar y, entre otras cosas, invertir más en educació