Most of you have seen QR codes in magazine advertisements and other media. These images are also giving the ancient art of exchanging business cards new meaning! How many of you have a pile of business cards on your desk, but have not taken the time to enter some of the contact information into your computer's database (Outlook, etc)? While LinkedIn is a super service for managing contacts, having everything in your own private database has definite advantages.
The process of adding a QR code image to your business card is not difficult, but there are some steps which will facilitate the process. Once the code is enabled, anyone with a smartphone may scan you into their contacts database.
From an apps vantage point, I would recommend these two services:
- Android: QR Droid
- iPhone: Tap Media QR Reader (also exists for Android)
Both services have free versions which accomplish the basics of getting your scanned data into your contacts database.
On the QR Code creation side of the equation, here is my recommendation:
- QR Stuff
- Select the option <Contact Details (VCARD)>
- On the resulting form, enter your data
- Limit your number of fields
- Too many data fields = complex code that does not work on business cards
- Also select <>
- This enables a more universal / easier to use image
- Limit your number of fields
Important Note: While there are many QR Code generators on the web, not all QR codes are created equal. I like QR Stuff because I know it works. The images generated by some sites are not of high enough quality to be used via the various web based services which you might utilize (i.e. business card services like this template from Zazzle)
Remember who will be using your business card (someone on a mobile device). Thus, make your linked content "mobile friendly". Learn more about this need (The 3 Rules of QR Codes). If you are looking to be creative, take a look at these 50 examples of business cards which have QR codes enabled.
Finally ... here is the Northstar Nerd's QR code!
All my data is valid except my cell phone number. Sorry.
