Why business cards should use QR codes?
Even in today’s digital age, it’s a breach of etiquette to not have business cards. Many people expect them. Plus, these are cheap, portable, and easy to give away. So, there’s really no reason not to have them, and attempting to network without them is a mistake.
What is a QR code?
The Quick
Response code (QR code) is one of the world’s most popular types of scannable
barcodes. These funny-looking codes can be printed on virtually anything and
quickly read by smartphones, working as scannable buttons—or links—that bridge
the real world with the digital universe.
How to Use a
QR code
Using a QR code
couldn’t be simpler. Open your smartphone’s camera app and point at the QR
code. From there, your phone will prompt whatever the code is set up to do.
That’s it!
What are QR
codes for?
QR codes can be
easily set up to do remarkable things such as making a call, opening a website,
following a social profile, downloading a pdf, and more. Restaurants use them
to share their online menu and request reviews. Realtors use them on business
cards to share their listing of open properties.
Transform
your business cards into digital platforms
Printed
marketing media, such as business cards, can hold text information –such as
your name and email address– and images –such as your brand’s logo and social
icons. But that’s pretty much it. Now, as we mentioned at the beginning of this
article, QR codes can trigger all sorts of functionalities.
Increase the
chances of getting follow-ups
Never has time
been more precious (and scarce?) than it is today. It is unlikely that whoever
gets a business card will be eager to copy your long email address or website
URL and manually type it into the phone or computer. With a QR code, all you
have to do is scan and go.
Track leads
and ROI
Marketing
people know that business cards are fundamental for getting business and
ultimately improving the bottom line. But the problem with printed media has
always been that it’s difficult to track its effectiveness.
Drives
action
When it comes
to driving action, there’s nothing like an easy and straightforward call to
action (aka CTA) such as “Contact Me”, “Learn More”, “Buy Now”, or “Request
More Info”. A well-designed QR code business card will show what the QR code
will do, and the best leads will scan it.
Downsides of
using QR codes on business cards
You may be wondering
if these seemingly simple and easy digital codes have any downsides at all. In
fact, there are a few to be aware of before you decide on using one for
yourself.
Popular Uses
of QR Codes on business cards
QR Codes extend
the capabilities of your business card with additional functionalities for
connecting and sharing information. There are lots of businesses that use these
tiny but mighty codes to make interacting with their customers quicker and
easier, all via digital media.
Here are few steps to create QR codes
for your business card:
Adding a unique
QR code to your business card is simple and there are tons of free QR code
generators on the web. For the most part, the process is the same. Here are
some steps to follow for getting your custom QR code on your business card.
1. Choose what
the QR will do
First, you need
to decide how your QR Code works. There are lots of different functions, but as
we mentioned, the most used one is URL linking (opening a web address).
2. Enter the
information
You will need
to input contact info, the web address, or any other data for the QR code to
work properly.
3. Select
colors and logos
Some QR code
generators let you change the colors of the code itself and add your logo to
fit your brand. You can also decide how big you need it and what format for
either web or print use.
4. Download and
test
Download and
save a copy of your code in a high-quality resolution. The recommended formats
are any vector format, like SVG for printing on business cards. This means you
can easily scale them to fit your design without losing image quality or
resolution.
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