business card
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business card
A small card made of cardstock that contains a person's name, profession, company, and contact details and is exchanged in a professional context.
Beim Meeting tauschten die Geschäftspartner ihre Visitenkarten aus.
At the meeting, the business partners exchanged their business cards.
calling card
Something that serves as a representative showcase or first impression for a person, company, or product.
Die ansprechende Gestaltung der Webseite ist die Visitenkarte des Unternehmens.
The appealing design of the website is the company's calling card.
The word is made up of 'Visite' (visit) and 'Karte' (card). Originally, it was a card that one left behind during a formal visit.
Früher war es üblich, bei einem Besuch seine Visitenkarte abzugeben.
In the past, it was common to leave one's calling card when visiting.
In a professional context, business cards are often 'ausgetauscht' (exchanged). When you give someone a card, you can use the verbs 'geben' (to give) or the more formal 'überreichen' (to hand over/present).
Auf der Konferenz habe ich viele Visitenkarten ausgetauscht.
At the conference, I exchanged many business cards.
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that it is not about a physical object. The structure 'etwas ist die Visitenkarte von jemandem/etwas' (something is the calling card of someone/something) is often used to describe a representative first impression.
Ein sauberes Auto ist die Visitenkarte eines guten Fahrers.
A clean car is the calling card of a good driver.
shop window / showcase
A company website can serve as a Schaufenster (showcase) or a Visitenkarte (calling card), because both create a positive public impression. Schaufenster emphasizes the insight it gives into what is being offered, whereas Visitenkarte emphasizes representative identity and the first impression. Choose Schaufenster for visible content and Visitenkarte for self-presentation.
Die übersichtliche Website ist die Visitenkarte des Unternehmens und vermittelt sofort einen professionellen Eindruck.
The well-organized website is the company's calling card and immediately conveys a professional impression.
Die neue Website ist ein Schaufenster des Unternehmens und zeigt seine wichtigsten Produkte.
The new website is a showcase for the company and displays its most important products.
