A while back I shared how I built a private vCard system in WordPress so I could hand someone a link and have my contact land in their phone’s address book—without leaving my data on someone else’s platform. That first post is here: Building My Own Secure Digital Contact Card System (in WordPress). Since then, the project grew up. It’s no longer just “my” card; it’s a simple, secure way to manage many cards for many people—with a dashboard that feels as easy as a spreadsheet and privacy baked in from the first click. I also got a new domain, www.myvcards.org, so that others can manage their own vCards without going to www.caseylamm.net, which works great for me, but not so well for anyone else.
What I Wanted
- A private, no‑password login link so people can get in easily—without becoming full WordPress users
- A clean dashboard where non‑technical folks can edit their own card, upload a photo, and download a QR
- Bulk onboarding so I can load a whole team at once and invite them when I’m ready
- Download links that “just work” on phones and desktops—no odd page flashes, no broken images
- Photos that stay private and still show up reliably when a contact is saved
What It Feels Like Now
You open a login page, enter your email, and a secure one‑time link lands in your inbox. Click it and you’re in—no password to forget. Your dashboard lists your cards in a tidy table: slug, name, organization, the secure API link (with a little “Copy” button), and the actions you expect—Edit, Duplicate, Regenerate Key, Delete, plus QR downloads. Editing is straightforward: one field per row, a larger avatar preview, and a single “Upload Avatar” button. Behind the scenes, photos are stored privately (not out on the web), but you never have to think about that—you just see your image and your updates. When you download a QR, you get a file immediately; the screen doesn’t jump away to some odd preview. If you’re an admin, there’s a matching set of tools to see accounts, invite people when you’re ready, and import larger lists in the background without babysitting the process.
Why Privacy Matters Here
A contact card is a bundle of personal information. I didn’t want those photos or links sitting at public URLs for bots to stumble across. The system keeps images private by default while still letting phones display the photo properly when someone saves a contact. It hits that sweet spot: private enough to feel safe, simple enough that no one notices the plumbing.
Where It’s Headed
I’m happy with how fast and low‑friction it feels now. Next up, I’ll keep polishing the visuals, working on either 3D printing cards, laser engraving cards, and make inviting others friendlier for larger groups. If you’re curious about where this started, here’s the original write‑up: Building My Own Secure Digital Contact Card System (in WordPress).