The business card QR code that saves itself into contacts
A business card ends up in a pocket, then in the bin. A vCard QR code gives it a second life: the person scans it, taps "add to contacts", and your details land in their phone spelled correctly. Here's how to do it right.
Static or dynamic: the real choice for a card
A static vCard QR code holds the contact card directly. It works without a network and without us, forever. Its drawback: it's dense (so harder to scan at a small size) and it can't be corrected. Change your phone number, and your 500 cards are for the bin.
The dynamic code is light, so it scans fine at 2 cm, and it points to a contact page you can edit freely: new job, new number, new photo. It also offers a call button, directions and a .vcf file to download. Scanolo offers both.
- Name, role, company, several phone numbers and emails
- Website, postal address with directions, social profiles
- Photo or initials, your color
- "Add to contacts" button (vCard 3.0 file, compatible with iPhone and Android)
- Stats: how many people scanned, and on which day
Size and placement on the card
2 cm per side at minimum, tucked in a corner, with a 3 mm white margin. Avoid glossy spot varnish over the code, it creates glare. If your card is dark, set aside a white rectangle for the code rather than inverting the colors.
| Medium | Reading distance | Minimum code size | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business card | 15 to 25 cm | 2 cm per side | Reserve a corner, keep a 3 mm white margin around it |
| Table tent, menu | 30 to 50 cm | 3 cm | One code per medium, never two side by side |
| A5 flyer, product label | 40 to 60 cm | 4 cm | Avoid busy photo backgrounds behind the code |
| A3 poster, shop window | 1 to 2 m | 10 cm | Place it at eye level, not at the bottom of the poster |
| Roll-up banner, tarp, vehicle | 3 to 5 m | 25 to 40 cm | Simple rule: distance ÷ 10 = code size |
What to put on the card next to the code
One line is enough: "Scan to save me to your contacts." Without that line, a lot of people won't scan, simply because they don't know what they'd get.
Common mistakes
- Printing a static code with an address that's going to change: you'll have to reprint everything. Use a dynamic code as soon as the destination might evolve.
- Inverting the colors (light modules on a dark background): a good share of phones fail to read it. Keep dark modules on a light background.
- Removing the white margin around the code to save space: this quiet zone is needed for the scanner to work at all.
- Placing the code over a busy photo background or a heavy gradient: contrast drops and the scan becomes hit or miss.
- Putting too large a logo in the center: past 30% of the width, even maximum error correction isn't enough.
- Linking to a page that isn't built for mobile: the scan succeeds but the person leaves right away.
Frequently asked questions
Does the vCard file work on iPhone?
Yes. The button downloads a .vcf file that the iPhone opens in Contacts. On Android, Google Contacts does the same.
Can I add my photo?
Yes, on the dynamic version's page. In a static vCard, a photo would make the code far too dense.
What happens to the code if I change companies?
With a dynamic code, you edit the card and the printed code stays valid. That's the main advantage over a static code.