How To Make a Virtual Business Card For Your iPhone Lock Screen

I don't know why more people aren't talking about this, but did you know you can turn your iPhone lock screen into a branded digital business card? It's easy and free! All you need is some software to generate a QR code, which can link to anything you want. It could be your website, a virtual contact card, a downloadable PDF, or my personal favorite—a LinkedIn profile.

Gone are the days of printing hundreds of business cards for every employee and hoping people remember to grab some before they leave the house. And let's not forget the hassle of reprinting cards whenever you need to update your information.

Creating a custom iPhone lock screen eliminates the need for physical business cards and helps you stand out as an innovative thinker. I attend in-person events every month, and I've never come across anyone else using a custom wallpaper that doubles as a business card. It creates a uniquely memorable moment with everyone I meet. When people see my wallpaper for the first time, their eyes light up. It's so simple and effective. I press one button, they open their camera app, and we're done. I keep wondering why this isn't more common.

I could go on and on about the benefits of creating a branded virtual business card, but let's dive into how you can make one for free. Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions on how to create a custom iPhone wallpaper for any iPhone device using a free QR Code generator and Figma (or any design software of your choosing).

If you'd like to skip all of these steps, go ahead and make a copy of my Figma Template.

Step 1: Decide Where You Want The QR Code to Go

Before you create your QR code, you need to figure out where you want to send people. Here are some cool options and why they might be the perfect choice for you:

1. LinkedIn (recommended): Directing people to your LinkedIn profile is awesome for professional networking. They can connect with you right away and check out your professional background, endorsements, and connections.
2. URL: Sending people to your website is a great way to give them all the info they need about you or your business. It's perfect for showcasing your portfolio, services, or any detailed content you want to share.
3. App Store: Are you a SaaS founder with an app? Directing people to the App Store (or Google Play Store) can boost your downloads. It's a seamless way to promote your app and get people to install it on the spot.
4. Virtual Contact Card: A virtual contact card (vCard) lets people save your contact details directly into their phone with one quick scan. Super convenient and no need for them to type anything out.
5. Email: Linking to an email can be really handy for getting inquiries or feedback. When someone scans it, an email draft pops up, ready to go, making it easy for people to reach out to you.
6. SMS: If texting is your thing, an SMS QR code will open a pre-written text message to you. This is great for quick interactions or things like RSVPs or customer service questions.
7. PDF: If you have a document to share, like a brochure or a flyer, linking to a PDF is an option. It gives people something they can download and keep, with all the detailed info or promotional material you want to share.

Each of these options has its own tradeoffs, so pick the one that best fits what you're aiming for. Once you've decided, you're ready to move on to design.

Step 2. Determine Your Device and Screen Resolution

Identify Your iPhone Model: Knowing your device model will help you understand the screen resolution required for your wallpaper design.

Popular iPhone models and their screen resolutions:

• iPhone 14 & 15 Pro Max: 1290 x 2796 pixels
• iPhone 14 & 15 Pro: 1179 x 2556 pixels
• iPhone 13 & 14: 1170 x 2532 pixels
• iPhone 14 Plus: 1284 x 2778 pixels
• iPhone 13 Mini: 1125 x 2436 pixels

Step 3. Start Designing

If you have brand guidelines, now is the time to consult them to ensure your design aligns with your brand’s visual identity.

Create a Frame with Appropriate Dimensions: Using your iPhone's screen resolution, create a frame in your design tool (e.g., Figma) to match the dimensions.

Choose a Color: Select a background color that complements your brand and ensures readability. This color will be the foundation for your design.

Optional: Decide whether you want to outline the widget section. If you decide you want to highlight this area, you’ll need to determine if you want to include the ‘optional widgets’ (the widgets under the date & time). If you decide to highlight this area in your design, you’ll need to create a background with a different color for the Widget Area.

This can be a bit tricky to get pixel perfect, so consider opening your iPhone and taking a screenshot of the lock screen configuration during the setup process. You are trying to grab a screenshot when the widgets are outlined. here’s an example in the screenshot below.

Step 4. Generate a QR Code

Create a QR Code: Use a QR code generator to create a code that links to your desired destination. Here’s a link to my favorite website for generating QR Codes. https://www.qr-code-generator.com/

Pro Tip: If you don’t want to create an account and are a bit tech savvy, you can right-click the QR Code that was generated, click inspect, navigate the inspector, copy the SVG element, and paste it directly into any design software that supports SVG like Figma.

Place the QR Code: Position the QR code near the center of your design, ensuring it is easily scannable and not obstructed by any of the iPhone widgets.

Step 5. Add Branding Elements

Company Logo or Website: Include your company logo or website URL to reinforce your brand identity. Ensure these elements are clear and not too crowded around the QR code. I like to place my logo right above the light and camera buttons near the bottom of the screen. If you are using this lock screen with focus mode the name of the focus mode will be in between the light and camera widgets, so make sure to leave a little whitespace between your brand name and the focus mode text.

Step 6. Export the Design

Export as PNG: If you’re using the default frames for iPhone in Figma, you’ll need to export your design at 3x resolution to ensure everything looks high resolution on your iPhone screen.

Step 7. Test on Your Lock Screen

Set as Lock Screen Wallpaper: Apply your design as the lock screen wallpaper on your iPhone.

Work Focus Mode: You may want to set up your work focus mode to use this lock screen wallpaper, ensuring it appears when you need it the most.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you'll create a unique, eco-friendly business card that is always at your fingertips. Not only does this method reduce paper waste, but it also highlights your innovative approach to networking.

Feel free to download my Figma Template for a quicker start, and enjoy standing out with your new tech-savvy business card at your next event!

Resources

• Figma Template
• QR Code Generator