QR Code on a Gift Card: How to Make It Open Something Worth Scanning

The QR code on a gift card almost always opens a cold link: some video, a drive folder. The gift deserved more than that.

To use a QR code on a gift card, first create a page with photos, a message and music, then generate the code for it. On Memoryiit, the link and the QR code come with the published memory.

What makes a QR code on a gift card actually work?

The code is just the door. What matters is what's behind it. If it opens a folder of loose files, the person closes it in ten seconds. If it opens a page made for them, with your message in front of the photos, they stay.

How do you put a QR code on the card in 5 steps?

Start with the page, not the code.

  1. Build the page first. Photos, message and music. The QR code only makes sense afterward.
  2. Check the preview on your phone. Open it the way the person will. Read the whole text.
  3. Publish and get the QR code. It comes with the published memory, together with the link.
  4. Print it big enough. About 3 cm per side usually works; test with your phone first.
  5. Test it on two phones. An iPhone and an Android, in normal room light. If one fails, make the code larger.

Gift ideas in video

What mistakes make a QR code disappoint?

Printing it too small, on glossy paper that reflects the light, with no text explaining what it's for. Write one line above the code — “point your camera, there's a surprise” — because plenty of people don't know what to do with a little square.

What if the person doesn't like technology?

Also write the link out in full on the card and send the same link by message. That way, anyone who doesn't scan can still open it. People who like paper get the paper; people who prefer their phone get it on the phone.

Which gifts does it work best with?

Any gift where the emotion is in the card, not the box: a book, a bottle of wine, a plant, a mug. The gift itself is the excuse; the page is what the person will remember.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an app to read the QR code?

On most recent phones, the camera reads the code. If someone can't, the link opens in the browser.

Can I use the same QR code on several cards?

Yes. It always leads to the same page.

Can I add music?

Yes, it's one of the steps in creating a memory.

What if I edit the page after printing?

You can edit the memory from your account. If you're printing many cards, check the text and photos before you print.

Want a QR code that opens something worth scanning? Create the gift page — the preview is private.