Getting Started with Parsley

Paper business cards had a good run. They also get binned, go out of date, and tell you nothing about whether someone actually followed up.

Parsley flips that on its head.

With a single, branded link you can share anywhere, Parsley gives you a digital business card that captures every lead, tracks engagement, and even shows your environmental impact.

This guide will walk you through setting up your first profile, sharing it, and using the data Parsley gives you.

TL;DR setup checklist

1. Claim your username and confirm your email/phone.
2. Add a strong headshot, tagline, and three core links.
3. Embed your calendar or lead capture form.
4. Preview the page on desktop and mobile.
5. Share it in your signature, socials, and real-life moments.
6. Review analytics weekly and adjust your CTA/sections.

Why switch to a digital business card?

A Parsley profile is more than a static card – it's a live, trackable profile you control.

Here's what you gain when you move away from paper:

• Always up to date – Change your job title, email, or branding once and your link is instantly current everywhere.
• Easy to share – Send it by QR code, email, text, or drop it into your socials and email signature – no app required for anyone.
• Trackable – See who viewed your profile, which links they clicked, and when they engaged.
• Lead-ready – Built-in contact forms turn "Nice to meet you" into a captured lead in your dashboard.
• Better for the planet – Every digital profile you share replaces stacks of paper cards. Parsley's AI-powered sustainability tools even estimate the trees, water, and CO₂ you're saving.

Step 1: Create your Parsley account

Head to parsley.id and click Create Profile to sign up. You can use email or sign in with Google for a faster start. Once you're in, you'll land on your dashboard where you manage profiles, contacts, and analytics.

Good to know:

• There's no app to download and no physical card required – everything runs in the browser.
• You can create multiple profiles later (for different roles, brands, or side projects) from the same account.

Step 2: Claim your personal link

Your Parsley username becomes your profile URL:

https://parsley.id/yourname

This is the link you'll share in email signatures, on LinkedIn, at events, and anywhere else you meet people.

Tips for a strong username:

• Keep it short and memorable – ideally your name or brand.
• Avoid random numbers and special characters.
• If your name is common, add a simple differentiator: peterduffy, peterduffy-consulting, peterduffy-london.

You can always create additional profiles later if you need different links for different contexts.

Step 3: Build a clear, professional profile

Next, fill in your core details. Think of this like the "front" of your business card – but smarter.

At a minimum, include:

• Name
• Job title
• Company
• Email
• Phone number (if you're happy to share it)
• Location / time zone
• Short bio

Writing a better bio

Instead of a generic line like "Marketing Professional", use 1–3 sentences that explain:

• What you do
• Who you help
• What problems you solve

For example:

"I help B2B startups turn website visitors into qualified leads using data-driven lifecycle marketing."

Keep it simple, concrete, and written in the first person.

Pro tip: refresh your tagline whenever your role, ICP, or offer changes. Consistency across LinkedIn, Parsley, and your website boosts trust.

Step 4: Add sections that show the whole picture

Your Parsley profile is built from flexible content blocks, so you can design it around how you work.

Here are common sections to start with:

Links & social presence

• Social links – LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Instagram, GitHub, etc.
• Custom links – Website, portfolio, Notion hub, booking page, newsletter, podcast.

This turns your Parsley link into a single place where people can find everything important.

Meetings & availability

• Calendar embeds – Connect tools like Calendly, Cal.com, or Google Calendar so people can book time without back-and-forth emails.

Place this higher up the page if booking calls is a key part of your role (sales, consulting, coaching, etc.).

Show, don't tell: media sections

• Photo gallery – Screenshots, design work, event photos, product shots.
• Video – A short intro video, product walk-through, talk recording, or showreel.

This is especially useful if you work in design, content, product, or anything visual.

Trust & team

• Reviews / testimonials – Short quotes from happy clients or colleagues.
• Team section – Introduce key team members if your profile represents a wider group.

Social proof is powerful – even a couple of strong quotes can make your profile feel more credible.

Advanced / technical sections

• HTML & custom embeds – Drop in widgets like forms, maps, or product demos.
• Google Maps – Show your office or event location if in-person meetings matter.

You don't have to add everything on day one. Start simple, then add more over time as you see what people respond to.

Step 5: Share your profile where it counts

Once your profile looks good, it's time to put it to work.

In person: QR codes and wallet passes

• Show your QR code on your phone for quick scans at events or meetings.
• Save your digital card to your mobile wallet so it's always a double-tap away.

No one needs to install anything – they just scan or tap and your profile opens in their browser.

Online: links everywhere

Use your Parsley link anywhere you're already meeting people:

• Email signature
• LinkedIn contact info and About section
• Social media bios
• Zoom/Teams backgrounds and display names
• Slide decks and proposals

One link, consistent branding, everywhere your work shows up.

Launch day checklist

• Add your link to the email signature used most often
• Update social bios (LinkedIn, Instagram, X)
• Print or save a QR code for upcoming events
• Send the profile to five warm contacts for feedback
• Bookmark the Analytics dashboard so you actually review it

Step 6: Capture leads instead of losing them

Every Parsley profile includes built-in lead capture, so introductions don't get lost in inboxes and notebooks.

When someone:

• Fills in your contact form, or
• Saves your contact details

…their information is stored automatically in your Contacts dashboard.

From there you can:

• Search and filter by name, company, or date
• Tag and organise leads (e.g. "Event – Web Summit", "Warm lead", "Investor")
• Export to CSV and import into your CRM or mailing list.

No more guessing who you met last week or where that business card went.

Step 7: Use analytics (and Eco Tracker) to improve

Once you've been sharing your profile for a few days, head to your Analytics dashboard.

You'll see:

• Profile views over time
• Which links get the most clicks
• How often people save your contact details

This tells you what's working and what might need tweaking – for example, moving a key link higher up or clarifying your call-to-action.

On top of that, Parsley's AI-powered sustainability features estimate the paper cards, water, and CO₂ you're saving by going digital, and can generate sustainability reports for your organisation.

A simple first-week checklist

To get real value from Parsley in your first week, try this:

1. Finish your profile – Add your basics, a clear bio, and 3–5 key links.
2. Share it with at least 5 people – Friends, colleagues, or recent contacts.
3. Add it to your email signature – This alone can drive a steady stream of views.
4. Test your layout – Move sections around until everything important sits near the top.
5. Check your analytics at the end of the week – Notice which links people click and adjust.
6. Look at your environmental impact – See how many paper cards you've effectively replaced.

Where to go next

• Want to go deeper on optimisation? Read our guide to digital business card best practices on the Parsley blog.
• Ready to roll this out for your whole team? Explore the Teams features to manage branded profiles centrally and track performance per user.

Ready to create your digital business card? Start for free and have your first profile live in minutes.