Using your WhatsApp number on flyers and business cards : here is how it works with a QR code
Show the number as a QR code with a short sentence next to it. Whoever scans it starts the chat without typing in the number.
The short answer.
The best way to show your WhatsApp number on a flyer or business card is as a QR code with a short link, plus a short sentence saying what the scan gets people. According to Meta, scanning starts a chat without the customer typing in your number, and the prefilled message can be up to 140 characters long. As of: 02.11.2026.
Number, short link or QR code: what fits on paper?
| Option | What the customer does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| QR code | Hold the camera up to the code, the chat opens | Flyers, business cards, posters, packaging |
| Short link | Type in the link or click it | Printed links next to the code, texts on a screen |
| Link with wa.me | Open the link, the chat starts with your number | Website, email, signature |
| Number as text | Type in the number or save it | As an addition, in case someone cannot scan |
Sources: Meta, QR Codes and Short Links, WhatsApp Help, Click-to-Chat, accessed on 02.11.2026.
What belongs next to the QR code on flyers and business cards?
Next to the QR code belong a short sentence about the benefit and, if there is room, the number as text. The sentence tells the reader why they should scan, for example to request an appointment or get offers. The code alone does not say that. This is a practical recommendation, not a requirement from Meta. The number as text helps everyone who cannot or does not want to scan.
The example is a suggested text that you can change freely.
How do you use the WhatsApp number on a flyer?
On a flyer, put the QR code in a spot people find without searching, with a clear sentence in front of it and enough empty space all around. A flyer is often only looked at briefly, so one single step counts: scan and write. Give the code more room rather than adding a second action next to it. This is a recommendation from experience, Meta gives no sizes for this.
Meta names posters and menus as examples of where to use QR codes. Meta does not explicitly mention flyers and business cards, but the principle is the same: someone sees the code and starts the chat.
Source: Meta for Developers, Blog, accessed on 02.11.2026.
How do you use the WhatsApp number on a business card?
On a business card, a small QR code on the back is enough, and the number as text stays on the front as well. Space is tight, so the prefilled message belongs in the code and not on the card. Before printing, check that your phone still reads the small code reliably. This is a recommendation, not a requirement from Meta.
What should you look for when printing the QR code?
Use the image in SVG format, leave the color and look of the code unchanged, and scan the test print with several phones. Meta recommends SVG because the file can be enlarged and reduced without loss. Meta also advises against changing the color and appearance so the code stays readable. Meta does not give any specific minimum sizes.
Source: Meta, QR Codes and Short Links, accessed on November 2, 2026.
Can you change the message without having to reprint?
Yes. The prefilled message can be changed or deleted at any time, and the QR image stays the same. That way you do not have to reprint flyers and cards when your offer changes. According to Meta, a QR code does not expire on its own. If you delete it, the customer sees a message when scanning saying that it has expired. So only delete printed codes once the materials are no longer in circulation.
Sources: Meta, QR Codes and Short Links, Meta for Developers, Blog, accessed on 02.11.2026.
How do you build the link to your number yourself?
You write wa.me, a slash and your number in international format, without zeros, brackets, dashes or plus signs. With ?text= you can optionally add a prefilled text. A guide with examples is in the WhatsApp Help. For print, the QR code with a short link is more convenient, because it does not show the number and can be adjusted later.
Source: WhatsApp Help, Click-to-Chat, accessed on 02.11.2026.
More about the QR code itself: Create a WhatsApp QR code. For the website: WhatsApp button on your website.
How do you obtain consent with the QR code?
Have the prefilled message worded so that the customer clearly agrees by sending it, for example to receive offers on WhatsApp. Meta names collecting consent to marketing messages as a possible use of QR codes, but does not explain how exactly. How to word and record consent properly is covered under Opt-in wording and Double opt-in. This is not legal advice.
Source: Meta for Developers, Blog, accessed on 02.11.2026.
What does that mean for SmartChat?
SmartChat is a WhatsApp marketing solution for businesses. You get a QR code in every plan, including the Free plan, and newsletters only go to contacts who have confirmed. More about this under Pricing.
Frequently asked questions about flyers and business cards.
What size does the QR code need on the business card?
Meta names no minimum size. Check your test print with several phones before you print the whole run.
Is the number as text enough on the flyer?
It works, but the customer has to type it in and save it. With a QR code, the chat starts directly after scanning.
Do I have to reprint the business cards if the message changes?
No. The prefilled message changes, the QR image stays the same.
Which format do I use for printing?
SVG. Meta recommends it because the file can be enlarged and reduced without loss.
May I color the QR code in company colors?
Meta recommends not changing the color and appearance so the code stays readable.
How do I see how often my printed code was scanned?
You can't. According to Meta, there are no statistics on scans.
How do I write the number for a wa.me link?
In international format, without zeros, brackets, dashes or plus signs.
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Last updated: By SmartChat Team