Make Your Business Cards Smartphone Friendly With QR Codes
If you want your business cards to be cutting edge and user-friendly in today's digital world, then it's a must to include a QR code.
What is a QR code? Think of the bar-code found on most supermarket products; it is a 1 dimensional numeric scannable code. QR codes go way beyond that technology, using two dimensions in a square graphic box that can hold far more complex data. So, on a business card, your code could hold all your contact details Name, Title, Company, Telephone, Mobile number, URL and so on. Instead of your new contact having to input all your data manually, he or she can use one click of a Smartphone camera to scan in the details.
Adoption of QR codes, not just on business cards but in all sorts of practical applications, is spreading rapidly in the US and in South Africa. It has been in use for several years already in Japan and Asia, but is still cutting edge in the West. All you need is a smartphone with any one of several free apps to be able to read any of these codes. Once you start recognizing the little black and white graphic boxes for what they are, you'll start to notice them all over the place: in magazines, on adverts, on business flyers, even on bus shelters sometimes!
QR codes aren't just about scanning contact details - they can contain URLs, so that the viewer can connect straight to your website, through their phone, instantly reaching whichever page your QR code sends them to. For some it might be the home page, but more often canny business people are sending people to regularly updated pages that hold special offers or services relevant to a particular networking event.
One thing everyone agrees on with QR codes: as they are usually being scanned and accessed from smartphones, any web page that they link to must be phone friendly, easily navigable and quick to load, otherwise the clever use of technology is likely to backfire and potential clients will be less than impressed.
When it comes to design, QR codes can be worked to look quite dynamic, sometimes it is even possible to incorporate a logo into the code design itself, so business cards can still look slick and sexy with the addition of the code. Look for design teams and printers who are used to working with QR codes to get the best look and functional design.
As it is still a new phenomenon, be prepared to explain to contacts what your code is all about when you hand over your business card, and direct them to an app that can read it if they are still new to the idea. Contacts who are already using QR code apps will be happy to be able to scan your details so easily and your business cards will be that much more functional and impressive.
Deep Design is a top brand design agency, digital and print studio based in Cape Town. Contact them for business cards in Cape Town incorporating QR codes and for any other print and design needs.
What is a QR code? Think of the bar-code found on most supermarket products; it is a 1 dimensional numeric scannable code. QR codes go way beyond that technology, using two dimensions in a square graphic box that can hold far more complex data. So, on a business card, your code could hold all your contact details Name, Title, Company, Telephone, Mobile number, URL and so on. Instead of your new contact having to input all your data manually, he or she can use one click of a Smartphone camera to scan in the details.
Adoption of QR codes, not just on business cards but in all sorts of practical applications, is spreading rapidly in the US and in South Africa. It has been in use for several years already in Japan and Asia, but is still cutting edge in the West. All you need is a smartphone with any one of several free apps to be able to read any of these codes. Once you start recognizing the little black and white graphic boxes for what they are, you'll start to notice them all over the place: in magazines, on adverts, on business flyers, even on bus shelters sometimes!
QR codes aren't just about scanning contact details - they can contain URLs, so that the viewer can connect straight to your website, through their phone, instantly reaching whichever page your QR code sends them to. For some it might be the home page, but more often canny business people are sending people to regularly updated pages that hold special offers or services relevant to a particular networking event.
One thing everyone agrees on with QR codes: as they are usually being scanned and accessed from smartphones, any web page that they link to must be phone friendly, easily navigable and quick to load, otherwise the clever use of technology is likely to backfire and potential clients will be less than impressed.
When it comes to design, QR codes can be worked to look quite dynamic, sometimes it is even possible to incorporate a logo into the code design itself, so business cards can still look slick and sexy with the addition of the code. Look for design teams and printers who are used to working with QR codes to get the best look and functional design.
As it is still a new phenomenon, be prepared to explain to contacts what your code is all about when you hand over your business card, and direct them to an app that can read it if they are still new to the idea. Contacts who are already using QR code apps will be happy to be able to scan your details so easily and your business cards will be that much more functional and impressive.
Deep Design is a top brand design agency, digital and print studio based in Cape Town. Contact them for business cards in Cape Town incorporating QR codes and for any other print and design needs.
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