Lately, I’ve been experimenting with ways to make sharing my contact information simpler — and more secure. I wanted something that looked professional and worked across devices, but also something I could control completely.
I tried a few online options like HiHello, and while they’re fine for most people, I found myself thinking:
“Why not just build my own — one that I can make work exactly the way I want?”
So that’s what I did.
💡 Why I Built It
My site already runs on WordPress, and my hosting plan includes full database and API access. I didn’t want to rely on another external service or have my contact card hosted on someone else’s platform.
Even more importantly, I didn’t want to just drop a static .vcf file out on the web where anyone — or any spam bot — could find my phone number or email address.
Instead, I wanted something:
- Private and secure
- Fully under my control
- And flexible enough to grow with me
Building a small custom plugin for WordPress turned out to be the perfect approach.
⚙️ How It Works
Inside my WordPress dashboard, I can now add and manage contacts — with their name, title, photo, emails, phone numbers, and links (like my website or Instagram).
Every contact automatically generates a unique, secure link that looks like this:
https://caseylamm.net/myvcard-api-url/v1/get/{slug}?key={key}That link creates a .vcf (vCard) file on the fly, so someone can add my details directly to their contacts app with a single tap.
If you don’t have the right key, the file won’t load — meaning my information stays private.
🧠 Smart, Simple, and Safe
Because the whole thing lives inside WordPress, I didn’t need any new accounts or third-party tools.
I can update details in one place, and every link updates automatically.
Each contact’s access key is unique, which prevents random people or bots from guessing or accessing other cards. It’s lightweight, efficient, and just secure enough for what I need.
📸 Fixing Photos for iPhones
One funny issue popped up: iPhones wouldn’t display contact photos if they were hosted online — even when Android phones did.
To fix that, I modified the system to include the image directly inside the .vcf file itself, encoded in base64.
Now, when someone saves my contact, the photo always shows up properly — no matter what device they’re using.
🚀 What’s Next
This little project has already turned out to be really useful, but I’m planning to add:
- QR codes for quick contact sharing
- NFC cards that link directly to my vCard
- Custom designs for different roles (work, hiking community, personal, etc.)
It’s fun having something that feels professional and personal — and that I fully control.
💬 Final Thoughts
This project reminded me that sometimes, the best solution isn’t another subscription or platform — it’s using what you already have.
By building my own digital contact system right inside WordPress, I get a tool that’s private, flexible, and entirely mine.
It’s a small project, but it feels like a big win for my own digital ownership and privacy.