A business card has always done two things: it introduces a person and it carries contact details. A card that taps does the same two jobs with less to remember. Instead of typing an email address or a phone number into a phone, the person on the other side holds their phone near the card, or scans the code printed on it, and the details open on their screen. The card is still a card, printed with a name and a logo, but it now carries a small piece of electronics or a printed code that turns the introduction into a single tap. This article looks at how these cards are made, why they tend to be kept, and how to print one that works.
Two ways to make a card that responds
There are two routes, and they can be used together on the same card. The first is an NFC chip set inside the card. A phone held close reads it, and on most phones this reads with no app installed. The chip may be NTAG213 with 144 bytes, NTAG215 with 504 bytes or NTAG216 with 888 bytes, working at 13.56 MHz and following the ISO/IEC 14443A standard as an NFC Type 2 tag, with a typical read distance of 2 to 5 cm. The second route is a printed dynamic QR code, which a customer scans with a camera. Because a whole link is written into the tag, the destination is whatever the owner chooses.
Why a tap card tends to get kept
A plain card is easy to lose in a wallet and easy to throw away. A card that does something when it is touched gives the person holding it a reason to keep it for a moment longer. The design can help here: a card with a clear, simple invitation, such as "tap to save my details", tells the person what will happen and makes the first tap easy. The card is often the first physical thing a new contact takes away, so it is worth treating it as a small piece of branding rather than a formality. The point is not that every card is treasured, but that a card which responds invites a second interaction.
What to print on a card that works
Every product in the range can be custom printed, so the card can match the colours, logo and type used elsewhere. Keep a few things in mind:
- Leave a clear space for the printed code if you also want a scannable option.
- Keep text and the logo clear of the edge so nothing is cut off.
- Print a short instruction, such as "tap here", near the tag.
- Use the back of the card for a plain reminder of your name and business.
The customization page covers how to prepare artwork, and the products page shows the card formats that are available.
Chips and codes side by side
Not every phone taps the same way, so offering both a chip and a printed code covers more people. A visitor who prefers to tap can do so. A visitor whose phone is set up differently can scan the code instead. Both can be set to lead to the same place, so the person always arrives at the page you intended. With a dynamic code, the destination can also be changed later, so the same card can point somewhere new without a reprint. The dynamic QR page explains that idea.
Keeping it simple
The best tap cards are not complicated. One clear action, one clear destination, and a design that looks like the rest of your materials. A card that asks the holder to do three things will be tapped less than a card that asks for one. Once the card is in a pocket, it keeps working: it can be tapped again at any time to reopen the same link.
There is nothing to charge and nothing to switch on, so the card simply sits in a wallet until it is needed. A card that is easy to understand is a card that gets used, and a card that gets used is worth the space it takes up. Whether you hand it over in a meeting or leave a stack on the counter, the same simple action is all you are asking for.
If you are not sure whether a chip, a printed code or both is right for your card, it is worth asking before you order. The team is happy to help on WhatsApp at +86 151 0247 7198 or by email at nina@cwtape.com.