QR Codes on Business Cards: Everything you need to know
88% of business cards handed out are thrown away by the recipients in less than a week. That’s roughly four out of every five business cards shared.
This means a lot of missed connections and opportunities.
But what if there was a more efficient way to do this? What if you could share your contact details with anyone in a matter of seconds? That’s precisely what QR codes on business cards offers.
It lets you present a potential client, business partner, or peer with a QR code, let them scan it on their Smartphones, and save your contact information in a few seconds.
This is a quick and modern way to connect, especially at a networking event.
But before we move on, I want to share this quick story I found: a Reddit thread from 9 years ago asking if QR Codes on Business cards are a good or bad idea.
Those people discussing the topic got it wrong. QR codes are still here and are increasingly used in business cards. So, let’s start this topic by answering this question.
Are QR Codes on Business Cards a Good or Bad Idea?
QR codes on business cards are an excellent idea, regardless of what people say. I’ll give you two examples to support my argument.
Example 1: A realtor meets a prospect who wants to book a house viewing. If you share your traditional business card, the prospect will call you to ask for available times, and you go through your schedule to tell him the available slot. The prospect accepts or rejects the slots based on their availability. But if you add a QR Code with a link to your calendar, this could’ve been a 10–20-second process. The prospects scan the QR codes, your calendar appears, and they book an available slot and are done. As simple as that.
Example 2: A content writer meets prospects and shares their business cards. His business card has the logos of the top 2–3 companies he has worked for, but due to the limited space a business card has, he cannot share links to his works. By adding a QR code to his business card he can easily overcome this. When scanned, the QR Codes take the prospect to a page that contains the writer’s portfolio, helping him build credibility.
Benefits of QR Codes on Business Cards
Here are some reasons why you should consider adding a QR code to your business card:
Share more than just your contact information
In addition to your phone number and email address, you can share links to your website, social profiles, portfolio, and more.
Save the hassle of copying and pasting contacts
Copying and saving information from a traditional business card is a hassle. By offering a QR code, you can save one more step and connect quickly with the people.
Use the card space efficiently
A business card can only hold so much information. If you try to stuff too much, it won’t look appealing. Adding a QR code helps you provide a wide range of information without taking up space.
How do you create a business card with a QR Code?
There are multiple ways to generate a QR code for a business card. Today, I’m showing you a simple method using a QR Code Generator that supports vCard.
But what even is a QR code generator? A QR code generator is a tool that allows users to create QR codes linked to their desired content. You can link websites, contact information, social media profiles,vCard, and other types of multimedia to the QR code and access the tool via browsers or apps.
Are we on the same page now? Then, let’s create the QR code for your business card.
4 Super Easy Steps to Generate a QR Code for a Business Card
I’m using Uniqode (formerly Beaconstac) to generate the QR code. It is one of the best solutions on the market, offering complete QR code management, a wide range of customization options, and enterprise-grade security. Moreover, they also provide digital business card solutions that you can link to your QR code.
With Uniqode, you can create a QR code for a business card in four steps.
Step 1: Log into Uniqode’s dashboard
You can sign up for a free 14-day trial of Uniqode’s QR code generator.
Once logged in, click the ‘+Create’ button and choose the QR code campaign type to begin.
Step 2: Select the campaign type
Next up, select the type of QR code you want to generate. There are a couple of different options for sharing contacts.
For example, you can use a mobile-friendly microsite to display your contact details and link the site to the QR code. You can also link it to a digital business card, a type of digital file called a Virtual Contact File (VCF) that allows you to save contact information and share it virtually across devices.
Let’s say you’re going with a website!
Enter the site’s URL in the dialogue box and convert it into a QR code.
If you want to create a digital business card and embed it into the QR code, check this.
Step 3: Customize the QR Code
In the next step, take advantage of the different customization options.
You can design the QR code while watching its preview on the right side of your screen. Make changes to:
- Shape: You can make a square or a circle-shaped QR code.
- Color: Pick a color palette matching your brand’s aesthetic
- Background: It can be colored, transparent, or contain an image
- Logo: Include your brand logo
- CTA: Add a CTA like “Scan to save contact” to the QR code and drive action
Step 4: Select the file format and download
Finally, choose a preferred file format before downloading the QR code.
With Uniqode, you get five different options. However, the PNG or JPEG file format is most suitable for printing on a business card.
That’s all! Your QR code is now ready.
Before downloading the QR code, run a quick test to ensure it’s working well. Then, embed the code in your business card design.
Note: Uniqode also supports Canva integration. So, if you’re self-designing the business card on Canva, you can generate the QR code with Uniqode and embed it directly into the design.
This will streamline the process and help you create a well-designed card! Learn more about the process here.
Here is a complete guide on QR codes for contact info and how to create it. Once you’ve generated the QR code, you can embed it into your business card.
Once your QR code is ready, simply add it to your business card design. And your business card with a QR code is ready.
QR Codes on Business Cards Best Practices
QR Codes have upgraded traditional paper-based business cards to a modern digital networking tool. But just adding a V-card QR code to your business won’t cut it. Here’s how you can make the best out of it.
Add a CTA to the QR Code
QR Codes with CTAs are scanned more. Add a CTA to your business card QR Code to let scanners know what to expect when they scan it. A strong CTA can pique curiosity and increase interest.
Here’s an example of a business card with a QR Code and a CTA.
Use dynamic QR Codes
Your contact details can change over time. You might change your email, phone number, or address. Every time such changes occur, you must redesign your business card with a new QR Code and reprint it if you use a static QR Code. By using a dynamic QR Code, you can change the destination of your URL whenever you want, giving you great flexibility.
Add branded QR Codes
A branded QR code stands out and reinforces your brand identity, encouraging more scans and potential conversions. By incorporating your brand colors, logo, or design elements into the QR code, you create a memorable impression.
Examples of QR Codes on Business Cards
1. Modern, sleek QR Code Business Card with Photo
This cool, square business card is neat and easy to read. It has all the info you need to contact the web developer, plus a QR code to make things even easier. It’s a square instead of the usual long rectangle, so it looks different and interesting.
2. Minimalistic Business Card with QR Code
This black business card with a QR code is super clean! It grabs attention without needing fancy colors or lots of words. People might be curious and want to scan it to find out more.
3. QR Code Business Card that links to a Digital Business Card
Link the QR code on your business card to your Digital Business Card for instant and seamless networking. Easily collect leads with two way contact sharing feature of Uniqode’s Digital Business Cards.
You can also check Business Cards with QR codes in Canva for more design ideas and examples.
Wrapping Up
To conclude, below is a quick recap of what we’ve covered above in the form of a checklist. Tick off every box before printing and sharing the business card with a potential client, employer, or friend.
- Is your business card QR code easy to scan?
- Is it scannable on all devices?
- Is the business card design minimal and easy to read?
- Is the contact information embedded in the QR code suitable for mobile phone viewing?
- Can you update the encoded information once the business card is printed?
Your business card with a QR code will be ready once you check off every condition on the list.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are QR codes useful on business cards?
Having a QR code on your business card offers a seamless and efficient method for individuals to connect with you and delve deeper into your business or professional services offerings. It simplifies the process of exchanging contact information and facilitates easy access to additional details about what you offer.
Moreover, QR codes generated using Uniqode have tracking abilities. You can track when they scan the QR code and more.
2. Where is the best place for a QR code on a business card?
To make your QR code easy to find without covering important info, put it off to one side of your business card. Also, give the QR code a little bit of breathing room by making sure the border around it isn’t too close to the edge. If the squares of the QR code get cut off, it won’t scan properly.
3. Should we use Static or Dynamic QR codes on business cards?
It's always better to use a dynamic QR code as it lets you edit the destination your QR code links to. If you update your office address or phone number, your old business cards will become obsolete. This also saves reprinting costs.
4. What size should QR codes be on business cards?
For the best scanning results, aim for a QR code size of approximately 0.8 inches by 0.8 inches on your standard-sized business card. This measurement is based on a card size of 3.5 inches by 2 inches. While you can increase the size for better visibility, shrinking it beyond this point can significantly reduce scannability and make the code difficult to notice.
Additional Tips:
- Clear Space: Ensure there’s enough empty space around the QR code to prevent scanning errors.
- High Contrast: Choose a color for the QR code that contrasts sharply with the background for easy recognition.
- Test Thoroughly: Print test versions of your business card and scan the QR code under various lighting conditions to confirm readability.
