QR-powered business cards are gaining more popularity with each passing day as the market for digital business cards grows rapidly, coupled with the rise in QR Code usage.
And, rightly so!
QR Codes help transform the way businesses interact and position themselves to positively impact brand image, growth, and ROI.
In this blog post, we will discuss whether QR Codes on business cards are a good or bad idea.
Is putting QR Codes on business cards a good idea?
Absolutely! Including a QR Code on your business card offers you the following benefits:
- Editable and trackable
- Customizable
- Takes up minimal space and delivers loads of content
- Easy to set up
- Provides a technological edge
#1 Edit card content whenever required and track engagement
When you use dynamic, a.k.a editable QR Codes on your business cards, you can modify card details and track engagement at any time. You can also A/B test different variations of campaigns to figure out what works best.
Dynamic QR Codes are equipped with an in-built analytics module that tracks the number of scans, locations, and devices used.
Measure the success of your campaigns using first-party data, and optimize to increase conversions and achieve higher ROI.
#2 Customize as per your company branding
According to Lucidpress’s report, consistent presentation of a brand has increased revenue by 33%.
QR Codes have the flexibility to be customized as per your needs. You can change the color scheme, select a predefined template, choose a data pattern, and add a logo to represent your brand tone.
Additionally, a custom branded QR Code with an actionable call-to-action frame text makes your business card stand out from the traditional, non-branded, black and white QR Codes.
#3 Deliver more than just contact information with a QR that takes up minimal space
A QR Code takes up approximately 1 cm x 1 cm on your business card for thorough scannability.
You can share unlimited amounts of information via a QR-based digital business card while taking up the least space. This reduces the effort required to market your brand and helps you convey what’s relevant in a short period.
#4 Set up in less than 5 minutes
Creating QR Codes for your business card is a simple feat. It doesn’t require coding and takes up a little of your time.
With a robust QR Code generator, you can easily create a QR Code for your business card without compromising quality. Customize it as per your liking, track your campaigns’ performance easily, and improve your overall marketing strategy.
#5 Achieve a technological edge with QR Codes
As a digital marketer, I adore anything that helps my brand stand out from the crowd. Business card QR Codes are versatile tools that give me tons of control over how I market and network in person.
Jonathan Frey, CMO, Urban Bikes Direct
QR Codes on business cards make you stand out from competitors and show that you’re tech-savvy.
Digitizing business information lets clients access a large amount of information at their fingertips.
It reduces the number of back-and-forth conversations and helps you close deals faster.
Top use-cases of business cards with QR Codes
#1 Schedule appointments
According to Bookedin’s article, 76% of clients use their mobile phones to book appointments online.
To cater to your mobile-first clients, print QR Codes on your business cards to provide an easy-to-use appointment scheduling system. Clients can book appointments with just a single scan using their smartphone.
Use form QR Codes to direct clients to an appointment booking form to fill in their details and schedule appointments seamlessly.
If you’re a real estate agent, form QR Codes on your business card is a convenient way for potential buyers to book house viewings. The same goes whether you’re talking about a freelance business card or a CEO’s business card.
#2 Promote your business
According to Aura Print’s article, 57% of business owners think business cards are essential for promoting their goods or services.
Print QR Codes on your business cards to direct potential customers to your website or product catalog. Use website QR Codes to link customers to your website. PDF QR Codes come in handy when you need to display the array of products your business offers.
By adding a QR Code on your business card, clients are aware of what your business entails from the get-go, which helps them make informed decisions.
I started using QR Codes on my business cards over a year ago and have seen a lot more traction on my website because of it! When I hand clientele my card, they are immediately drawn to the code because of its uniqueness and interactive element.
Josh Eberly, Owner of 717 Home Buyers
#3 Provide deals & offers
According to Juniper Research’s study, the number of coupons issued via mobile and online channels will grow by more than 60% by 2021, reaching a whopping 362 billion coupons.
Incentivize the first interaction with your prospects for fruitful results. Provide special deals and discounts to customers that scan the QR Code on your business cards.
Let’s say you’re a hairstylist and want to attract new customers to your salon.
Add a coupon QR Code on your business card for potential clients to scan and access an attractive discount for their first visit. This will prompt revisits and fast-track business growth significantly.
Not to mention that it will result in better word-of-mouth marketing and referrals.
QR Codes on business cards could be utilized as a marketing strategy to reward people’s curiosity with a promotional offering. It’s a great way to get creative use out of your business cards and should be taken advantage of.
Alex Birkett, Head of Content, Everything But The Plant
#4 Share your job portfolio
When trying to attain more clients, collaborators, or a new job role, it can be a hassle to carry your portfolio around while rushing for meetings and interviews.
To eliminate this hassle and minimize the detrimental effects of vast paper usage on the environment, print QR Codes on your business cards to share your portfolio.
Whether it’s a PDF, image, audio file, or the works, a QR Code instantly displays your digital portfolio to the relevant stakeholders.
It sets you apart from your competitors and offers the added convenience of reviewing your work from the comfort of their mobile devices.
#5 Share social media handles
According to LYFE Marketing’s article, 91% of all social media users access social channels via mobile devices.
Add QR Codes on your business cards to link clients to your social media profiles. Use social media QR Codes to let clients explore your online presence, engage with your business, and increase your social media visibility.
Monitor your social media traffic and retarget visitors to maximize the number of conversions for your business.
Add value to your interactions and build stronger relationships with the help of social media QR Codes on your business cards.
We use QR Codes on our business cards to link to our LinkedIn profiles, which makes networking a breeze. We can easily connect with people right as we’re talking to keep the conversation going and continue building the relationship.
Mario DeAlmeida, VP, Marketing, Building Security
#6 Network at events and conferences
Events and conferences are the best opportunities to network with entrepreneurs, future clients, and business partners.
Since attendees are somewhat likely to lose your business card at these events, print vCard QR Codes on your business card so that individuals can save your contact details instantly.
It makes sense to add a vCard QR Code on business cards since it is super easy for the recipient of the business card to scan it and save your contact in a jiffy.
Shiv Gupta, CEO, Incrementors
QR Codes on business cards—good or bad?
After exploring the above benefits and use cases, we can surely conclude that QR Codes on business cards is a good idea.
Businesses should leverage them as their digital spokesperson for all marketing initiatives.
From vCards to coupon codes, business card QR Codes help you share a plethora of information with your customers and essentially bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds friction-free.
Before you leave, here are a few best practices to keep in mind when using QR Codes on business cards:
- Avoid over customization of QR Codes as it can lead to an error upon scanning.
- Ideally size your QR Code to make sure it is scannable by smartphones. Make sure the QR Code is at least 1 cm x 1 cm.
- Link your QR-based business card to multimedia content—user image, mobile-friendly landing page, location, website URL, or social media handles.
- While printing QR Codes to add to your business card, we recommend printing them in the PNG format. If you wish to use the business card QR on bigger print media such as signages, banners, etc., using scalable formats such as SVG or EPS is recommended. These formats ensure zero pixelation of the image while resizing.
- Add a frame text CTA to your QR Code to let users know what they can expect upon scanning the code.
Looking to get started? Make a QR Code for your business card now.