Using QR Codes on Your Business Cards
Last week I shared some ideas for ways to add value to your business cards so that they become ‘keepers’–cards that people hold on to. Today I’d like to talk about how to use QR codes to further enhance the ‘keepability’ of your cards. A QR, or ‘Quick Response’, code is a special smart phone readable graphic code that can store a variety of different types of information. QR codes are read and translated by a smart phone app and your phone’s camera. QR codes can store links to…
Website URLs
YouTube Videos
Twitter Accounts
Facebook Accounts
Telephone Numbers
Email Addresses
Email Messages
…as well as a variety of other destinations.
You can find a variety of online sites for creating QR codes at no charge. I used QRStuff.com to create a QR code that links to one of my Zibbet shops. To find other options, conduct a web search for ‘free qr code generator‘. After your code is generated, save the image to your computer so that you can later insert it into the design of your business cards.
To test your code, you’ll need to download an app to your smart phone that will read QR codes. Apps are available for iPhones, Android devices and Windows phones. I have a Samsung Stratosphere, which is an Android device. I downloaded and installed an app called Scan. What I like about this app is that I don’t have to take a photo–with the app running, I just have to line up the square on my screen with a printed QR code and it automatically reads and translates the code. When I tested the QR code for my Zibbet shop, I was taken to my shop in a matter of a few seconds! Imagine handing out your business cards at a busy craft show and having potential customers browsing your online shop before they leave your booth!
Think about the possibilities that including a QR code on your business cards offers. Send visitors to your latest YouTube video where they can see and hear you promote your products or demonstrate a craft technique. Or open a blank email window that’s already addressed to you so that your customers can reach you quickly and easily. Or find your Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest accounts so that they can start following you with a quick scan of your QR code. The possibilities are endless…
How will you use QR codes on your business cards?
Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!
Making Your Business Card a ‘Keeper’ | Using QR Codes on Your Business Cards | Ideas for Distributing Your Business Cards
Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Denim and Pearls, A Stitch and a Prayer, Black Creek Crossing and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.
Tags: Business cards, Promotion, QR Codes, Success on Zibbet
Vicki, Thank you so much for this info! I’ve seen others use this and was wondering about QR codes. When I get a new phone, I’ll be trying this out (along with getting a Square Up credit card device)!
Lynda
http://www.zibbet.com/heltonart
http://www.zibbet.com/bigdamnshineys
http://www.zibbet.com/poemsofhonor
The second shop address should be:
http://www.zibbet.com/bigdamnshinys
oops!
Great post!
I’ve wondered before what those boxy black and white squares were! Now I know, and what a great idea it is to put them on business cards. Thanks, Vicki.
Great info Vicki ! Some places that print business cards and such have the ability to make and add a QR code, like Vista Print, and I just got mini business cards from MOO and added the QR Code that will take people straight to my bath & body shop! They don’t charge extra to do this either!