vCard QR Codes: A Comprehensive Guide To Create and Use vCards

Did you know that a staggering 27 million business cards are printed daily? Over time, these business cards get outdated, and 88% of users throw them away.

But with every 2,000 business cards handed out, a business grows by 2.5%. That’s a massive investment in printing costs for an ROI that barely scratches the surface of the service. Don’t forget the physical barrier, either!So, what good is your paper business card sitting in your wallet? It’s time to opt for a vCard (a.k.a virtual business card) that actually works for your business! Learn more about it here.

What is a vCard QR Code?

A vCard QR Code is a digitized version of your contact information that you can save on your phone. You can share it via a QR Code, and once it’s scanned, it will display your contact number, email, name, display picture, or website URL. 

You can print the QR Code for vCard on your business card, marketing collateral, or desk. Unlike a paper card, this QR Code isn’t restricted to physical mediums; you can use it to share your vCard on WhatsApp, email, social media, and at events with an Apple Wallet or Google Wallet pass. 

A vCard QR Code can exchange information, store contact info, or import email programs such as Outlook or Gmail.

Table of Contents

1. vCard QR Code types: static and dynamic—and their differences
2. How to generate a vCard QR Code?
3. 8 Best practices to design a vCard QR Code
4. Where should you place vCards?
5. Why businesses opt for vCard QR Codes
6. Make the switch to vCard QR Code today
7. FAQs

vCard QR Code types: static and dynamic—and their differences

There are two types of vCard QR Codes: static and dynamic. Although both essentially let you share your contact information digitally, they function differently.

Static vCard QR Codes work well for one-time use and can’t be changed/updated per your requirements. You can’t link PDFs, multiple links, or videos to a static vCard. Moreover, to update a static vCard, you must create a new one each time.

A dynamic vCard QR Code is more like a digital business card. It is editable and can contain more information, such as a Google Maps link to your office, demo videos, portfolio, or any other URLs to which you’d like to link it. 

A digital business card is also customizable, that is, you can update any information, the links, and even the design (background color, font, and logo) on the go—without having to recreate a new one.

Moreover, with digital business cards, you can access QR Code scan analytics to better understand your marketing campaigns and optimize them based on the data generated.

READ: Pick the best dynamic QR Code generator to create vCard QR Codes.

Now, let’s figure out how to generate a vCard QR Code in under five minutes. 

How to generate a vCard QR Code?

Here are the steps to create a dynamic vCard QR Code:

Step 1: Get started with a QR Code

The first step is to create a vCard QR Code, and the easiest way to get started is by using a dynamic QR Code generator. 

To create a vCard, click the “dynamic QR Code” in the left panel and select the “digital business card.”

Step 2: Fill out contact details

Fill out the relevant details:

1. Profile picture (upload a professional headshot) 
2. Full name 
3. Designation/ Job Title
4. Company name
5. Company URL
6. Email(s)
7. Phone number(s)
8. Social media links:  LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram
9. Background: Image or color gradientCompany logo

Once this information is in place, you can customize the virtual business card design to suit brand guidelines or your personal branding. Make sure to leave enough blank space to enhance the overall look of the vCard.

Step 3: Customize the QR Code design for your vCard

After you’ve designed the look and feel of your card, it’s time to customize the QR Code. It will be visible wherever you decide to deploy it: wallet pass, print, etc. 

QR Codes are entirely customizable. You can change the template, eyes, pattern, and background or add a frame around it.

Step 4: Download the QR Code for vCard

Click download to share the generated QR Codes.

Save it in your preferred resolution and print it in your desired format. You can even share it using your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet pass. 

RELATED: The ultimate guide to printing QR Codes

8 Best practices to design a vCard QR Code

Since you’ll be sharing the vCard QR Code with your prospects via email, digital wallet passes, or by printing it on marketing collaterals, you must ensure it is visually attractive and easy to scan. 

Here are a few best practices to keep in mind while designing it:

Add relevant details to your vCard by adding essential business contact details such as name, job title, company name, phone number, email address, website URL, and physical address.

1. Incorporate your company’s branding

Adding your company’s logo is essential to make your vCard QR Code look distinct. It helps customers and peers identify the brand and prevents them from clickbait. 

You can add the logo from the image gallery or upload it via the dashboard. You can also use custom-brand colors and frames to enhance its appearance.

2. Enhance the contrast

While creating a vCard QR Code, you must ensure it is highly contrasted against its background. A high contrast makes it easy for mobile device scanners to distinguish between the code’s elements and the background for quicker and more accurate scans.

Usually, a white background and black QR Code work well. However, you can also integrate your brand colors using dark colors against light backgrounds, as long as the contrast is strong enough.

3. Optimize the placement and size of the QR Code

While designing a QR Code for vCard, you need to consider where you will use it. If you plan to print it on a brochure or a physical card, place it in a spot that’s easy to locate and scan. The placement shouldn’t be intrusive, and most brands prefer the right corner to capture the recipient’s attention. 

A typical business card is approximately 3.5 x 2.1 inches. Depending on the card layout, a good size range for a vCard QR Code is between 2 cm x 2 cm to 3 cm x 3 cm. 

4. Don’t overcrowd the QR Code

Overcrowding a QR Code can affect its scannability. Therefore, it’s essential to be mindful of the quiet space (the white space around the QR Code) when printing or placing it on any physical medium. 

Ensure enough space around it (at least four units of the code’s module size) to avoid interference while scanning the code. It cannot be scanned if the breathing space isn’t appropriate or the frame is petite. Make sure to place the QR Code in the center if there is no text on the card. If choosing to include name and contact information on the card, keep the vCard QR Code as the main element by following the rule of thirds.

5. Check the error correction level 

QR Codes are typically equipped with an error correction feature that makes them readable even if the code is slightly damaged. There are four levels of error correction: L, M, Q, and H. Each level can withstand its level of error, with L being the lowest and H being the highest. 

Hence, level L is perfect for vCard QR Codes, making the code less dense and easier to read. 

6. Add a powerful CTA

Although QR Codes are naturally enticing, adding a CTA is always helpful. A call to action lets users know what they are scanning. A brief CTA such as “Visit Our Website,” “Scan for a Discount,” or “Save Contact” can significantly increase engagement and scanning rates.

7. Always test for scannability 

Before printing or sharing your vCard QR Code, you must scan it using multiple devices in various lighting conditions. Uniqode also shares a scannability score based on your chosen design. This ensures that your QR Code for vCard is best suited for your networking campaigns.

8. Link social media channels

Attach the associated social media channels to your vCard QR Code. You can link the vCard QR Code to your Facebook page, X (formerly Twitter) handle, or even an image gallery. A vCard QR Code can also be attached to your business’s LinkedIn page.

This can significantly boost your business’s social media and customer engagement.

RELATED: Facebook QR Codes

Where should you place vCards?

vCard QR Codes are a convenient tool businesses can use for sales, marketing, and networking. While the best way to use them is via digital channels, there are a few other ways to boost their ROI. 

Here’s how:

1. Business cards

Print your vCard on business cards to stand out and make it easier for clients and users to store your contact information with a single tap. 

2. Websites 

Add vCard QR Codes on your website that direct the user to your contact information, landing page, or social media platforms to get connected rather seamlessly. 

3. Email signatures 

Turn basic email signatures into a gateway to your work with a vCard QR Code in your email signatures. The vCard is wholly integrated with Gmail and Outlook and works smoothly on all devices. 

Learn more: A complete guide to using a digital business card in email signatures

4. Resumes

A vCard QR Code can be a great medium to attract potential job seekers. 

Place a QR Code on your official LinkedIn page or website, and encourage job seekers to scan it to forward their resumes. This can be managed quite easily rather than using the traditional method. 

For job seekers, include a QR Code on your resume or job interview presentation that links to your portfolio or work or maybe any references. Make the QR Code aesthetically appealing by including a logo and pictorials to encourage more people to scan it.

5. Marketing collaterals 

You can place a QR Code with your vCard attached to the brochures at networking events. This way, the recipients can instantly save your contact information and eventually contact you when needed. 

If you have a booth, the vCard can help you capture high-quality event leads and share them in your digital address book. Including a QR Code on event badges or lanyards can facilitate networking by allowing attendees to quickly exchange contact information and save it on your contact app.

6. Advertisements

A company can use a vCard QR Code to run its commercial, just like a marketing advertisement. Rather than including only an email address or a phone number, you can add a short YouTube video explaining your business’s nitty-gritty or an independently made introduction video.

Learn more: How to leverage YouTube business cards to promote your YouTube channel

Why must businesses opt for vCard QR Codes?

vCard QR Codes relieve both the business and the recipient from printing cards and manually saving the information. Being digital tools, they also bring a host of other benefits. Here are some of them:

Here are the top six advantages of using vCardQR Codes:

1. Create a solid first impression 

vCard QR Codes are efficient, quick, and tech-savvy when sharing contact information at a networking event. If you make their design clean and striking and include all the relevant information, they definitely help you stand out from the competition.

2. Simplify the exchange of contact information

Upon scanning your vCard, users and clients can add your information directly to their phone with a single tap as a .vcf file. At the same time, they can even share their details with you using a form. By eliminating the need for manual data entry, your contact list grows without any errors.

3. Revise content frequently

Changed contact number and the location of the company? With vCard, update information effortlessly in minutes and avoid losing customers.

4. Add more details 

Stand out from the crowd and include all the contact information your business needs. Do not forget to attach a profile picture, URL, and social media accounts. 

5. Share across digital mediums

A vCard has an added advantage – a dedicated URL. Leverage this advantage to the maximum and share the link everywhere (email signatures, print media, websites).

6. Survey your audience

Inspect where, when, and how many people have scanned your vCard. All the analytics are stored in real-time. Additionally, use one at various locations for every purpose to gauge where your audience base is.

Make the switch to vCard QR Code today

Businesses of all sizes seek new marketing techniques to stand out. The age-old method of distributing business cards to expand your customer base is gone. In addition, printing a detailed and extravagant business card can cost anywhere between $199 – $999. 

A vCard is cheaper and a sure-shot way of converting contacts to prospects, growing your business, and reaching out to a larger group of marketers and distributors. 

With vCard QR Codes, the possibilities are endless. And the best part is that you can start creating your QR Code for vCards immediately. All you need to do is try out our free plan Uniqode.

Frequently asked questions

1. How to create a vCard QR Code for yourself?

Creating a vCard QR Code for yourself is extremely simple. Here’s how you can quickly create your own vCard QR Code in 5 steps –

1. Pick a vCard QR Code generator.
2. Select the ‘vCard QR Code’ type from the list of available QR Code options.
3. Enter all relevant information – first name, last name, contact number, email, location, portfolio link, etc.
4. Customize the design of your vCard QR Code by trying out different templates, eye-balls, frames, a call-to-action text, your brand logo, and more. 
5. Generate, test, and download the QR Code in the preferred format and deploy it wherever required.

3. How to create a QR Code with your contact information that adds this info to a smartphone? 

A vCard QR Code is essentially a QR Code that displays your contact information upon scanning and allows the user to instantly save this information on their smartphone.

Here’s how you can create a vCard QR Code for your business or yourself in 5 simple steps –

1. Choose a QR Code generator for vCard QR Codes.
2. Select the ‘vCard QR Code’ type.
3. Input all relevant information – name, contact number, email address, location, social media channels, etc.
4. Customize your vCard QR Code by trying out different patterns, templates, eye-balls, frames, CTA text, brand logo, and more.
5. Generate, test, and download the vCard QR Code in your preferred format and use it wherever required.

4. How can I add a contact to an iPhone using QR Codes?

You can easily save anyone’s contact information on an iPhone using vCard QR Codes. Just open your iPhone’s camera and point it towards the QR Code, and you’ll be redirected to a landing page where you can save the contact details on your iPhone with just a single click. 

In case you’re using an iPhone with an iOS version below iOS 11, you would need a QR Code reader app to scan QR Codes. Here’s your guide to selecting the best QR Code scanner app.

6. Can I add a vCard QR Code to my email signature on Gmail?

Yes! You can add a vCard QR Code to your email signature on Gmail to share your contact information with users or potential clients.

For example, solopreneurs can share their portfolio URLs and sales professionals can share their contact details with prospective clients directly in their emails using vCard QR Codes. This allows potential clients to instantly view their work or save their contact details with just a single click.

7. Should I put a QR Code on my business card?

Absolutely! QR Codes on business cards can be a great way to easily direct users to your website, portfolio, landing page, etc. As vCards help avoid sharing of physical business cards, they are significantly more safe than traditional business cards.

RELATED: Types of QR Codes you can use for your business cards 

5. What is the vCard QR Code for Android?

On the Uniqode platform, you can create a vCard QR Code for Android mobile phones. These QR Codes can be made in under 5 minutes, scanned by any Android device, and even added to your Google Wallet for convenience. 

The QR Code requires no app to generate and is compatible with all Android devices. 

6. How can I add a contact to an iPhone using QR Codes?

You can easily save anyone’s contact information on an iPhone using vCard QR Codes. Just open your iPhone’s camera and point it towards the QR Code, and you’ll be redirected to a landing page where you can save the contact details on your iPhone with just a single click. 

If you’re using an iPhone with an iOS version below iOS 11, you need a QR Code reader app to scan them. Here’s your guide to selecting the best QR Code scanner app.

7. How to share the vCard QR Code?

A vCard QR Code can be shared over various digital and physical mediums. Here are a couple of ways to share it:

1. Add it to your email signature 
2. Share it via an Apple Wallet or Google Wallet 
3. Display it on your website 
4. Place it on your resume 
5. Print it on marketing collaterals 
6. Add it to your physical business card

Looking to create vCard QR Codes for your business? Get started with a 14-day free trial of Uniqode’s QR Code platform, the #1 rated QR Code solution on G2.

• Author Details
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Author Details

Apoorva Hegde

Content Marketing Strategist – Uniqode

Tech-aficionado, curious about all things related to marketing, and an ardent junkie of The Office.

apoorva.h@mobstac.com

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